ShikshaNext Selects 11 EdTech and AI Solutions, Targets Reach of 13 Million Children

ShikshaNext has selected 11 EdTech and AI solutions to improve learning outcomes for children in India. These solutions, selected under the three-year, INR 170-crore multi-donor initiative are focused on children in the 4 to 10 age group.

The initiative aims to advance EdTech and AI solutions that can improve learning outcomes and can be adopted across government education systems at scale. According to ShikshaNext, the initiative aims to provide meaningful technology and AI-enabled learning opportunities to more than 13 million children by 2029.

ShikshaNext is supported by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, Reliance Foundation and Gates Foundation as Founding Strategic Partners. Central Square Foundation is its Managing Partner, while Anthropic is associated as a Supporting Partner. The initiative operates across three pillars - EdTech ScaleX, EdTech Accelerator and EdTech & AI Innovation Hub.

5 Solutions Selected Under EdTech ScaleX

Five solutions have been selected under EdTech ScaleX with evidence of their learning impact through different studies. The pillar aims to take these solutions to government education systems and large-scale programmes. It targets reaching more than 8 million students.

1. Chimple by Sutara Learning : A teacher-directed, at-home gamified mobile learning solution. Its impact was evaluated through a Randomised Controlled Trial in 2024.

2. Rocket Learning : A WhatsApp-based home-learning solution designed as a playful learning model for children. Its impact was evaluated through a J-PAL RCT.

3. Top Parent by Nudged : A parent-focused solution supporting children's learning at home across India. A Quasi-Experimental Study was conducted for the solution in 2026.

4. Prakashak by ThinkZone : A WhatsApp-based home-learning programme aimed at supporting children's learning through digital means. Its impact was evaluated through a Quasi-Experimental Study in 2026.

5. Youth Impact : A phone-based remedial Math learning solution, which has been evaluated through a Randomised Controlled Trial across five countries.

6 Solutions Included in EdTech Accelerator

Six solutions have been selected under the EdTech Accelerator, which are currently at the stages of development, testing and refinement. The objective is to build evidence and capabilities that can help these solutions scale in the future.

6. Darsel : A 1:1 personalised WhatsApp Chatbot for Math Practice at home.

7. Eedi : An AI-based WhatsApp Personal Tutor for Math Remediation, based on the Socratic Learning Approach.

8. TARA ORF by Prosical Language Technologies : Provides Oral Reading Fluency (ORF) assessment, analysis and remediation support for students at home.

9. PadhAI by Pratham Education Foundation : An offline ORF assessment, analysis and student remediation solution.

10. Vowels of the People Association (VOPA) : A solution focused on ORF assessment, analysis and student remediation across both Literacy and Numeracy.

11. VallamAI by Madhi Foundation : An AI-based tool that supports teachers with assessment, coaching and lesson planning.

Focus Also on Evidence Generation

Evidence Generation has been given an important role across all three pillars of ShikshaNext. The objective is not only to assess whether a solution works, but also to understand how it performs within real government education systems and under which conditions it delivers better outcomes for students, teachers and parents.

Central Square Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer Ishmeet Singh said that the selection of the 11 solutions takes ShikshaNext’s plan towards implementation. According to him, five solutions are ready to work with governments at scale based on independent evidence, while six are developing next-generation AI-based solutions for India’s classrooms.

Focus on Responsible and Inclusive AI

Michael & Susan Dell Foundation’s India Head Prachi Jain Windlass said technology is effective when it helps improve children's learning and expands their access to future opportunities. According to her, ShikshaNext is working to bring together Evidence, Innovation and Government Adoption.

Reliance Foundation’s Executive Lead B. Srinivasan said the expansion of digital connectivity and 5G has increased the possibilities of delivering quality education to different parts of the country. He emphasised the need to advance AI-based solutions in a responsible and inclusive manner.

Gates Foundation’s Director, Global Education Benjamin Piper said the solutions under the EdTech Accelerator demonstrate the potential of Generative AI to strengthen, rather than replace, good Pedagogy. According to him, such tools designed for low-resource classrooms can play an important role.

Overall, the new phase of ShikshaNext is focused on bringing evidence-based EdTech solutions and emerging AI technologies closer to government education systems. Through the 11 selected solutions, the initiative aims to improve learning outcomes and provide technology and AI-enabled learning opportunities to more than 13 million children by 2029.

ShikshaNext Selects 11 EdTech and AI Solutions, Targets Reach of 13 Million Children

Subheadline: Solutions selected for children aged 4 to 10 under the three-year INR 170-crore initiative; preparations underway to take them to government education systems through EdTech ScaleX and EdTech Accelerator

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