AI-LEAP: India’s First National AI Literacy Movement Begins at IIHM

A Landmark Moment in the Future of Indian Education

AI is changing the world at a dizzying speed, which no other technological wave has been able to match. While these AI-induced metamorphoses happen the different industries, educational institutions are still far behind. It is in this moment of crisis and urgency that the IIHM, together with Indismart Digital, has unveiled AI-LEAP - the National AI Literacy Education Acceleration Programme, alongside the first AI-LEAP Manifesto published in India on the use of AI in Education.

On 28 November 2025, at the IIHM Global Campus, Kolkata, the top management from government technology bodies, global AI specialists, highly renowned academicians, industry visionaries and students came to see what a lot of people referred to as India's educational moon landing - a national blueprint that radically changes how the next generation should learn, think, and innovate in the AI era.

A Blueprint for an AI-Ready India

The AI-LEAP Manifesto is India's first unified plan for imparting AI skills in the school system. It combines the aspects of human values, morals, experiential learning, good use, teacher empowerment, and a national strategy for implementation into one distinct, feasible dream. At the heart of it, there is only one strong idea: Instead of making us less human, technology must enhance the qualities that make us human.

The Manifesto sets out:

A national scheme for fair AI literacy - The core principles of ethics, justice, transparency, and human accountability. The learning bases come from the knowledge of artificial intelligence to its application in the real world.  A three-year plan to broaden AI education throughout India. The AI pupil pledge which creates a framework for the correct use of the technology. This is not just an educational paper; it is a turnkey for a country-wide transformation.

Leadership That Inspires a Movement

Dr. Suborno Bose, IIHM Chairman, in his keynote speech, termed AI-LEAP as a collective leap of faith for India's young minds. He pointed out to the audience that AI should not be considered as a mere tool, but as a new alphabet and the country that imparts this knowledge the smartest way will be the one to write the future.

Another highlight of the event was a special speech by Shri Sutirtha Bhattacharya, IAS (Retd.), Chairman, WEBEL, who gave IIHMs leadership a strong and convincing testimonial. Dr. Bose is the torchbearer in the propagation of AI. That is what sets him apart from other leaders. WEBEL would be glad to collaborate with IIHM whenever the need arises. He pointed out the significance of ethics in AI education and regarded the Manifesto as "a guardrail for students as they step into adulthood."

His point was made quite explicitly: The advancement of AI should be the source of ultimate happiness for the Common Man, thereby resonating with R.K. Laxman's iconic symbol of the Indian citizen.

Adding a global perspective, Tanumoy Ghosh, Head of GenAI at Hyatt International, made everyone aware that the businesses which understand human stories and not just data points are the ones that will have the future: Guests tell stories when they dream, not keywords.

His thoughts were a great support to AI-LEAP's emphasis on the combination of human feelings and tech intelligence.

A Milestone: Launch of Indias First Education GPT

Competitive Prep GPT, India's first AI model designed specifically for school learners preparing for competitive exams, was unveiled at the event. The tool developed by Indismart Digital is a perfect example of the kind of easily accessible, India-specific innovation that AI-LEAP aims to propagate across the country.

Through a QR code displayed live at the event, educators and participants got immediate access to the AI-LEAP Manifesto.

IIHMs Journey to AI Leadership

AI-LEAP is just one of many steps along the path of IIHMs groundbreaking work in AI, which also comprises:

NamAIste  IIHM HospitalityGPT, the world's first AI model created for hospitality education. More than 25 individually tailored GPTs for training, learning, and skill development. AI skill-building boot camps and school workshops. An expanding community of AI tech tools users among students and teachers at IIHM has always maintained one clear point that is students must be allowed neither to simply use nor to blindly follow AI; rather, they should understand, challenge and mould it.

A National Movement Begins

AI-LEAP is the vehicle via which IIHM and Indismart Digital set out on a nationwide journey to establish AI literacy as a universal right. The programme is currently transitioning into its development stage, where collaborations with districts, education systems, CSR groups, and technology organisations are being planned. The target is quite straightforward: to achieve a student base of 250,000 by the year 2027 and thus nurture the world's most ethically sound generation capable of working with AI.
As Dr. Bose said in his closing remarks: We are not merely reacting to the AI era. We are the ones deciding it. AI for All. AI with Values. AI by India.

Note: The views expressed in this article are of International Institute of Hotel Management and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha.