IIT Madras SWAYAM Plus Launches Three New AI Courses Under 'AI for All' Campaign; Last Date May 10

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras)-led digital learning platform SWAYAM Plus marked two years of operations on April 24, 2026, with a campus event that brought together stakeholders from government, industry, academia, and the learner community. The occasion was used to launch three new Artificial Intelligence courses under the 'AI for All' campaign, in partnership with IITM Pravartak. The courses were formally introduced by Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras. Leading industry partners, higher education institutions, and top-performing learners were also recognised at the event for their contributions and achievements on the platform.

Since its inception, SWAYAM Plus — an initiative of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, implemented by IIT Madras — has grown to host over 500 online courses across more than 15 sectors, including Engineering, BFSI (Banking, Financial Services and Insurance), Indian Knowledge Systems, and IT/ITeS. As of the launch, over 5,50,000 learners have registered on the platform.

The 'AI for All' campaign was first launched in May 2025 in collaboration with IITM Pravartak. Its first batch featured five introductory AI courses — covering Physics, Chemistry, Accounting, Cricket Analytics, and AI/ML using Python — and recorded over 42,000 registrations. A second batch added the AI for Educators course for K–12 teachers, attracting over 50,000 registrations. The three newly launched courses represent the campaign's third wave, with registrations open until May 10, 2026, on the SWAYAM Plus portal (https://swayam-plus.swayam2.ac.in/ai-for-all-courses). Enquiries can also be directed to pmu-sp@swayam2.ac.in.

Common Features Across All New Courses

All three new courses share a set of defining characteristics. They are designed as beginner-friendly programmes requiring no prior coding or AI experience. They are open to learners from all academic and professional backgrounds — including students, working professionals, and educators. They are taught by experts from the IIT Madras ecosystem, focusing on practical, real-world applications of AI. All three are aligned with the National Credit Framework (NCrF), meaning higher education institutions may offer them as credit-eligible skill development courses. Certification is available on an optional basis through a proctored virtual assessment, with a certificate jointly issued by SWAYAM Plus and IITM Pravartak. All courses are delivered online in English.

This course is designed for students transitioning from school to engineering, aiming to equip them with foundational skills in Python, AI, and Machine Learning using real engineering datasets from day one. It covers AI applications across Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, Computer Science, IT, and other engineering disciplines.

This course is aimed at management professionals, government administrators, regulatory officials, and decision-makers in public institutions. It focuses on building a foundational understanding of AI, Machine Learning, and Generative AI to enable informed administrative decision-making, regulatory thinking, and responsible AI governance across government departments and public institutions.

Prompt Engineering is described as a rapidly emerging foundational discipline in the era of Generative AI. The course covers the art and science of designing effective inputs for Large Language Models (LLMs) to generate reliable, accurate, and contextually appropriate outputs. It takes learners from understanding how LLMs process language all the way through to building advanced prompt pipelines, evaluating outputs, and deploying real-world AI-assisted applications.

Offered as part of the original 'AI for All' first batch and still available, this course introduces participants to the field of AI and Machine Learning with background concepts and key principles, using Python as the primary programming language. It covers data visualisation techniques alongside a comprehensive overview of linear algebra, statistics, and optimisation concepts.

How to Register

Registrations for all three new courses — AI for Aspiring Engineers, AI for Administrators, and Prompt Engineering — are currently open and will close on May 10, 2026. Interested learners can register at here. For further information, write to pmu-sp@swayam2.ac.in. Select courses also offer credit alignment that can be adopted by higher education institutions as part of their academic curriculum for the upcoming academic calendar.