Independence Day this year brings a classroom bonus. CBSE is starting a free online series on Computational Thinking and Artificial Intelligence on 15 August 2026, built with the Centre for Creative Learning (CCL) at IIT Gandhinagar, and both teachers and students from Class 6 upwards can sign up. The first episode goes live at 4 PM that Saturday, and its topic is a curious one: matchboxes.
The series is called the 3030 Eklavya Online Series, and it runs across eight sessions covering Computational Thinking, Artificial Intelligence and STEM. Instead of lectures, the Board says the episodes lean on question-based activities that push critical thinking and creative problem-solving.
Joining is voluntary. But if you want in, you have to register.
Schedule and where to register
| Detail | What the Board says |
|---|---|
| Episode 1 | Computational Thinking and AI with Matchboxes, 15 August, 2026 - Saturday, 4 PM |
| Other episodes | Live Every Sunday 4 PM onwards |
| Total sessions | 8 |
| Programme website | https://eklavya.iitgandhinagar.ac.in/ |
| Trailer | https://youtu.be/kqeKIs38qtw?si=T7mfY7b1JZOjPfL1 |
| YouTube channel to subscribe to | https://youtube.com/iitgncli?sub_confirmation=1 |
Registration is free but compulsory for availing the programme, and the link for registration and details is https://eklavya.iitgandhinagar.ac.in.
One practical point for anyone whose English is stronger than their Hindi, or the other way round: the live episode will be in Hindi language, and will have English subtitles when published.
Certificates carry a fee
The sessions cost nothing to watch. Certificates don’t.
- Participation certificate: Rs 200/- + taxes, for all 8 episodes, open to teachers and students.
- Certificate of competency: for the course of 8 sessions (Rs 200 + taxes), issued to those teachers who fulfil the prescribed norms. Details are on the programme website.
- Certification follows homework or assignment submission.
For teachers at CBSE affiliated schools there’s a service benefit attached. Each episode counts as 3 CPD Hours against school-based training, provided the certificate is earned and the name is included in the database of the CCL-IIT Gandhinagar. CPD, or Continuous Professional Development, is the annual training teachers are expected to log.
Why the Board is pushing this now
CBSE has released a Curriculum Framework for Computational Thinking (CT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Classes 3 to 8, with the object of creating AI-literate learners. The focus sits on CT skills that prepare learners to be AI-ready: logical thinking, problem-solving, pattern recognition, plus a working sense of where AI shows up in daily life.
The Board has already fixed “Computational Thinking (CT) and Understanding Artificial Intelligence (AI)” as the training theme for the academic session 2026-2027. More than 450 District Level Deliberations (DLDs) have been scheduled across the country with help from schools, District Training Coordinators and the Board’s Centres of Excellence.
Schools have been asked to encourage teachers and students to take up the programme.
Queries go to eklavya@iitgn.ac.in or 079-23952240. Watch the trailer first, then register before the 4 PM start on 15 August.