At the ongoing AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, the government has announced plans to provide AI tools and e book access to medical students in about 57 government medical colleges in smaller towns and rural areas. The initiative aims to bridge the academic gap, improve clinical learning, and modernise medical education across India through digital resources.
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The AI Impact Summit 2026 is currently underway in New Delhi, bringing together policymakers, healthcare leaders, technology experts, and academic institutions to discuss the expanding role of artificial intelligence in healthcare, governance, and education. The multi-day summit is focused on responsible AI adoption, improving health equity, and strengthening access to reliable knowledge systems across India, particularly in resource-constrained settings.
Amid ongoing discussions at the summit, the government announced a major step toward digitalising medical education. The Centre is planning to provide medical students with access to e-books and artificial intelligence based learning resources, especially in medical colleges located in smaller towns and rural areas. The initiative reflects a broader effort to modernise medical education and bridge the knowledge gap between urban and peripheral institutions.
According to B Srinivas, Deputy Director General (Medical Education), the government is working to provide access to digital textbooks, clinical material, and AI-based academic resources to medical students. The first phase of the programme is expected to cover around 57 government medical colleges across the country, particularly those located in remote and underserved regions.
Officials highlighted that students in smaller towns often struggle to access standard textbooks, journals, and technical resources. By introducing digital libraries and AI-enabled learning tools, the government aims to ensure that students across institutions receive equal academic opportunities and exposure to modern medical knowledge.
The National Medical Library has initiated the process of securing e-books and digital clinical material as part of this project. These resources will be distributed to selected government medical colleges in the first phase.
Authorities stated that while the current budget allocation is focused on government institutions, there are plans to gradually expand the initiative to private medical colleges as well. The emphasis is on building a centralised digital repository that can provide uniform access to medical knowledge across institutions, regardless of location.
Medical colleges in remote areas often face challenges such as limited library infrastructure, lack of journal subscriptions, and inadequate access to updated clinical material. Students studying in such institutions frequently rely on outdated textbooks or informal digital resources.
This digital initiative has the potential to reduce disparities between metropolitan and peripheral medical colleges. Access to standard e-books, journals, and AI-assisted tools can improve academic quality, support exam preparation, and strengthen clinical understanding among students studying in underserved regions.
Discussions at the summit emphasised that responsible use of artificial intelligence can significantly strengthen medical education and healthcare delivery. AI-based tools can assist students in accessing updated guidelines, understanding clinical decision-making, and engaging in interactive learning modules.
Experts noted that AI can support clinical decision support systems, provide rapid literature reviews, enable virtual simulations, and enhance skill development. When integrated responsibly, such tools can shift medical training from rote learning to analytical and evidence-based education.
Speakers at the summit stressed the importance of governance, transparency, and trust in implementing AI within healthcare education. Evidence-based and explainable AI systems must be tested and deployed carefully to ensure safe adoption.
Collaboration between policymakers, clinicians, academic institutions, and technology experts will be essential to ensure that AI tools are reliable, ethical, and beneficial for both students and healthcare systems.
The decision to provide AI tools and digital textbooks to medical students is a welcome move. For years, a silent academic divide has existed between well-funded urban institutions and peripheral government medical colleges. Students in top institutes have easy access to journals, digital libraries, and research tools, while many others struggle with basic academic resources.
Providing AI-enabled learning and e-book access can democratise medical knowledge and improve the overall standard of medical education. However, the success of this initiative will depend heavily on implementation. Reliable internet connectivity, faculty training, technical support, and proper monitoring will be crucial. Simply providing access without ensuring usability may limit its impact.
If executed sincerely, this initiative could significantly strengthen India’s future healthcare workforce. If handled poorly, it risks becoming another well-intentioned announcement that fails to translate into meaningful change on the ground.
The government’s plan to introduce AI-enabled learning and digital textbooks in medical colleges marks an important step toward modernising medical education in India. By prioritising institutions in rural and smaller towns, the initiative attempts to address long-standing disparities in access to quality academic resources.
The discussions at the AI Impact Summit highlight that technology, when implemented responsibly, can transform education and healthcare delivery. The coming years will determine whether this digital push truly reshapes medical education or remains limited to policy announcements.
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