Adobe Express mobile app in beta
Adobe has signed MoUs with seven Indian state governments to provide free access to its creative and AI tools in government schools. The states involved are Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Assam, Bihar and Tamil Nadu. Through these agreements, thousands of government schools in these states will receive access to Adobe Express for Education which is an application for student projects and creative assignments. The initiative expands Adobe’s reach in Indian schools to 7.8 million students and teachers.
Under the programme, students and teachers will also access Adobe’s Digital Academy curriculum, covering digital storytelling, creative problem-solving and AI-assisted content creation. Adobe has aligned the initiative with the National Education Policy’s emphasis on digital tools and AI, as well as the Union Budget 2026 goal of creating two million jobs in the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) sector by 2030.
The programme covers multiple government school networks, including PM SHRI flagship schools, CM SHRI state-model schools, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBV), and Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS). Adobe has said it plans to expand the programme to additional schools and states over time.
The scope of the initiative put a spotlight on how technology companies are approaching India’s government school ecosystem. Rather than targeting only universities or urban institutions, Adobe is working directly with state education departments to embed AI and creative tools at the school level, where the foundational skilling can shape career pathways years before students enter higher education or the workforce.
Mala Sharma, Global Vice President and General Manager, Education at Adobe, said the partnership is designed to bring “classroom-ready AI tools like Adobe Express directly into schools, helping students and educators develop the creative and AI skills they need for the future of work.”
The announcement follows Adobe’s earlier commitments in India this year, including making Firefly, Photoshop and Acrobat available free to students at accredited higher education institutions, announced at the India AI Impact Summit, and a partnership with NASSCOM FutureSkills Prime under the Ministry of Electronics and IT to offer complimentary access to industry-relevant courses and certificates.