For students and working professionals · checked October 2026
Top AI Training Institutes in India (2026-27): 10 Options for Learners
The list
Ten AI training institutes in India, at a glance
Search for an AI institute in India and you meet hundreds of coaching centres, ed-tech brands and university partnerships, often for the same course under different names. This list keeps to institutions with a track record, from IITs and IISc to government bodies, and for each one picks a single flagship AI programme open to individuals. We checked every programme on the institute’s own page or its official delivery partner’s page in October 2026.
- IIT Madras: Degree programme in Data Science and Applications: online, flexible exits
- IISc Bangalore: Advanced Certification in Generative AI and LLMs: deep GenAI for engineers
- IIT Delhi: Certificate in Applied Data Science and AI: weekends, with deployment
- IIT Bombay: e-Postgraduate Diploma in AI and Data Science: a PG diploma
- IIIT Hyderabad: PG Certification in AI and Machine Learning: many lab hours
- IIIT Bangalore: Executive Diploma in ML and AI: open to any graduate
- IIM Kozhikode: Data Science and AI for Business: for managers
- NIELIT: AI and Machine Learning using Python: government, ₹600
- NPTEL (SWAYAM): Introduction to Machine Learning: free to study
- Great Learning with UT Austin: PG Program in AI and ML: ed-tech with a US university
Comparison table
Duration, fees and entry requirements side by side
| Institute and programme | Format | Duration | Fee as listed | Who can apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIT Madras: Data Science and Applications | Online; exams in person | Up to 4 years, with exits | From ₹48,000 (foundation) to ₹3.86–4.5 lakh (BS) | Class 12 with maths; qualifier |
| IISc: Generative AI and LLMs | Live online; 1 campus day | 6 months | ₹2,50,000 + GST | Engineering or CS graduates |
| IIT Delhi: Applied Data Science and AI | Live online on Sundays | 8 months | ₹1,94,000 + 18% GST | Graduates; technical preferred |
| IIT Bombay: ePGD in AI and Data Science | Live online; exams on campus | 18 months | ₹6,00,000 + GST | 4-year degree, or 3-year plus 1 year work |
| IIIT Hyderabad: PG Certification in AI/ML | Live weekend online; 2 campus visits | 9 months | ₹3,00,000 + 18% GST | Tech professionals with 1+ year |
| IIIT Bangalore: Executive Diploma in ML and AI | Online | 12 months | ₹3,10,000 or ₹3,60,000 incl. taxes | Any graduate with 50% |
| IIM Kozhikode: Data Science and AI for Business | Recorded plus live sessions | About 7 months | ₹1,89,000 + GST on the partner page | Any graduate |
| NIELIT: AI and ML using Python | Self-paced online | Short course | ₹600 | See the prospectus |
| NPTEL: Introduction to Machine Learning | Free online; optional exam | 12 weeks | Free to study; exam fee extra | Open to all |
| Great Learning and UT Austin: PG Program in AI and ML | Online with weekend mentoring | 12 months | ₹2,75,000 + GST | Graduates with 50% |
Fees as shown on official or delivery-partner pages in October 2026. Many programmes add GST, an application fee or exam fees; confirm the full cost before applying.
The ten institutes
What each institute offers, who it suits and what it costs
Three questions decide most choices: do you want a degree or diploma, or a certificate; can you code already; and how much time can you give each week? Each entry answers those.
1. IIT Madras: Degree Programme in Data Science and Applications
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
India’s best-known online route to an IIT qualification. You enter through a four-week qualifier course and an in-person exam, then study online, with weekly assignments and in-person exams. You can stop at foundation, diploma, BSc or BS level and still leave with an IIT Madras credential.
What you learn: machine learning foundations, techniques and practice; deep learning; and large language models, with options in reinforcement learning, computer vision and MLOps.
Who it suits: school-leavers, college students and working people who want an IIT credential at a low cost and can commit to a long programme.
- The lowest-cost IIT credential on this list
- Exit at several levels
- Income-based fee waivers
- Qualifier exam filters entry; maths needed
- A long commitment for the full degree
- Exams are in person
- Format
- Online, with in-person exams
- Duration
- Up to 4 years for the BS; earlier exits
- Fee
- Foundation ₹48,000; one diploma ₹1,29,000; BSc ₹2,86,000–3,10,000; BS ₹3,86,000–4,50,000
- Certificate
- IIT Madras, at the level completed
- Eligibility
- Class 12 passed, with maths and English in Class 10
- Next intake
- January 2027 term; check the admissions page
Source: IIT Madras programme site, checked October 2026. Fees and dates change; confirm on the provider’s page before you apply.
2. IISc Bangalore: Advanced Certification Programme in Generative AI and Large Language Models
Centre for Continuing Education, IISc, delivered with Jaro Education
A six-month live online programme from IISc’s Centre for Continuing Education, with one day on campus at the end. It goes deep into how generative models work, so it suits engineers and data scientists rather than beginners.
What you learn: transformers and large language models; GANs, VAEs and diffusion models; and computer vision with CNNs, ending in a capstone.
Who it suits: software engineers, data scientists and technical product managers with some Python.
- IISc certificate
- Deep coverage of generative models
- Live classes, about 175 hours
- Not for non-technical learners
- Verified on the delivery partner’s page
- Campus day at your own cost
- Format
- Live online, plus one campus day
- Duration
- 6 months; classes from 22 November 2026
- Fee
- ₹2,50,000 + GST, plus ₹2,000 application fee
- Certificate
- Centre for Continuing Education, IISc
- Eligibility
- Bachelor’s in CS, engineering or related; Python recommended
- Budget option
- IISc CCE-Proficience short courses run each term
Source: Jaro Education programme page (IISc CCE), checked October 2026. Fees and dates change; confirm on the provider’s page before you apply.
3. IIT Delhi: Certificate Programme in Applied Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
Continuing Education Programme (CEP), IIT Delhi
An eight-month programme taught by IIT Delhi faculty on Sunday mornings, with tutorials and an optional campus visit. It stands out for teaching deployment as well as modelling, so you finish able to put a model into use, not just train it.
What you learn: Python and the mathematics behind machine learning; machine learning and deep learning; and NLP, large language models and deployment with tools such as Docker and FastAPI.
Who it suits: graduates and working professionals, ideally with a technical background, who can study on weekends.
- IIT Delhi faculty
- Weekend-only schedule
- Covers deployment and MLOps
- The batch starting November 2026 closed on 23 October
- About 75 live hours for the fee
- E-certificate only
- Format
- Live online on Sundays, 10 am to 1 pm; optional campus day
- Duration
- 8 months
- Fee
- ₹1,94,000 + 18% GST, plus ₹1,000 application fee
- Certificate
- CEP, IIT Delhi e-certificate
- Eligibility
- Graduates or diploma holders; CS, IT, electronics and physics preferred
- Next intake
- Batch 4 applications closed; watch for batch 5
Source: IIT Delhi CEP programme page, checked October 2026. Fees and dates change; confirm on the provider’s page before you apply.
4. IIT Bombay: e-Postgraduate Diploma in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, delivered with Great Learning
A genuine postgraduate diploma, not a certificate, awarded at convocation, with credits recorded in the Academic Bank of Credits. Classes are live online with IIT Bombay faculty, and end-term exams are held on campus.
What you learn: statistical foundations of machine learning; deep learning and generative AI; and applied AI with a capstone, plus electives such as NLP and computer vision.
Who it suits: working professionals who want a formal IIT qualification and can travel for exams.
- A PG diploma from IIT Bombay
- Live teaching by IIT faculty
- No GATE required
- The most expensive option here
- Campus exams require travel
- About 12 to 14 hours a week
- Format
- Live online; campus immersion and on-campus exams
- Duration
- 18 months; 36 credits
- Fee
- ₹6,00,000 + GST
- Certificate
- IIT Bombay postgraduate diploma
- Eligibility
- 4-year degree, or 3-year degree plus 1 year of work experience
- Next intake
- January 2027; confirm the deadline
Source: Great Learning programme page (IIT Bombay), checked October 2026. Fees and dates change; confirm on the provider’s page before you apply.
5. IIIT Hyderabad: PG Certification Program in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad, with TalentSprint
A nine-month weekend programme with an unusually high number of class, lab and project hours and two visits to the IIIT Hyderabad campus. It covers modern topics such as RAG and agentic AI, and it is firmly for people who already code.
What you learn: machine learning and deep learning with PyTorch; transformers, large language models and retrieval-augmented generation; and agentic AI and MLOps.
Who it suits: technology professionals with at least a year of experience and a coding background.
- Many live and lab hours
- Campus visits to IIIT Hyderabad
- Current topics including agents
- Not for non-coders or freshers
- Intake date unclear on the page
- Fee plus GST adds up
- Format
- Live weekend online; two campus visits
- Duration
- 9 months (a 6-month version also exists)
- Fee
- ₹3,00,000 + 18% GST (6-month: ₹2,00,000 + GST)
- Certificate
- IIIT Hyderabad programme certificate
- Eligibility
- Tech professionals with 1+ year of experience
- Next intake
- Not clearly dated; check the page
Source: TalentSprint programme page (IIIT Hyderabad), checked October 2026. Fees and dates change; confirm on the provider’s page before you apply.
6. IIIT Bangalore: Executive Diploma in Machine Learning and AI
International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore, with upGrad
A twelve-month online executive diploma that accepts graduates from any discipline and includes a beginner bootcamp. Learners choose a specialisation, such as generative and agentic AI or MLOps, after the core.
What you learn: regression and classification; deep learning with CNNs, RNNs and transformers; and retrieval-augmented generation and agentic AI.
Who it suits: working professionals moving into AI and ML roles, including those without a technical degree.
- Open to any graduate
- Specialisation choice
- Beginner bootcamp included
- Two price tiers without a clear explanation
- Largely self-paced
- Start date not shown on the India page
- Format
- Online; graduation on campus
- Duration
- 12 months
- Fee
- ₹3,10,000 or ₹3,60,000 including taxes
- Certificate
- IIIT Bangalore executive diploma
- Eligibility
- Bachelor’s degree in any discipline with 50%
- Next intake
- Not shown; check with the institute
Source: upGrad programme page (IIIT Bangalore), checked October 2026. Fees and dates change; confirm on the provider’s page before you apply.
7. IIM Kozhikode: Professional Certificate Programme in Data Science and AI for Business
Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode, with Emeritus
A business-first programme for people who need to manage AI work rather than build models. It mixes recorded modules with live masterclasses and doubt-clearing sessions, and covers generative and agentic AI alongside classic machine learning.
What you learn: machine learning and forecasting for business decisions; generative AI, LLMs and prompting; and agentic AI frameworks and AI governance.
Who it suits: managers, consultants and business leaders. The page lists no coding prerequisite, and Python basics are covered in a masterclass.
- IIM certificate
- Business framing; no coding prerequisite listed
- Covers governance
- Doubt sessions are led by practitioners, not IIM faculty
- Fee differs between IIMK’s brochure and the partner page
- Next start date not shown
- Format
- Recorded modules, live masterclasses and weekly doubt sessions
- Duration
- About 7 months
- Fee
- ₹1,89,000 + GST on the partner page; an IIMK brochure lists ₹1,79,900 + GST
- Certificate
- IIM Kozhikode
- Eligibility
- Graduate or diploma holder; no work experience required
- Next intake
- Not shown; check the page
Source: Emeritus programme page (IIM Kozhikode), checked October 2026. Fees and dates change; confirm on the provider’s page before you apply.
8. NIELIT: Certificate Course in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning using Python
National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), NIELIT Virtual Academy
A low-cost, self-paced certificate from NIELIT, the training body under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. It is introductory, but it gives students a government certificate and a structured first look at machine learning in Python. NIELIT also lists short introductions to generative AI and agentic AI for ₹59 each.
What you learn: machine learning concepts and their implementation in Python; see the official prospectus for the full topic list.
Who it suits: students and beginners on a tight budget who already know some programming.
- Government certificate
- Very low fee
- Self-paced, start any time
- Introductory only
- Limited detail on the course page
- Little live support
- Format
- Self-paced online
- Duration
- Short course; see the prospectus
- Fee
- ₹600
- Certificate
- NIELIT
- Related
- Introduction to Generative AI and Introduction to Agentic AI, ₹59 each
- Prospectus
- Course code SP33 on the NIELIT Virtual Academy
Source: NIELIT Virtual Academy course list, checked October 2026. Fees and dates change; confirm on the provider’s page before you apply.
9. NPTEL (SWAYAM): Introduction to Machine Learning
NPTEL, taught by IIT Madras faculty
A long-running twelve-week course on the government’s NPTEL and SWAYAM platforms, taught by IIT Madras faculty. Studying is free; you pay only if you take the proctored exam for a certificate, and many colleges accept NPTEL credits.
What you learn: supervised learning and core machine learning methods, neural networks, and an introduction to learning theory and reinforcement learning.
Who it suits: students and self-learners comfortable with basic programming, probability and linear algebra.
- Free to study
- IIT faculty
- Credit transfer at many colleges
- Theory-heavy, few projects
- No mentoring
- Semester dates and exam fee change each run
- Format
- Free online video course; optional proctored exam
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Fee
- Free to enrol; exam fee charged per run (₹1,000 in recent cycles)
- Certificate
- NPTEL certificate after passing the exam
- Eligibility
- Open to all
- Runs
- NPTEL semesters start in January and July
Source: NPTEL course page, checked October 2026. Fees and dates change; confirm on the provider’s page before you apply.
10. Great Learning with UT Austin: PG Program in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Great Learning, with the McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin
The most established of the ed-tech AI programmes in India, run with a US business school. It combines recorded content with weekend mentoring by industry practitioners and faculty masterclasses, over twelve months.
What you learn: Python and machine learning; neural networks; and NLP and generative AI.
Who it suits: technology practitioners, product people and functional heads who want structured study and a foreign university certificate.
- International university certificate
- Weekend mentoring fits a job
- Free Python pre-course
- Not an Indian institute credential
- Mentors are practitioners, not UT faculty
- Batch start to be announced
- Format
- Online, recorded content plus weekend mentoring
- Duration
- 12 months
- Fee
- ₹2,75,000 + GST
- Certificate
- McCombs School of Business (UT Austin) and Great Lakes Executive Learning
- Eligibility
- Bachelor’s with 50% or more
- Deadline
- Applications close 29 October 2026
Source: Great Learning programme page, checked October 2026. Fees and dates change; confirm on the provider’s page before you apply.
Also considered: IIT Kanpur, whose eMasters, online M.Tech and PG diploma in AI and ML all showed admissions closed; IIM Bangalore’s AI for Managers, whose official page we could not open to verify; and FutureSkills Prime, the nasscom and MeitY platform that lists AI courses from many providers and offers government incentives on some, which is a useful place to browse but not a single institute.
How to choose
Which AI institute is right for you?
Students and recent graduates get the most value from IIT Madras’s online programme, starting at the foundation level, and from free NPTEL courses to test their interest. NIELIT is a sensible low-cost first certificate.
Engineers already in jobs should compare IISc for generative AI depth, IIT Delhi for deployment skills and IIIT Hyderabad for lab hours. Choose IIT Bombay if a postgraduate diploma matters for your career and you can travel for exams.
Managers and non-coders should look at IIM Kozhikode or IIIT Bangalore, which accept graduates from any discipline. If you are not yet sure AI is for you, start with something short before committing lakhs of rupees.
Questions to ask any institute
- Who teaches the live sessions: faculty or mentors?
- Whose name is on the certificate?
- How many live hours, and how many projects?
- What is the total cost with GST and exam fees?
Red flags
- Promises of a job or a salary figure
- An IIT or IIM logo when the certificate is from a partner
- Pressure to pay a seat fee the same day
- No syllabus or faculty names published
Before you commit lakhs
- Take a free NPTEL or Google course first
- Check you can give the weekly hours for months
- Speak to past learners you find yourself
- Read the refund policy
Where Skillopedia fits
Learning for yourself, or training a team at work?
Skillopedia is not an institute for individual learners, which is why it is not on this list. We are a training firm (Skillopedia LLP, Mumbai, est. 2017) that runs live, in-company AI programmes for organisations, and we have worked with 335+ organisations across 13 sectors.
If your employer wants a department or the whole company to use AI on everyday work, that is a different purchase from an individual course: shorter, built on the company’s own documents and approved tools, and measured by what people still do a month later. Our guide to AI training programmes for employees explains the options, and our AI agents bootcamp shows what a hands-on team programme looks like.
Not technical? Our list of AI courses for non-technical professionals covers shorter, cheaper starts.
A learning path
From first course to a serious programme in six months
Spending a few lakh rupees on an AI programme is easier to justify once you know you enjoy the work and can keep up. This path tests that cheaply first.
What good looks like
What a good AI programme in India should include
Projects you build yourself. Portfolio projects on real datasets show employers more than a certificate does.
Current topics. Large language models, retrieval-augmented generation and agents now sit alongside classic machine learning. Check the syllabus was updated recently.
Real teaching contact. Live sessions with faculty, not only recorded videos and mentor chats, make the difference for most learners.
A clear credential. Know whether you will receive a degree, diploma, certificate of completion or certificate of participation, and who issues it.
Responsible AI. Bias, privacy and India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 should feature, especially for anyone who will work with personal data.
Tracking progress
How to tell whether your AI programme is paying off
Do not rely on brochure outcomes. Track your own progress so you can change course early.
| What to track | How | When |
|---|---|---|
| Hours kept | Compare weekly study hours with what the programme expects | Weekly |
| Projects finished | Count completed projects you could show an employer | Monthly |
| Concepts you can explain | Explain a topic to a colleague without notes | Monthly |
| Use at work | Note where you applied a technique on real work | Monthly |
| Career steps | Interviews, new responsibilities or internal moves | Every quarter |
FAQ
AI training institutes in India: common questions
Which are the top 10 AI training institutes in India?
For individual learners in 2026-27, our list is IIT Madras, IISc Bangalore, IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, IIIT Hyderabad, IIIT Bangalore, IIM Kozhikode, NIELIT, NPTEL and Great Learning with UT Austin, each with one flagship AI programme. The order reflects value and credibility, not a score.
What is the best AI training institute in India for beginners?
Beginners can start cheaply with NPTEL’s free courses or NIELIT’s ₹600 certificate, then consider IIT Madras’s foundation level. IIIT Bangalore accepts graduates from any discipline and includes a beginner bootcamp.
Can I study AI at an IIT online?
Yes. IIT Madras runs an online degree programme in Data Science and Applications, IIT Delhi’s CEP runs weekend online certificates, and IIT Bombay offers an e-postgraduate diploma. Entry requirements and fees vary widely.
Is there a free AI course from a government institute?
NPTEL courses taught by IIT faculty are free to study, with a paid exam for a certificate. NIELIT’s courses cost very little. SWAYAM Plus also lists free courses for some audiences.
How much does an AI course from an IIT or IIIT cost?
From ₹48,000 for IIT Madras’s foundation level to about ₹1.9 lakh plus GST for IIT Delhi’s certificate and ₹6 lakh plus GST for IIT Bombay’s postgraduate diploma, as listed in October 2026.
Do I need coding skills to join an AI programme?
For IISc, IIIT Hyderabad, IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay, coding or a technical degree is expected. IIM Kozhikode and IIIT Bangalore accept learners without a technical background.
Is an online AI certificate worth it?
It can be, if you finish real projects and the issuing institute is credible. Employers look at what you can do; the certificate helps you get noticed.
What is the difference between a certificate and a diploma?
A postgraduate diploma, such as IIT Bombay’s, is a formal academic qualification with credits. Most executive programmes give a certificate of completion, which shows you finished the course.
Do AI institutes promise placements?
Be wary of any placement promise. Some programmes offer career support, but comparable placement data is rarely published. Ask for evidence and speak to past learners.
Which AI institute is best for working professionals?
It depends on your background: IISc or IIIT Hyderabad for engineers, IIT Delhi for weekend study with deployment, IIM Kozhikode for managers, and IIT Madras for a long, low-cost degree path.
Can my employer pay for these programmes?
Many employers sponsor individual learning. If your company wants a whole team trained together, an in-company programme is usually a better fit than individual enrolments.
Does Skillopedia offer AI courses for individuals?
No. Skillopedia runs live in-company and cohort AI training for organisations. Individuals should consider the institutes listed here.
How do I avoid fake AI institutes?
Check the institute’s own website, confirm who issues the certificate, look for named faculty and a published syllabus, and avoid pressure to pay immediately. Our list links only to official or official partner pages.
Related
Where to go next
For employers
Training a team rather than one learner?
If your organisation wants a department or the whole company working with AI, tell us the team, the tools and the goal. We reply within one working day and send a written proposal with a fixed fee.
- Live sessions on your own documents and approved tools
- A usage rule your leadership can sign
- A 30-day check on what people still use
Ask about team training
Reply within one working day.