ShikshaNext selects 11 edtech and AI solutions for scale-up and accelerator tracks

ShikshaNext, a three-year, INR 170 crore multi-donor initiative focused on technology for early learning in India, announced in September 2026 that it had selected 11 edtech and AI solutions for children aged 4 to 10. Five were placed in its EdTech ScaleX track for solutions with evidence of learning impact, and six joined its EdTech Accelerator track for tools still in development or testing. The initiative is managed by Central Square Foundation.

The ScaleX group comprised Chimple from Sutara Learning, Rocket Learning, Top Parent from Nudged, Prakashak from ThinkZone and Youth Impact, each supported by a randomized controlled trial or a quasi-experimental study, according to the announcement. The accelerator group comprised Darsel, a WhatsApp chatbot for math practice; Eedi, an AI tutor for math remediation; TARA ORF from Prosical Language Technologies; PadhAI from Pratham Education Foundation; VOPA from Vowels of the People Association; and VallamAI from Madhi Foundation, a tool that helps teachers with assessment, coaching and lesson planning.

The accelerator track is meant to build evidence and capability for emerging tools so they can scale later, while ScaleX aims to scale proven solutions through state education systems and community programs, with a stated target of more than 8 million students. Three of the accelerator tools focus on assessing and improving oral reading fluency. The reports did not give funding per solution or describe the selection process in detail. Central Square Foundation's chief executive said five of the solutions were ready to work with governments at scale based on independent evidence.

ShikshaNext was launched on February 20, 2026, in New Delhi during the India AI Impact Summit, in the presence of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The September announcement listed Reliance Foundation, the Gates Foundation and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation as founding strategic partners, and Anthropic as a supporting partner. Alongside ScaleX and the accelerator, the initiative runs an EdTech and AI Innovation Hub for testing India-centric tools, and it aims to bring technology-enabled learning to more than 13 million children by 2029.