India | September 29, 2026: The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Uttarakhand, and Kotak Education Foundation (KEF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to build Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy and competency among teachers and strengthen technology-enabled education across the state.

Under the partnership, SCERT Uttarakhand, particularly its IT Department, and KEF will collaborate on content development, online course design, technical support, and the implementation and dissemination of online courses for teachers. Courses developed through the partnership are expected to be delivered through platforms including DIKSHA, UK e-Srijan and Mission Karmayogi.

The initiative will focus on integrating AI literacy and emerging digital pedagogies into teacher professional development. KEF will work with SCERT to adapt and roll out its AI course for Educators for teachers in Uttarakhand, with the aim of supporting technology integration in teaching and learning, teacher development and student learning outcomes.

The MoU ceremony was attended by Bandana Garbyal, Director, Academic Research & Training, SCERT; Vinod Mathura, Deputy Director, SCERT Uttarakhand; Dr. K. N. Bijalwan, Assistant- Director, SCERT; Ramesh Prasad Badoni, IT Department, SCERT; and Ms. Jayasree Ramesh (COO), Mr. Milind Pandey and Mr. Deepak Pathak of Kotak Education Foundation.

“This partnership with Kotak Education Foundation will help us bring AI-enabled, high-quality learning to teachers across Uttarakhand, including in our most remote districts. Together with support for Innovate Uttarakhand Hackathon 3.0, it marks the beginning of a collaboration focused on stronger teaching, student innovation and future-ready classrooms.” - Bandana Garbyal, Director (Academic), SCERT Uttarakhand

"Signing this MoU with SCERT Uttarakhand was a special moment. As our work grows across states, our belief stays the same: every teacher deserves future-ready tools, and every child deserves a future-ready teacher. The real work begins now”. -Jayasree Ramesh, COO, Kotak Education Foundation.

KEF’s AI course, ‘AI Saathi for Educators’, developed in partnership with SCERT Maharashtra, is already available on the DIKSHA platform. According to KEF, the course has reached over 7.5 lakh teachers across Maharashtra. The Uttarakhand partnership will extend this state-level model to teachers in the state.