In a move aimed at widening access to digital skills, Adobe has announced a new plan that will give students in India free access to its productivity and creativity applications. The announcement was made at the ongoing AI Impact Summit 2026, being held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
Under the new plan, all students enrolled at accredited higher education institutions across India will be able to use Adobe’s AI-powered apps at no cost. These include Photoshop, Acrobat, and Firefly. Adobe described the move as a “strategic investment” to “accelerate” AI-led creativity and productivity in the country.
Alongside free access, the company will also provide a structured curriculum to help students learn how to use these tools effectively. The company said this “AI-first” learning offer will be available free of charge to students from 15,000 schools and 500 colleges that will host Content Creator Labs. This initiative was announced in the Union Budget 2026 and focuses on creating 20,00,000 Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics jobs by 2030.
The company also confirmed a partnership with NASSCOM FutureSkills Prime to deliver AI-focused courses and certifications. The company said this collaboration extends its Adobe Digital Academy, a global programme designed to support training and career pathways.
At present, Adobe offers a paid student subscription in India priced at ₹400 for the first month and ₹2,714 per month thereafter. The Creative Cloud Pro student plan includes a wide range of tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, Acrobat Pro, Adobe Express, Adobe Firefly, After Effects, InDesign, Lightroom, Adobe XD, Audition, Animate, Dreamweaver, InCopy, Lightroom Classic, Character Animator, Capture, Adobe Fresco, Bridge, Photoshop Express, Media Encoder, Lightroom Web, Acrobat Reader, Adobe Scan, and Fill & Sign.
The new free access plan marks a significant shift in how the company is positioning its tools for student learning and AI-led creative development in India.
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