New Delhi, India In a major initiative to foster creativity and digital skills among students, Adobe has announced that three of its flagship applications Adobe Firefly, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Acrobat will be made available free of cost to students enrolled in accredited higher education institutions across India. The announcement was made at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, held in New Delhi.

Under the programme, students from approximately 15,000 schools and 500 colleges that host Content Creator Labs will be able to access these AI-enabled tools at no charge. The initiative is part of a strategic partnership between Adobe and the Government of India to promote AI literacy and boost skill development among young learners.

Comprehensive Skill Development and Training

Adobe’s offer goes beyond software access: it includes a structured curriculum, hands-on training modules, and industry-recognized credentials designed to equip students with practical skills relevant to creative and digital careers. The initiative aligns with the national goal of preparing India’s youth for future job opportunities in sectors such as animation, visual effects, gaming, media, and design.

As part of this effort, Adobe has partnered with NASSCOM FutureSkills Prime, a digital skilling initiative supported by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), to deliver free, industry-aligned courses and certifications. These programmes will help students build competencies in AI-assisted content creation, productivity tools, and related creative fields.

Empowering Creativity with Generative AI

Adobe Firefly, the company’s generative AI platform, integrates multiple AI models from leading partners, enabling students to explore creative expression and produce AI-generated content responsibly. Photoshop and Acrobat will further support students in developing advanced editing, design, and document management skills that are valuable across academic and professional domains.

Leadership Statement and National Vision

Commenting on the announcement, Shantanu Narayen, Chair and CEO of Adobe, said the initiative would expand opportunities for millions of students to develop essential AI skills and contribute to India’s vision of a digitally empowered future.

The programme builds on India’s broader Create in India mission and complements the Union Budget 2026 focus on generating employment in the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) sector by 2030.

Availability

The free access to Adobe’s AI tools and accompanying learning resources will be rolled out through participating colleges and universities. Students may need to complete institutional enrollment procedures to gain access.