Google Expands AI Learning Tools for Students, Offers Free AI Plus Access to Eligible Indian College Students

Google has announced a range of new AI-powered education tools and student benefits for the 2026 academic year, including 12 months of free Google AI Plus access for eligible college students outside the US. The move could be particularly useful for students in India, including those preparing for competitive exams such as JEE and NEET.

The announcement is part of Google's “Back to School 2026” initiative, which brings new learning features to Google Search, Gemini and other products. The company says the tools are designed to help students understand difficult topics, organise their studies, practise questions and prepare for exams more effectively. Eligible college students in India can receive a free one-year Google AI Plus subscription, which comes with higher Gemini usage limits and 400GB of storage. This could provide students with additional resources for academic research, projects and everyday study.

Google is also upgrading Search with AI-based learning features that can create interactive explanations, visualise complex concepts, generate practice quizzes and offer step-by-step assistance. Google Lens is also being expanded to provide more learning-focused support when students are working through questions or unfamiliar topics.

The new capabilities could be particularly relevant for JEE and NEET aspirants. Google CEO Sundar Pichai highlighted these examinations in a post on X, alongside other major tests such as the SAT, ACT, GRE, LSAT and MCAT. The tools could help Indian students practise questions, revise concepts, identify areas where they need improvement and structure their preparation.

Google is also adding a dedicated Student Hub to Gemini, bringing together several education-focused features. Its study notebooks can use diagnostic quizzes to assess a student's understanding, identify knowledge gaps and create short study plans based on individual learning goals. Students can also use Gemini Live to discuss information from Deep Research reports while on the move.

Alongside student features, Google is expanding AI capabilities in Google Classroom. Teachers will be able to customise students' AI experiences according to their curriculum and monitor progress, while Google says educators will continue to play a central role in the learning process. The latest initiative reflects Google's broader push to bring AI into education as students increasingly use technology for research, revision and exam preparation. For eligible Indian college students, the combination of free Google AI Plus access and new Search and Gemini features could offer additional support for academic work and competitive-exam preparation.