Recent Delhi – Adobe announced a significant investment in India’s technology sector Thursday, making its flagship creative software – Firefly, Photoshop and Acrobat – available for free to students at accredited higher education institutions across the country. The initiative, unveiled at the India AI Impact Summit, aims to equip the next generation of Indian workers with skills in artificial intelligence and bolster the nation’s burgeoning creator economy.
The move is being implemented in partnership with NASSCOM FutureSkills Prime, a digital skilling initiative backed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Adobe will provide free access to AI-first learning and certifications, according to a company statement. The program will extend to 15,000 schools and 500 colleges that will establish Content Creator Labs, offering students access to Adobe’s software suite alongside relevant curriculum, and training.
“Adobe is expanding the opportunity for creativity for millions of students across India, empowering them with AI skills, further accelerating Prime Minister Modi’s vision,” said Shantanu Narayen, Chair and CEO of Adobe. “I gaze forward to seeing what the students of India create with Adobe’s industry-leading tools, and in doing so accelerating Viksit Bharat.”
The company emphasized its commitment to responsible AI development, highlighting that students will have access to AI-generated content suitable for commercial utilize, as well as the flexibility to integrate other generative AI models – including those from Google, OpenAI, and Runway – directly within Adobe’s applications. Adobe Firefly, described as an “all-in-one creative AI studio,” will be central to this offering.
Beyond software access, Adobe is also showcasing ‘Kathāvatār,’ a series of five short AI films based on Indian folklore, developed in partnership with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. This initiative was presented at the AI Impact Summit alongside the educational program announcement.
The announcement aligns with the Indian government’s “Create in India” vision and complements the Union Budget 2026, which allocated resources to create two million jobs in the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) sector by 2030. Adobe’s expansion of its Adobe Digital Academy, a global skilling program, through the NASSCOM partnership, is intended to provide industry-relevant courses and certifications to learners nationwide.
Adobe did not specify a timeline for the full rollout of the Content Creator Labs or the long-term sustainability of the free software access beyond the initial program period.
