Is Artificial Intelligence a Boon or a Challenge for Higher Education Students? A Study on Usage Patterns and Academic Impact

JournalOriginal Article International Journal of Science and ConsciousnessAccess online at: www.ijsc.in Dec. 2025, 11(4), 45 – 51Is Artificial Intelligence a Boon or a Challenge forHigher Education Students? A Study onUsage Patterns and Academic ImpactSachin KumarAssistant Professor, Motherhood University, RoorkeeEmail: sachinkumar.bgiet@gmail.com, Mob.: 9536587033Abstract:Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to reshape higher education in India and globally, presenting bothtransformative boons and persistent challenges for students as of 2025. This paper, based solely onsecondary data up to 2025, examines AI's usage patterns and academic impacts, with a focused lens onIndian higher education under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Drawing from recent sourceslike AICTE's 2025 Annual Report, UNESCO's 2024 AI in Education Update, and World Bank 2024analyses, the study highlights AI's integration in over 1,000 Indian universities.Findings show that 75% of Indian higher education students now use AI tools like adaptive platforms(e.g., BYJU'S AI modules) and generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT), boosting personalized learning andacademic outcomes by 25-35% in urban institutions like IITs (AICTE, 2025). Usage patterns indicateheavy reliance for research (40%) and virtual tutoring (30%), accelerated by post-COVID digital shifts,enabling remote access for 60 million students (Government of India, 2024). However, challengespersist: plagiarism via AI has surged 50% in 2024-2025 submissions (UGC, 2025), while the digitaldivide excludes 40% of rural students in states like Uttar Pradesh, widening inequities (World Bank,2024). In Agra's higher education hubs, limited infrastructure hampers adoption, per regional surveys(Uttar Pradesh Higher Education Department, 2024).The COVID-19 case study, extended to 2025 recovery data, shows AI's boon in sustaining educationduring lockdowns but challenges in mental health (15% increase in screen fatigue) and biasamplification (UNESCO, 2024). Theoretically, the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) explainsadoption, with perceived usefulness driving boons amid rising risks (Davis, 1989; updated applicationsin Sharma, 2025).Objectives cover usage analysis, performance assessment, challenge evaluation, and institutionalstrategies. Research questions probe patterns, impacts, equity, and mitigation in Indian contexts. Datatables from 2024-2025 sources reveal a net boon in urban India but challenges in rural areas. Institutionsshould prioritize AI ethics under NEP 2020 and equitable access to balance benefits. As of 2025, AI is aboon for innovation in Indian higher education but a challenge demanding policy reforms forinclusivity.