In a significant move to enhance AI accessibility, both Google and Airtel have rolled out free annual subscriptions for their premium AI services—Google AI Pro and Perplexity Pro. However, these offers come with a few important eligibility criteria and redemption deadlines that users must be aware of.
Let’s break down what these subscriptions offer, who qualifies, and how to activate them.
“Google is offering its AI Pro subscription, priced at Rs 19,500 annually, free for a year to eligible college students in India.”
To qualify:
Students must be 18 years or older
Be enrolled in accredited educational institutions in India
Must use a personal Google account (not enterprise or institutional)
No current Google One subscription of equal or higher tier
A valid payment method must be added, even though the first year is free
To activate, students need to verify academic status via the Google One student offer page and submit relevant identification and academic details.
Google’s AI Pro plan integrates AI deeply into everyday productivity tools. Here's what students get:
Gemini 2.5 Pro Access: Google’s flagship AI model offering contextual and advanced responses
Veo 3: Google’s powerful video generation tool
AI Support in Google Apps: Use Gemini features within Gmail, Docs, and Sheets
NotebookLM: Summarizes audio and document content for research
2TB of Cloud Storage: Shared across Drive, Gmail, and Photos
Study Tools: Summarizing 1,500-page textbooks, exam prep, topic explanations
Writing Aid: Draft essays, brainstorm ideas, polish academic writing
Video Creation: Transform text and visuals into videos using Veo 3
In parallel, Airtel is enabling access to Perplexity Pro, a powerful AI search and assistant tool, for free to its entire user base.
“Airtel is also offering Perplexity Pro free for a year to all its subscribers across mobile, broadband, and DTH services.”
Available to all Airtel customers
Must redeem through the Airtel Thanks app under ‘Rewards’
No payment details are required to claim the offer
A robust AI-powered search engine and productivity enhancer, Perplexity Pro offers:
Unlimited AI Searches: Perform up to 300 AI-powered queries per day
Model Switching: Access and choose from models like GPT-4.1, Claude, and more
File Uploads: Submit documents and receive AI-generated summaries
Image Generation: Use models like DALLE to generate visuals from text prompts
Perplexity Labs Access: Build AI-driven tools like dashboards, basic apps, and spreadsheets
While the offers sound too good to pass up, there are a few important limitations to consider:
“The free subscription to the Google AI Pro plan is limited to Indian residents using personal Google accounts. To be eligible, users must not already be on an existing or higher-tier Google One plan and need to have a valid payment method on file to cover future billing if the subscription isn’t cancelled before the trial ends. The deadline to redeem this offer is 15 September 2025.”
“Airtel’s offer for Perplexity Pro is only available to Airtel users and must be claimed via the Airtel Thanks app. No payment information is required to activate this subscription.”
The free availability of Google AI Pro and Perplexity Pro in India marks a major step in democratizing AI access for students and users alike. By partnering with educational institutions and telecom providers, Google and Airtel are empowering a wide range of users to explore and benefit from advanced AI capabilities at no cost—at least for a year.
With powerful tools like Gemini 2.5 Pro, Veo 3, and GPT-4.1 integrated into everyday applications, users can dramatically improve their productivity, creativity, and learning outcomes. However, these offers are not without conditions—only eligible students can access Google’s plan, while only Airtel subscribers can claim the Perplexity Pro deal.
Users must also pay close attention to the redemption deadlines and eligibility clauses to make the most of these opportunities. If you're eligible, this is the perfect time to experience premium AI features and enhance your digital life, whether for education, research, or innovation.