Perplexity Pro worth ₹17,000 free with Airtel: Here’s how students and professionals can benefit

After Google gave college students free access to Gemini Pro yesterday, Airtel has now stepped into the spotlight. This time, it’s not just students, but the entire base of 360 million Airtel users including working professionals, researchers and curious learners who get a free pass to a powerful AI tool.Airtel has partnered with Perplexity, a San Francisco-based AI company, to offer Perplexity Pro, an advanced subscription worth ₹17,000 a year, free for 12 months to all Airtel customers. Whether you use Airtel for mobile, broadband or DTH, the Pro version is now available at zero cost via the Airtel Thanks app.

What is Perplexity Pro?

So what does Perplexity Pro actually do? Think of it as a search engine that skipped the outdated listing pages and jumped straight to the answer key.

Powered by top AI models like GPT-4.1 and Claude, Perplexity Pro doesn't just fetch information. It understands what you're looking for, digs into credible sources, and builds structured, conversational answers in real time.

How can students benefit?

For students juggling assignments and portfolio deadlines, Perplexity Pro is like a research assistant on call 24/7. It can break down complex topics into simpler explanations, generate citation-backed answers from verified sources, and help streamline project work.

Need to compare climate policy models for a geography assignment? Or want to summarise a dense 30-page academic article on behavioural economics before tomorrow’s internal? You can upload documents directly, ask follow-up questions, and organise findings in an easy-to-read format, all without switching between dozens of tabs.Students preparing for competitive exams can also use it to revisit core concepts, build quick revision guides, or even draft sample answers in a clear, conversational tone.

Whether you're in high school, college or grad school, the tool can significantly reduce time spent researching and formatting, leaving you more room to focus on actual learning.

How professionals can use it to work smarter

For professionals, Perplexity Pro can become an everyday tool that handles the grunt work while you focus on the big picture. Whether you’re drafting client briefs, building reports or navigating daily admin, the AI assistant can help you save time, cut noise and find relevant answers quickly.Imagine you’re creating a pitch deck and need data on regional consumer trends. Instead of scouring multiple sites, Perplexity Pro can collate credible, up-to-date insights in seconds, complete with citations. Working with PDFs? The tool can summarise key sections or extract specific information — ideal for professionals in consulting, policy, media, law, or design. From boosting productivity to supporting smarter decision-making, the tool works like a quiet but efficient colleague who never takes a day off.If you're in a creative field, Perplexity Labs, part of the Pro suite, allows users to prototype content ideas or visualise data with ease. Image generation, code assistance, and writing suggestions are all baked into the workspace.

How to claim Perplexity Pro for free

If you're an Airtel user, whether mobile, broadband or DTH, getting access is simple:• Open the Airtel Thanks app on your phone.• Look for the Perplexity Pro offer banner or navigate to the "Rewards" section.• Tap to activate your 12-month free subscription.“Whether a student, working professional or someone managing a household, this brings professional-grade AI to everyday decision-making,” Perplexity’s co-founder and CEO Aravind Srinivas said. While the offer is valid for a year, the productivity leap might last far longer and in a time where students are drafting SOPs with Gemini and professionals are rewriting pitch decks with Claude, this latest AI freebie from Airtel may be the easiest upgrade to your daily workflow.TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here.