The six levels
Numbers give the sense of progress; names give the meaning. The same six levels apply in every strand.
Level definitions
| Level | Name | Meaning | Assessment | Pass mark | Validity | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spark | You have seen it work and know where it breaks. | 25 min adaptive live oral and practical with the AI examiner | 70% | 24 months | ₹299 |
| 2 | Torch | You carry your own light: AI does real work for you every day. | 45 min practical task in a live sandbox, then a viva | 70% | 24 months | ₹699 |
| 3 | Beam | Focused and reliable: you deliver outcomes for others with it. | 90 min performance exam in a live sandbox plus portfolio review | 75% | 18 months, annual currency pulse | ₹1,499 |
| 4 | Beacon | Others steer by you: you design systems and set direction. | Portfolio, two-hour defended case, peer panel of two | 75% | 18 months, annual currency pulse | ₹3,999 |
| 5 | Luminary | You teach, examine and set standards. Licensed to train. | Panel of three human examiners, teaching demonstration, contribution record | Panel decision | Annual contribution record | ₹9,999 |
| 6 | Nova | You move the field: a method, tool, dataset or standard others adopt. | Standards council review, by nomination only | Council decision | Lifetime, listed in the public register | No fee; by nomination |
Fees are in Indian rupees and are placeholders until confirmed. Levels 1 to 3 are assessed by the AI examiner in a live sitting; human panels join at levels 4 and 5, and the standards council decides level 6.
The AIQ number
A person holds one level per strand, and zero where there is none. The AIQ number is the sum across the fifteen strands, out of 90.
The band is read from the number. It is a summary only. The strand badges are the credential.
| Band | AIQ number |
|---|---|
| Spark | 1–14 |
| Torch | 15–29 |
| Beam | 30–44 |
| Beacon | 45–59 |
| Luminary | 60–74 |
| Nova | 75–90 |
Level 6 in every strand
Level 6 is the same in every strand: a documented contribution to the strand that others have adopted (a method, tool, dataset, curriculum, standard or published finding), examined by the standards council on nomination by two Luminaries.
Level 6 carries no assessment fee and no expiry. Holders are listed in the public register.