Free Access to Perplexity Pro worth ₹ 17000 for 1 Year. How to claim?

Staff Editor -

In a groundbreaking move that positions India as a major market for AI accessibility, Bharti Airtel has announced a strategic partnership with US-based AI startup Perplexity to provide its entire customer base with complimentary access to Perplexity Pro for one full year. This collaboration marks the first time an Indian telecom operator has bundled premium AI services with its connectivity plans, potentially reshaping how millions of Indians interact with artificial intelligence technology.

What is Perplexity AI and Why This Partnership Matters

Perplexity is an AI-powered search and answer engine that differentiates itself from traditional search engines by providing conversational, real-time responses rather than just listing web links. Unlike Google's standard search results or even ChatGPT's knowledge cutoff limitations, Perplexity delivers accurate, deeply researched responses by combining cutting-edge language models like GPT-4.1, Claude 4.0, and xAI's Grok with real-time web browsing capabilities.

This partnership is particularly significant because it represents Perplexity's first collaboration with an Indian telecom company, signaling the company's commitment to expanding in India's massive digital market. With Airtel's customer base of 360 million users across mobile, broadband, and DTH services, this deal instantly makes premium AI tools accessible to one of the world's largest user populations.

Free Perplexity Pro: What's Included and Its Value

The Perplexity Pro subscription typically costs ₹17,000 annually (approximately $200), making this one of the most valuable freebies offered by a telecom operator in India. Here's what Airtel customers get access to:

Premium Features of Perplexity Pro:

  • Up to 300 AI-powered Pro searches daily (compared to just 3 in the free version)
  • Access to advanced AI models including GPT-4.1, Claude 4.0 Sonnet, and xAI's Grok
  • Model selection flexibility - users can choose which AI model works best for their queries
  • Unlimited file uploads and analysis for document summarization and research
  • Image generation capabilities powered by DALL-E and other advanced tools
  • Perplexity Labs access - a newly launched feature for creating spreadsheets, web apps, and dashboards
  • $5 monthly Sonar credits for API development
  • Priority support channels with 1-2 business day response times

How to Claim Your Free Perplexity Pro Subscription

The activation process is straightforward and available to all Airtel customers, including both prepaid and postpaid users:

Step-by-Step Guide:

  1. Download and open the Airtel Thanks app on your smartphone
  2. Navigate to the hamburger menu (three lines) in the top-right corner
  3. Select "Rewards and OTTs" from the menu options

  1. Look for the Perplexity Pro offer under "Collect Rewards"
  2. Tap "Claim Now" and then select "Proceed"
  3. Enter your email address when prompted
  4. Verify with OTP sent to your email
  5. Start using Perplexity Pro on both web and mobile app

Important Note: The offer is available through the Airtel Thanks app until January 17, 2026, giving users ample time to claim their free subscription.

Strategic Implications: Airtel vs. Jio in the AI Race

This partnership positions Airtel ahead of its primary competitor, Reliance Jio, in the AI services space. While media reports have speculated about potential Jio-OpenAI collaboration for ChatGPT distribution, no official announcement has been made.

Airtel's proactive approach could be a strategic move to:

  • Attract new customer sign-ups
  • Reduce subscriber churn in a highly competitive market
  • Differentiate its services beyond traditional connectivity

As of May 2024, Airtel had approximately 390 million wireless users compared to Jio's 472 million, making this AI partnership a potential game-changer for market positioning.

Executive Perspectives on the Partnership

Gopal Vittal, Vice Chairman & Managing Director of Bharti Airtel, emphasized the collaboration's significance: "This first-of-its-kind Gen-AI partnership in India is focused on helping our customers navigate the emerging trends in the digital world with confidence and ease".

Aravind Srinivas, Co-founder and CEO of Perplexity, highlighted the accessibility aspect: "This partnership is an exciting way to make accurate, trustworthy, and professional-grade AI accessible to more people in India—whether a student, working professional, or managing a household".

Real-World Applications and Use Cases

The partnership targets diverse user segments with practical applications:

For Students:

  • Academic research assistance with legitimate web sources
  • Content organization in logical, easy-to-understand formats
  • Learning support across various subjects

For Professionals:

  • Quick information retrieval for business decisions
  • Document analysis and summarization
  • Travel planning with budget-specific itineraries

For Households:

  • Daily activity assistance with precise responses
  • Creative project support
  • Informed decision-making for purchases and planning

Market Context: India's Growing AI Adoption

This announcement follows Google's recent offer of free AI Pro subscriptions to Indian students aged 18 and above, valued at ₹19,500 annually. The simultaneous launch of premium AI tools from major tech companies suggests India is becoming a priority market for AI accessibility initiatives.

The timing is particularly strategic as India represents the world's second-largest internet market with massive growth potential for AI services. Perplexity's partnership with Airtel follows similar collaborations with Samsung and Motorola, indicating a broader strategy to embed AI tools directly into consumer devices and services.

Conclusion: A New Era of AI Accessibility in India

Airtel's partnership with Perplexity represents more than just a promotional offer—it's a strategic investment in India's AI-powered future. By making premium AI tools accessible to 360 million users at no additional cost, this collaboration could accelerate AI adoption across diverse demographics and use cases.

The success of this partnership will likely influence other telecom operators and tech companies to consider similar bundling strategies, potentially making India one of the world's most AI-accessible markets. For Airtel customers, this represents an unprecedented opportunity to experience cutting-edge AI capabilities that were previously available only to premium subscribers worldwide.

As artificial intelligence continues to transform how we search, learn, and work, Airtel's bold move ensures its customers won't be left behind in the AI revolution.