Cursor, the rapidly growing AI coding platform, has recently stirred controversy by quietly removing India from its one-year free Pro subscription plan for students. Initially available to Indian students, the offer was silently retracted, leaving many in disbelief and sparking criticism across various online platforms.
Global Offer with Local Exclusion
Cursor’s 12-month Pro subscription plan aimed at students offers 500 fast requests per month for AI models like GPT-4o, Claude 3.7 Sonnet, and Grok-3. Sign-up requires email or enrollment verification. Though payment details are required, there is no charge for the first year, with standard charges applying thereafter unless cancelled.
While this offer remains available globally, Indian students found themselves unexpectedly excluded. Forum discussions on Cursor’s website reveal users expressing frustration over the exclusion, with comments highlighting India’s significant contributions to the global tech industry. Users labeled the move as unfair, with sentiments like “Omitting India is a mistake” and “Injustice is done to Indian students.”
Speculations on the Decision
No official statement has been issued by Cursor regarding this decision. However, speculation among users suggests the exclusion might be a measure to counter misuse of the free plan, possibly involving account reselling or spam activities.
Cursor, developed by the US-based startup Anysphere, is built on Microsoft’s Visual Studio Code. It supports several large language models, including proprietary ones and those from OpenAI and Amazon-backed Anthropic. The platform recently surpassed a million daily users, with annual recurring revenue doubling from $100 million in January to $200 million by April.
Anysphere’s Meteoric Rise
Anysphere, founded by four MIT graduates in 2022, recently closed a significant $900 million funding round led by Thrive Capital, boosting its valuation to nearly $9 billion. The company’s rapid ascent has even caught the interest of major players like OpenAI.
The decision to exclude India, however, comes at a time when Anysphere is experiencing explosive growth worldwide. This move has raised eyebrows and led to questions about its implications on the company’s future relations with the Indian tech ecosystem.
Conclusion
As Anysphere continues its trajectory, the exclusion of Indian students from the free Pro plan has become a focal point of discussion, emphasizing the need for clarity and transparency in global offerings.
Stay updated with the latest tech news by visiting aitechtrend.com.
Note: This article is inspired by content from https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/cursor-kicks-out-indians-from-its-1-year-free-plan-for-students-2723636-2025-05-12. It has been rephrased for originality. Images are credited to the original source.