Reimagining English Language Teaching through Generative Artificial Intelligence: The SMART-ELT Framework for Indian Higher Education

Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), is transforming higher education by enabling personalised learning, adaptive assessment, and intelligent instructional support. In English Language Teaching (ELT), AI-powered applications such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Grammarly, and ELSA Speak provide innovative opportunities to improve language proficiency, learner engagement, and digital literacy. Despite these developments, the pedagogical integration of AI within Indian higher education remains fragmented, with limited guidance on aligning AI technologies with curriculum objectives, classroom pedagogy, ethical practices, and national educational reforms. This paper proposes the SMART-ELT Framework (Scaffolded, Multimodal, AI-driven, Reflective Teaching Framework) as a conceptual model for integrating Generative AI into undergraduate English language classrooms. The study adopts a qualitative conceptual research design supported by a systematic review of recent literature published between 2021 and 2026. The proposed framework integrates Constructivism, Communicative Language Teaching (CLT), Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT), Bloom's Revised Taxonomy, and the principles of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to promote learner-centred, competency-based, and technology-enabled instruction. The framework demonstrates how AI can support listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, formative assessment, and reflective learning while preserving the central role of teachers as facilitators and ethical mentors. The paper further discusses implementation strategies, pedagogical implications, ethical considerations, and institutional readiness for responsible AI adoption. The study concludes that AI should be viewed not as a substitute for teachers but as an intelligent pedagogical partner that enriches language learning and prepares students with the linguistic, digital, and critical thinking competencies required for the twenty-first century.