Free of Cost Digital Tools to Marginalized Communities

• 06 Dec 2023

For Prelims: National Education Policy 2020, PM e-VIDYA, Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing (DIKSHA), Digitally Accessible Information System (DAISY), CBSE Podcast- Shiksha Vani, SATHEE portal

For Mains: Significance of government step to provide free of cost digital to marginalized communities.

Source: PIB

Why in News?

Recently, the Minister of State for Education provided details in a written response in the Lok Sabha about the measures taken by the Government to provide marginalized communities with digital tools at no cost.

• The National Education Policy 2020 calls for investment in digital infrastructure, online teaching platforms and tools, virtual labs, digital repositories, online assessments, technology and pedagogy for online teaching-learning etc.

What Government Initiatives Exist for Providing Digital Tools to Marginalized Communities?

• PM e-Vidhya:
  • About:
    • A comprehensive initiative called PM e-VIDYA was initiated as part of Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan in 2020.
    • It unifies all efforts related to digital/online/on-air education to enable multi-mode access to education.
    • The PM eVidya initiative is available to all the students across all the states free of cost.
  • Key Components of PM eVidya:
    • Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing (DIKSHA): DIKSHA is the nation’s digital infrastructure for providing quality e-content for school education in States/Union Territories and QR coded Energized Textbooks for all grades.
      • DIKSHA Portal and Mobile App: It has been created by the Ministry of Education as a storehouse of a large number of eBooks and e-Contents created by States/UTs and National level organizations.
    • PM e-VIDYA DTH TV Channels: As per the Union Budget announcement for Financial Year 2022-23, the 12 DTH Channels have been expanded to 200 PM e-VIDYA DTH TV Channels to enable all States to provide supplementary education in various Indian languages for classes 1-12.
    • CBSE Podcast- Shiksha Vani: The promotion of the extensive utilization of radio, community radio, and the CBSE podcast "Shiksha Vani" is actively encouraged.
    • Digitally Accessible Information System (DAISY): Special e-content for visually and hearing impaired developed on DAISY and in sign language on NIOS website/ YouTube.
    • Virtual labs and Skilling e-labs: To promote crucial critical thinking skills and to give space for creativity, it has been proposed to establish 750 virtual labs and 75 Skilling e-labs by 2023.
      • The Virtual Labs are proposed for Science and Mathematics subjects for Classes 6^th – 12^th, and Skilling e-labs would provide a simulated learning environment.
      • A vertical on Virtual Labs has been created on DIKSHA platform.
• Samagra Shiksha:
  • ICT and Digital initiatives component of centrally sponsored scheme of Samagra Shiksha covers Government and Aided schools having classes VI to XII.
• Sathee Portal:
  • To assist students preparing for competitive exams across the country, a SATHEE portal has been developed in collaboration with IIT Kanpur.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims

Q. Which of the following provisions of the Constitution does India have a bearing on Education? (2012)

1. Directive Principles of State Policy
2. Rural and Urban Local Bodies
3. Fifth Schedule
4. Sixth Schedule
5. Seventh Schedule

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3, 4 and 5 only
(c) 1, 2 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Ans- (d)

---

Mains

Q1. How have digital initiatives in India contributed to the functioning of the education system in the country? Elaborate on your answer. (2020)

Q2. Discuss the main objectives of Population Education and point out the measures to achieve them in India in detail. (2021)