DIGITALISATION OF EDUCATION IN INDIA
ABSTRACT:
This research paper aims to discuss various initiatives taken by the Indian government in promoting the digitalization of
education and extensively highlights the benefits of digital learning and various obstacles in the path or digital India.
INTRODUCTION:
The 21st century is an age of technology, innovation, and digitalization. Innovation, expansion, and acceptance
of new technologies are making rapid changes in every sector. The Development of information and
communication technologies has been helpful in emerging the process of digitalization that is influencing all
spheres of society, economy, polity, information etc.
Digitalization refers to a process of conversion of text, picture, audio, video into a digital form that can be
processed by a computer whereas digitalization of education refers to the use of digital technologies in the field
of education to teach students therefore presenting a platform for e-platform.
Education refers to encompassing learning and skills through teaching by using a variety of methods and
strategies in their instruction. Education is a lifelong process that aims to produce better citizens who could fit
into this dynamic world and make a contribution to it.
Now a day, the use of technology is evident in every sector, therefore, promoting a wide platform for
digitalization where computers, internet, and associated technologies are used to provide e-access or digital
access to many things. The Process of digitalization is the result of the Indian government’s most aspiring
initiative digital India: A program to transform India into digital empowered society and knowledge economy.
Digital India was launched on 1st July 2015 by our honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi with an aim to
connect rural India with high-speed internet facilities and improving universal digital literacy. Various
initiatives have been taken by the Indian government under digital India campaigns like digital empowerment of
every citizen, availability of digital infrastructure, facilities of e-governance and e-services make available to
every citizen.
MHRD took the first initiative on 9 th July 2017 by organizing a conference in reference to the digitalization of
higher education with an objective to bring transformation in Higher Education. MHRD has launched various
digital platforms for e-learning like SWAYAM (India’s own MOOCs), Swayam Prabha, National Digital
Library, and National Academic Depository.
OBJECTIVE:
To discuss various initiatives taken by the government of India for the digitalization of education. (school and
higher education)
To analyze the advantages of digital learning in India.
To examine the barriers in the path of Digital India.
REVIEW OF LITERATURE :
Shrestha, Deepanjali in the research paper entitled “A Qualitative Study about the Global Gender Digital Divide and Its
Implication in the Adolescent Respondents of Nepal” has analyzed the prevalence of digital gender divide due to
inequality in the access to technology and incapability to use that technology properly and emphasized how women are
behind men in owning technology and in developing skills. Accessibility to technologies, use of resources, socio-cultural
and economic background, age, educational status, region, disability are some common factors responsible for gender
digital divide.
Gond, Ramprakash. Gupta, Rashi in their paper entitled “A Study on Digital Education in India: Scope and Challenges of
the Indian Society” extensively discussed the components, scope, benefits and challenges of digital education in India.
The process of digitalization, is transforming education sector from a traditional platform to an advanced digital platform
that is not only beneficial for students, teachers, and parents but also for the progress of our nation. This will surely
enhance digital literacy on a large scale but availability and accessibility to technology and internet facilities, shortage of
trained teachers, medium of language are some major barrio in the advancement of digital education.
SECTION-A (Initiatives taken by Government of India for the
digitalization of Higher education)
SWAYAM:
SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds) is India’s indigenous MOOCs. The
concept of MOOCs deals with online delivery of lectures or e-learning content (audio, videos, and texts) to a
large number of people simultaneously. SWAYAM was launched on August 15, 2016, and is based on three
principles of education i.e. access, equity and quality. It aims to provide the best learning to all sections
especially to the most disadvantages group and seeks to bridge the digital divide gap by bringing digital
revolution and enhancing the e-learning platform. SWAYAM courses not only the platform for e-learning but
also provide authentic certificates to all registered members after fulfilling certain eligibility criterion.
SWAYAM courses include videos tutorials of the lectures, e-content of the subject matter, self-assessment
quizzes and assignments and discussion forum to ask queries. Total nice coordinators (UGC, NIOS, NCERT,
IGNOU, NITTTR, NPTEL, AICTE, CEC, IIMB) are currently connected with SWAYAM in order to provide
effective online learning. SWAYAM has completed more than 2,748 courses in various disciplinary. Almost 12
million students have been enrolled and 6 lakhs have been awarded certificates.
NPTEL:
NPTEL is a joint initiative of IITs and IISCs, funded by MHRD Government of India. It aims to provide e-learning through
video-based courses in all major branches of engineering and physical sciences at the undergraduate and post-graduate
levels. NPTEL is the largest online repository in the technical field and has conducted almost 392 courses in various
disciplines with almost 20 lakhs enrollment. It has its own YouTube channel with more than 1.5 million subscribers and
819 million viewers.
SWAYAM PRABHA- The 32 Educational DTH channels:
SWAYAM PRABHA is a 32 DTH channels program on 24x7 bases that aims to telecast high-quality educational content by
using the GSAT-15 satellite. This educational content will be of 4 hours in a single day that will be repeated 5 more times
for the convenience of the students. These DTH channels cover various courses for undergraduate and postgraduate
students in diverse disciplines such as science, commerce, humanities, medicine, engineering, law, agriculture etc
developed by NPTEL, IITs, UGC, IGNOU, NCERT, NIOS. These channels also include various modules prepared for 9-
12 level students and teachers for their and learning and training respectively.
e-PG PATHSHALA:
e-PG PATHSHALA is an MHRD sponsored project under NME-ICT(National Mission on Education through ICT). It covers
almost 70 subjects and provides 20000+ e-text, 19000+ videos, and 3200+ experts’ opinion.
e-Pathya:
e-Pathya is an alternative of e-pathshala that can be accessed online. It is beneficial for those students who are pursuing
higher education in distance mode.
e-adhyayan
e-Adhyayan is a platform that provide e-books for under graduate and Post-graduate courses.
NDL( National Digital Library):
National Digital Library is a MHRD sponsored project under NMEICT, and coordinated by IIT, Kharagpur. NDL aims to
collect, preserve and disseminate e-books and provide easy access of books to students. It provides e-content in various
Indian languages, disciplines and support all academic levels including researcher and life-long learner. There are more
than ……… digital books available on NDL platform that covers all major disciplines( Science, Technology, Humanities,
Agriculture and others) and academic levels( Primary to Post-graduate). NDL has its own learning app for android
phones that won the award of mBillionth South Asia in 2017 in learning and education category.
NAD: ( National Academic Depository) :
NAD is an initiative of MHRD, Govt. of India to facilitate online storage of all academic documents provided by
institutions. It is a trusted platform to keep our documents safe and get easy and quick access to all those documents.
NAD secures all documents and provides easy access whenever needed, therefore avoids the problem faced after
missing documents, damage of documents. NAD is one of significant efforts in the making the vision of digital India come
into reality.
Shodhganga:
Shodhganga is a reservoir of Indian thesis and dissertations, setup by the INFLIBNET centre. It ensures online availability
of e-theses and dissertations and facilitates its access to all academic levels. It also ensures quality and standards of
research and avoids the problem of duplication of research. It has more than 269658 theses and 7000+ synopsis.
e-ShodhSindhu:
e-ShodhSindhu is an initiative of MHRD, Govt. of India, being executed by INFLIBNET. It facilitates access to more than
15000 core and peer reviewed journals and full text e- resources, databases in different disciplines at lower rate of
subscription. It aims to promote usage of e- resources in Universities, Colleges and technical institutions in order to
bridge digital divide and reach towards an information based society. It has more than 3135000+ e-books with 1000+
journals and 22 resources.
e-Yantra ( Engineering a better tomorrow) :
e-Yantra is a MHRD sponsored program under National Mission on Education through Information and Communication
Technology (NME-ICT). e-Yantra is a platform for developing robotics by using the talent of Indian youths.
It organizes e-Yantra Robotics competition for engineering, science and polytechnic college’s students and also provides
internship opportunity at e-Yantra lab to them.
e-Yantra lab setup initiative enable colleges to set up robotics lab to provide training to teachers and promote college
students to show their innovative ideas about robotics. It organizes symposium, seminars and workshops for the
teachers on induction to Robotics in order to enhance their skills.
Virtual Labs:
Virtual Labs is an initiative of MHRD, under NMEICT to promote remote-experimentation for UG and PG students and
researcher scholars of various disciplines of Engineering, science and technology. It facilitates easy sharing of costly and
limited equipment’s, resources among large number of students.
Advantages of Digitalization of Education in India:
Challenges for
Conclusion:
Digitalization of Education in India:
