**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 410, answered on February 2, 2026, regarding the NIPUN Bharat Mission. The report outlines the major achievements of the mission, launched on July 5, 2021, to ensure foundational literacy and numeracy for all children by the end of Grade 2, and confirms that State/UT wise PARAKH 2024 reports were released on July 2, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Mission Overview:**
* The NIPUN Bharat Mission aims to achieve foundational literacy and numeracy for all children by the end of Grade 2.
* It aligns with NEP 2020 and operates under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, implemented across 36 States/Union Territories.
* The age group of 3-6 years is included in the school continuum within the 5+3+3+4 structure.
* **Curriculum & Resources:**
* The National Curricular Framework for Foundational Stage (NCF-FS) was released on October 20, 2022, providing a syllabus structure, teacher training, and learning materials.
* 'Vidya Pravesh', a 3-month play-based school preparation module for Grade 1, launched on July 29, 2021, has benefited over 4.2 crore students in 8.9 lakh schools (from 2022-23 till date).
* 'Jaadui Pitara', a play-based learning material for ages 3-8, was launched on February 20, 2023, with 53 Learning Teaching Materials (LTM) in 22 Indian languages.
* The e-Jaadui Pitara (e-JP) was launched on February 10, 2024, as a web-based application with over 1,000 stories in 14 Indian languages, featuring AI bots (Katha Sakhi, Teacher Tara, and Parent Tara).
* Play and activity-based textbooks for classes 1 and 2 were released in July 2023, fulfilling NEP 2020 and NCF-FS recommendations.
* Primers were developed in 121 Local Languages (launched in March, 2024).
* **Assessment & Training:**
* Lakshyas (Targets) for Foundational Literacy and Numeracy have been developed.
* NISHTHA online training was launched in October 2020, reaching over 15.45 lakh teachers.
* PARAKH is conducted once in three years to evaluate learning competencies. The Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024 was conducted on December 4, 2024. The State/UT wise PARAKH reports were released on July 2, 2025, accessible at https://dashboard.parakh.ncert.gov.in/en.
* **Mission Impact**
* PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024 findings highlight significant improvement in foundational literacy and numeracy skills outcomes.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Students**
* **Impact:** Improved foundational literacy and numeracy skills.
* **Action Required:** Engage with learning resources, including 'Vidya Pravesh', 'Jaadui Pitara', e-JP, and new textbooks.
**Stakeholder: Teachers**
* **Impact:** Access to new teaching materials and training programs.
* **Action Required:** Utilize NCF-FS, teacher training programs like NISHTHA, and available learning resources.
**Stakeholder: Parents**
* **Impact:** Access to resources and guidance for supporting their children's education.
* **Action Required:** Use Parent Tara AI bot to seek support and fun activities.
**Stakeholder: States/Union Territories**
* **Impact:** Implementation of the NIPUN Bharat Mission.
* **Action Required:** Implement NIPUN Bharat Mission across all schools and follow guidelines and recommendations.
Key Entities Referenced
NIPUN Bharat Mission: National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy, aiming to ensure every child attains foundational literacy and numeracy by the end of Grade 2.
Ministry of Education: The central ministry responsible for the NIPUN Bharat Mission and overall education policy.
National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: The overarching national policy framework that guides the NIPUN Bharat Mission.
Samagra Shiksha: A centrally sponsored scheme for school education under which the NIPUN Bharat Mission is implemented.
National Curricular Framework for Foundational Stage (NCF-FS): Provides the structure for the syllabus, Training of Teachers, Learning Teaching Material (LTM).
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-410
ANSWERED ON-02/02/2026
Achieving of NIPUN Bharat Mission
410. Shri Baijayant Panda:
Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the major achievements of the NIPUN Bharat (National Initiative for
Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy) Mission during the last three
years;
(b) whether the Government has a vision or blueprint to introduce AI under this mission; and
(c) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a ) to (c): The Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education has
launched a National Mission called “National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with
Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN Bharat)” on 5th July, 2021 for ensuring that every
child in the country necessarily attains foundational literacy and numeracy by the end of
Grade 2. This Mission aligned with NEP 2020, has been set up under the aegis of the
centrally sponsored scheme of Samagra Shiksha- an integrated scheme for School
Education. Under Samagra Shiksha, all 36 States/Union Territories are implementing the
NIPUN-Bharat Mission. It is the first time that the age group of 3-6 years has been included
in the school continuum in the foundational stage in 5+3+3+4 structure consisting of 3 years
of Balvatika and Grade 1 & 2.
National Curricular Framework for Foundational Stage (NCF-FS) was released on
20th October, 2022 providing a structure for the syllabus, Training of Teachers, Learning
Teaching Material (LTM), etc. The details of the major achievements of the NIPUN Bharat
(National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy) Mission
during the last three years are as under:A 3 months play based ‘School Preparation Module and Guidelines’ for Grade I
named ‘Vidya Pravesh’ was launched on 29th July, 2021. The goal of Vidya Pravesh
programme is to promote school preparedness in all children coming to Grade- I from
diverse backgrounds (Balvatika, Anganwadi Centers (AWCs), at home, private play
schools etc.), to ensure a smooth transition of children to Grade-I. It provides play based,
age and developmentally appropriate learning experiences in a joyful and stimulating
environment leading to holistic development to bolster a child’s pre-literacy, pre-
numeracy, cognitive and social skills. This Programme is being implemented across the
country. From 2022-23 till date, over 4.2 crore students in 8.9 lakh schools have
benefitted.
‘Jaadui Pitara’ - a play-based learning-teaching material is tailored for children
between the age group of 3-8 years. As envisaged in the National Education Policy
(NEP) 2020 and National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (NCF-FS)
‘Jaadui Pitara’, was launched on 20th February, 2023. The Jaadui Pitara is a box having
53 Learning Teaching Materials (LTM) for the foundational stage. Available in 22
Indian languages, it has toys, games, puzzles. puppets, posters, flashcards, story cards,
playbooks etc. for students and handbooks for teachers. It also consists of a Trainer’s
Handbook ‘Unmukh’ which is a comprehensive guide for the trainers which has activity
bank for 3–6-year-old children which is mapped to Panchkoshiya vikas and curricular
goals of NCF-FS for future training of teachers at Foundational Stage. The Activity Book
‘Anand” contains integrated worksheets to be used by children.
The e-Jaadui Pitara (e-JP) was launched on 10th February 2024. The e-JP is an
integration of the latest technology with play-based pedagogy and a way to disseminate
the learning of Jaadui Pitara and transcend it beyond the four walls of the classroom. e-JP,
in alignment with the NEP 2020, is web-based application along with browser access at
https://ejaaduipitara.ncert.gov.in/. The app currently has more than 1,000 stories in 14
different Indian languages. This website and mobile application is packed with fun and
engaging content in multiple languages, including activities, songs, riddles, stories and
lullabies. Using Artificial Intelligence, it comprises of three bots, viz.,
Katha Sakhi: Your storyteller Buddy, bringing magical tales to life;
Teacher Tara: A guide for educators, offering tips and resources; and
Parent Tara: A supportive companion for parents, providing guidance and fun
activities.Play and activity-based textbooks for classes 1 and 2 have been released in July, 2023
(Hindi-“Sarangi”, English-“Mridang”, “Mathematics- Joyful-Mathematics and
Anandmay-Ganit” and Urdu- “Shahnai”) fulfilling NEP 2020 and NCF-FS (National
Curricular Framework for Foundational Stage) recommendations.
Primers (launched in March, 2024) have been developed in 121 Local Languages for
foundational literacy and numeracy in mother tongues spoken by populations of at least
10,000.
Lakshyas or Targets for Foundational Literacy and Numeracy starting from the
Balvatika-3 upto Grade 2 based on the learning outcomes have been developed on the
basis of national and international research.
NISHTHA (National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic
Advancement) online was launched using DIKSHA platform in October 2020 to reach out
to elementary teachers and its further extension to all level of teachers. It includes
multiple approaches for interaction i.e., Text Modules along with videos. Currently, it
hosts contents in 133 languages (126 Indian Languages + 7 foreign languages). More than
15.45 lakh teachers have completed NISHTHA online training program for FLN &
ECCE.
PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic
Development) is conducted to evaluate the learning competencies of students in
Foundational Literacy & Numeracy, Language and Mathematics at the end of each of the
educational stages i.e. Foundational, Preparatory and Middle in Grades 3,6 & 9. PARAKH
is conducted once in three years.
The latest PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024 was conducted on 4th December,
2024. The State/UT wise PARAKH 2024 report has been officially released in public
domain on 2nd July, 2025. This can be accessed at
https://dashboard.parakh.ncert.gov.in/en.
PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024 findings highlight a significant improvement
in foundational literacy and numeracy skills outcomes, reflecting the positive impact of
the NIPUN Bharat Mission as envisioned in NEP 2020. It reflects that the performance of
children in Grade 3 in rural school is better than urban schools and government schools
have performed better than private schools at foundational stage.
Grade 3: Comparative Picture
NAS 2021 PRS 2024
Language 62 64
Mathematics 57 60
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