**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Indian government's response to a parliamentary inquiry regarding the status of digital classrooms and teacher training under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan. It details the financial assistance provided for smart classrooms, teacher training programs aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and learning outcome assessments conducted across the country, specifically the PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan (PRS) 2024 which was conducted on December 4th, 2024.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Smart Classrooms:**
* Under Samagra Shiksha, financial aid is given to States/UTs for creating smart classrooms in government and government-aided schools (Classes VI-XII).
* 1,76,728 smart classrooms have been approved till date.
* Outlay and Expenditure (in Lakh Rupees) for Smart Classrooms:
* 2022-23: Outlay approved - 73823.20; Expenditure Incurred - 66276.64
* 2023-24: Outlay approved - 53729.70; Expenditure Incurred - 36947.14
* 2024-25: Outlay approved - 59518.80; Expenditure Incurred - 11525.20
* **Teacher Training & Capacity Building:**
* Teacher training/education is supported under Samagra Shiksha aligning with NEP 2020, focusing on physical infrastructure in Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs) and support to State Councils of Educational Research and Trainings (SCERTs).
* Support includes development of curriculum frameworks, capacity building of District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) functionaries, and continuous academic support.
* The DIKSHA platform supports teacher capacity building for digital education by providing e-content and digital learning resources.
* NISHTHA is implemented as an integrated teacher training program on DIKSHA.
* NCERT, SCERTS, DIETs, BRCs, and CRCs undertake resource development and training to strengthen teachers' digital preparedness.
* Government has sanctioned financial assistance for upgradation of 125 DIETs for the FY 2023-24 with Rs. 917.09 Crore, and 121 DIETs for the FY 2025-26 with Rs. 1,512.50 Crore so far.
* National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) released National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST) and Bluebook on National Mission for Mentoring (NMM).
* Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP) is notified to develop passionate, motivated, qualified, professionally trained, and well-prepared teachers and admission is carried out by the National Testing Agency (NTA) through the National Common Entrance Test (NCET).
* **Learning Outcome Assessments:**
* The Government conducts assessments to measure learning outcomes.
* PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan (PRS) 2024 was conducted on December 4th, 2024, to understand baseline performance under NEP 2020.
* PRS 2024 is system-level reflection on Learning Outcomes in India.
* Reports for PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024 are available at a dedicated dashboard: https://dashboard.parakh.ncert.gov.in/en.
**Impact Analysis**
* **States/Union Territories:**
* **Impact:** Receive financial assistance for establishing smart classrooms and upgrading DIETs.
* **Action Required:** Submit proposals to avail financial assistance for DIET upgradation.
* **Teachers:**
* **Impact:** Benefit from various training programs and resources, including those provided through DIKSHA and NISHTHA.
* **Action Required:** Participate in training programs and utilize digital resources for professional development.
* **Teacher Educators/Administrators (DIETs, SCERTs, BRC/CRC Functionaries):**
* **Impact:** Their capacity is built through dedicated programs, and DIETs are upgraded to Centres of Excellence.
* **Action Required:** Implement updated curriculum frameworks and participate in capacity building initiatives.
* **Students:**
* **Impact:** Benefit from improved digital classroom infrastructure and enhanced teacher quality, leading to better learning outcomes.
* **Action Required:** Not specified in the document.
* **National Assessment Centre, PARAKH, NCERT:**
* **Impact:** Tasked with conducting national surveys to assess learning and educational outcomes.
* **Action Required:** Conduct periodic large-scale assessments and disseminate findings.
Key Entities Referenced
Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan: A centrally sponsored scheme for school education, focusing on improving school effectiveness measured in terms of equal opportunities and equitable learning outcomes.
National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: A comprehensive framework for elementary education to higher education as well as vocational training in India.
Ministry of Education: The government ministry responsible for the formulation and administration of the rules, regulations and laws relating to education in India.
DIETs (District Institute of Education and Training): District-level educational institutes in India that provide academic and resource support to elementary education teachers.
PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan: A large-scale assessment conducted to measure learning and educational outcomes across India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 207
ANSWERED ON 01/12/2025
Digital Classroom under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan
207. Shri Bidyut Baran Mahato:
Shri Lumbaram Choudhary:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) the details of current status of digital classroom infrastructure and teacher training under
the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan;
(b) whether the budgetary allocation has been made and utilized during the last three financial
years under SSA, if so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether any assessment has been made to measure learning outcomes achieved under the
Abhiyan and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(SH. JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a) & (b): Under Samagra Shiksha, financial assistance is provided to States/UTs, for setting
up Smart Classrooms in Government and Government Aided Schools having classes VI to
XII. Till date 1,76,728 Smart Classrooms have been sanctioned to State/UT Governments.
The details of outlay approved and expenditure incurred from 2022-23 to 2024-25 for
Smart Classrooms under Samagra Shiksha is as under: -
(Rs. in Lakh)
Smart Classrooms
Financial Year
Outlay approved Expenditure Incurred
2022-23 73823.20 66276.64
2023-24 53729.70 36947.14
2024-25 59518.80 11525.20
Strengthening of teacher training/education programmes is supported under Samagra
Shiksha in alignment with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP),
2020. The interventions under Samagra Shiksha are aimed at strengthening of physical
infrastructure in Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs); support to State Councils of
Educational Research and Trainings (SCERTs) so that they can effectively and efficiently
carry out quality teacher education, research and develop state-specific curriculum
framework, as a follow up to the National Curriculum Framework for School Education
(NCF SE); capacity building of District Institute of Education and Training (DIET)
functionaries; continuous academic support to schools through BRC/CRC etc.Financial support is provided under this scheme as per state specific proposals for in-
service training of teachers, school Heads, subject teachers, resource persons, master trainers,
Education Administrators, Teachers Educators, key resource persons, induction training of
newly recruited teachers including those in rural and remote areas at elementary and
secondary levels through SCERTs and DIETs, as the nodal agencies.
Under Samagra Shiksha, teacher capacity building for digital education is being
supported through the Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing (DIKSHA) platform,
which provides e-content and digital learning resources. The Department has also
implemented NISHTHA (National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic
Advancement) as an integrated teacher training programme on DIKSHA, covering modules
on digital pedagogy, use of ICT tools and technology-enabled learning. Further, NCERT,
SCERTs, DIETs, BRCs and CRCs undertake development of resource material, digital
content, training programmes and workshops to strengthen teachers’ preparedness for digital
education.
The Government has decided to develop all functional 613 DIETs into Centers of
Excellence under Samagra Shiksha in a phased manner starting from FY 2023-24. Based on
proposals submitted by States/UTs, the Government has sanctioned financial assistance of
Rs. 917.09 Crore for upgradation of 125 DIETs for the FY 2023-24 and Rs. 1,512.50 Crore
for upgradation of 121 DIETs for the FY 2025-26 so far.
Further, inline with the recommendations of NEP, 2020, National Council for Teacher
Education (NCTE) has released a Guiding Document on the National Professional Standards
for Teachers (NPST) and Bluebook on the National Mission for Mentoring (NMM). NPST
defines competencies of teachers at different stages/levels. The Bluebook on NMM contains
the various modalities for mentoring of school teachers for enhancing their capacity building.
NCTE has notified Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP), a 4-year
integrated dual major bachelor degree in Education as well as a specialized subject in arts,
science, physical education etc. The aim is to develop passionate, motivated, qualified,
professionally trained, and well-prepared teachers. Admission for the ITEP is carried out by
the National Testing Agency (NTA) through the National Common Entrance Test (NCET).
(c): The Government of India conducts periodic large-scale assessments to measure learning
and educational outcomes across the country. Recently, PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan
(PRS) 2024 was conducted on 4th December, 2024, by the National Assessment Centre,
PARAKH, NCERT under the aegis of the Department of School Education & Literacy,
Ministry of Education to understand the baseline performance under the National Education
Policy (NEP) 2020 in development of competencies among students at the end of the
Foundational, Preparatory and Middle Stages (assessed in Grades 3, 6 and 9, respectively) of
education. This Sarvekshan is designed as a system-level reflection on Learning Outcomes in
India which underscores critical competency, skill or infrastructural gaps at various stages of
schooling. National, State and District level reports for PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024
are available at https://dashboard.parakh.ncert.gov.in/en, a dedicated dashboard designed to
disseminate the findings of the assessment.
****