Parliament Question: Learning disabilities screening

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1298 ANSWERED ON 11.02.2026 Learning disabilities screening 1298 Dr. Sikander Kumar: Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state: (a) whether Government plan to implement the mandatory, non-stigmatizing screening of all students for learning disabilities such as dyslexia and dyscalculia; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c) whether any new national guidelines are being proposed to promote inclusive sports as part of the core curriculum for children with disabilities, if so, the details thereof; and (d) whether the curriculum being adapted would support neurodivergent students and what assessment reforms are being introduced by school boards to accommodate these learners? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY) (a) to (d): The Government has developed the PRASHAST (Pre-Assessment Holistic Screening Tool) App to screen all school going students in age 3 to 18 years for early identification of 21 disabilities, including benchmark disabilities as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016. PRASHAST is divided into two parts - Part 1 and Part 2. PRASHAST Part 1 is for use by regular teachers for first-level screening and the Part 2 is for use by special educators for second-level screening and broad categorisation of disabilities as per the checklist in accordance with the 21 categories of disability conditions recognized by the RPwD Act, 2016. The comprehensive list of questions of the PRASHAST Part 1 & Part 2 checklist can be accessed via https://ncert.nic.in/pdf/DSCS_booklet.pdf. The results of the second-level screening enable sharing of the data for school health camps and block assessment camps for providing assistive devices, Teaching-Learning Materials (TLM), appliances etc, as well as enables the class teachers and special educators to initiate remedial teaching in the schools for children screened for probable learning difficulties using the PRASHAST App.To promote inclusive sports, the Ministry has issued revised Guidelines for Sports Grant under Samagra Shiksha in August, 2023 wherein inclusive sports is covered under para-9 of the guidelines. The Ministry has written to all States/UTs in December, 2025 emphasizing that sports and recreational activities are a vital component of holistic and inclusive education, especially for CwSN, as mandated under the RPwD Act, 2016 and reinforced by NEP 2020 and NCF-SE 2022. It underscores the role of inclusive, interest-based pathways particularly sports, games, yoga and movement-based activities in improving retention, engagement and socio-emotional development. States/UTs were urged to strengthen inclusive sports programmes under Samagra Shiksha by partnering with recognized national sports bodies, redesigning school routines to integrate physical activities into daily learning, building teacher capacity, and promoting convergence between education and sports ecosystems, in line with the National Sports Policy 2025, to ensure dignity, participation and equal opportunities for CwSN in schools. Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has brought in reforms for CwSN by providing examination accommodation such as use of computers, calculators, assistive devices, scribes, extra time, and language exemptions to ensure fair and appropriate assessment. The Ministry has circulated the CBSE reform guidelines with all States/UTs for adoption/adaptation. *****