Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Education addresses computer literacy in schools, emphasizing the role of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The NEP focuses on online and digital education, and digital literacy is integrated into school programs through initiatives like Samagra Shiksha and PM eVidya. The PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024 assessed student learning nationwide, gathering data on digital access.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **National Education Policy (NEP) 2020:**
* Emphasizes online and digital education for quality education.
* Aims to transform education to suit 21st-century needs.
* **Samagra Shiksha:**
* Implements ICT and Digital initiatives to enhance digital learning in government schools.
* Integrates technology into teaching and learning processes.
* **State of Tamil Nadu Initiatives:**
* Established ICT Labs in 6,995 Elementary Education schools and 6,223 Secondary Education schools.
* Set up Smart Classrooms in 22,931 schools.
* Provided Internet Connectivity to 21,350 Primary schools, 6,995 Middle schools, and 6,223 High and Higher Secondary schools.
* **PM eVidya:**
* Unifies digital education efforts for multi-mode access.
* Includes 200 DTH TV Channels and 400 Radio channels for supplementary education.
* **DIKSHA (Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing):**
* Provides quality e-content and QR-coded Energised Textbooks (ETBs).
* Features over 3.69 lakh content contributions in local languages.
* Recorded 564.05 crore learning sessions and offers 300+ Virtual Labs.
* **Union Budget 2025:**
* Includes BharatNet project to extend broadband to government secondary schools in rural areas.
* **Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE):**
* Offers computer-based subjects from Classes IX to XII.
* Provides foundational digital skills exposure in Classes VI to VIII, including modules on AI, Data Science, Coding, IT, AR/VR, and Digital Citizenship.
* **PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024:**
* Assessed over 21 lakh students across Grades 3, 6, and 9.
* Gathered contextual data on digital access.
Impact Analysis:
* **Students:**
* Impact: Enhanced access to digital learning resources and skills development.
* Action Required: Utilize available digital resources and participate in digital learning programs.
* **Teachers:**
* Impact: Integration of technology into teaching processes and access to digital content.
* Action Required: Incorporate digital tools and content into teaching methods and monitor the effectiveness of digital initiatives.
* **State Governments/UTs:**
* Impact: Implementation of digital education initiatives and collaboration with NCERT.
* Action Required: Collaborate with NCERT to utilize, monitor, and evaluate the effectiveness of digital initiatives and add computer-based subjects as part of their curriculum.
* **Schools (Government):**
* Impact: Increased availability of ICT infrastructure and digital learning resources.
* Action Required: Establish and maintain ICT labs, smart classrooms, and internet connectivity.
Key Entities Referenced
National Education Policy NEP, 2020: A national policy document that emphasizes online and digital education.
Samagra Shiksha: A Ministry of Education initiative to enhance digital learning in Government schools.
State of Tamil Nadu: A state in India that has implemented ICT labs and smart classrooms in its schools.
PM eVidya: A comprehensive initiative under Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan that unifies digital education efforts.
Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing DIKSHA: India's One Nation, One Digital platform for school education content.
BharatNet project: A project to extend broadband connectivity to government secondary schools in rural areas.
Central Board of Secondary Education CBSE: A national level board of education in India that offers computer-based subjects from Classes IX to XII.
PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024: A survey conducted by NCERT's National Assessment Centre assessing students across Grades 3, 6, and 9 nationwide.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3514
ANSWERED ON 11/08/2025
Policy for Computer Literacy in School
3514. Shri Eswarasamy K:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has any specific policy to ensure computer literacy among school
children in the country, State/UT-wise;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has undertaken any survey of computer literacy among school children,
State-wise; and
(d) if so, the details of the findings of such studies/surveys, with particular reference to the State of
Tamil Nadu ?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a) to (d) Education is part of the Concurrent List of the Constitution and majority of the schools are
under the administration of the respective State Governments. The National Education Policy (NEP),
2020 in its Chapter 23 and 24 lays utmost emphasis on Online and Digital education and its equitable
use including foundational contemporaneous digital literacy for achieving the overall goal of quality
education for all. NEP is the first education policy of the 21st century and envisions transformation of
the education sector into a more holistic, flexible and multidisciplinary one, suited to 21st century
needs.
The Ministry of Education implements ICT and Digital initiatives under Samagra Shiksha to enhance
digital learning in Government schools across the country. The initiatives aim to enhance the quality
of education by integrating technology into learning and teaching processes.
The State of Tamil Nadu has informed that ICT Labs have been established in all Government Middle,
High and Higher Secondary schools – comprising 6,995 schools under Elementary Education and
6,223 schools under Secondary Education, Smart Classrooms have been set up in 22,931
Government Primary, High and Higher Secondary schools, Internet Connectivity has been provided to
21,350 Government Primary schools, 6,995 Middle schools and 6,223 High and Higher Secondary
schools.
A comprehensive initiative called PM eVidya was initiated as part of ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan’
on 17th May, 2020, which unifies all efforts related to digital/online/on-air education to enable multi-
mode access to education across the country. States/Union Territories (UTs) collaborate with NCERT
to utilise, monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of these initiatives as per their requirements. PM
eVidya includes 200 DTH TV Channels allotted to States/UTs/Autonomous Bodies (ABs)/OtherMinistries in Government of India and 400 Radio channels to enable them to provide supplementary
education as per their requirement in various Indian languages for classes 1-12.
Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing (DIKSHA) is the Nation’s One Nation, One Digital
platform for providing quality e-content for school education in States/UTs along with QR coded
Energised Textbooks (ETBs) for all grades. As a participant in DIKSHA, States/UTs/ABs have generated
and contributed over 3.69 lakh content in local/regional languages. Overall, 564.05 crore learning
sessions have been completed on DIKSHA by students, teachers and other stakeholders. The
stakeholders have access to more than 300 Virtual Labs on DIKSHA.
The Union Budget 2025 includes a provision under the BharatNet project to extend broadband
connectivity to government secondary schools in rural areas in a phased manner, through BSNL.
As per the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Scheme of Studies, students can opt to study
computer-based subjects from Classes IX to XII. In Classes VI to VIII, foundational exposure to digital
skills is provided through vocational education. Under this, students may study any of the six
modules to enhance their computer literacy namely, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Coding,
Information Technology, Augmented/Virtual Reality (AR/VR) and Digital Citizenship. States/UTs
through their respective boards have added computer-based subjects as part of their curriculum.
The PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024, conducted by NCERT’s National Assessment Centre under
the Ministry of Education, assessed over 21 lakh students across Grades 3, 6, and 9 nationwide,
which was not focused specifically on computer literacy, however, it gathered contextual data on
digital access that can be accessed from https://dashboard.parakh.ncert.gov.in/en.
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