2020 · GS Paper 1 · Q20 · 15 marks
How have digital initiatives in India contributed to the functioning of the education system in the country ? Elaborate your answer.
In short
Digital initiatives have made India's education system more resilient, open and data-driven, through shared content, online courses, TV lessons, online teacher training and portable credentials. DIKSHA's QR-coded energised textbooks became the core of PM eVIDYA when COVID-19 closed schools in 2020.
Model answer
Ghissu Editorial · Verified 4 Oct 2026 · 287 words
Common content backbone
DIKSHA (2017) hosts curriculum-linked material in many Indian languages, and QR-coded "energised textbooks" link printed lessons to videos, making it the core of PM eVIDYA (2020).
Open higher education
SWAYAM (2017) offers free courses from IITs and universities, with credits transferable into degrees under UGC rules.
Reaching the unconnected
SWAYAM Prabha DTH channels and PM eVIDYA's "one class, one channel" TV lessons reached homes without internet.
Teacher capacity
NISHTHA (2019) teacher training moved online on DIKSHA in 2020.
Data-driven administration
UDISE+ feeds the Performance Grading Index, and Gujarat's Vidya Samiksha Kendra (2019) tracks attendance and learning outcomes.
Portable credentials
The Academic Bank of Credits (2021) and APAAR ID (2023) let credits follow the learner.
Uneven reach
The NSS 75th round (2017-18) found only about a quarter of households had internet, so the online shift widened rural, class and gender gaps.
Access and blended pedagogy
Extend BharatNet to schools, share devices through community centres, and use content to support teachers, as NEP 2020's blended learning envisages.
Federated architecture
Build on the National Digital Education Architecture (2021) with privacy safeguards and mother-tongue content.
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Question from the official UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2020 paper. Answer written by Ghissu's engine and checked against our editorial standards. Found an error? Tell us and we correct it within 48 hours.