Lok Sabha Question No. 2254 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-02
Subject: Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Anil Firojiya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2254 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.08.2021

## Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat

## † 2254 . SHRI ANIL FIROJIYA:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) the details of methods likely to be used in view of the prevailing conditions of Covid-19 to take forward the 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' programme;

(b) whether any scheme is being formulated to bring improvements in the digital education system;

(c) if so, the manner in which these improvements are likely to be done along with the details thereof; and

(d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a): In view of Covid-19, activities under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme (EBSB) are being carried out in online mode. The activities inter alia include learning the language of paired State, preparation of dishes, celebration of EBSB Days, webinars/ lectures on festivals/ food/ culture/ other information etc. of paired State/ UT, quiz/ essay/ painting competitions, etc. A Digital Repository has been developed on EBSB Portal for all online/ digital material developed  by  participating  Ministries.  'Aaj  Ka  Vakya',  a  language  learning  initiative  in which a sentence is  shared  every  day  in  22  Indian  languages,  is  being  run  through  EBSB Portal  and  social  media  handles  of  Ek  Bharat  Shreshtha  Bharat  and  the  websites  of participating Ministries. A 'Recipe Corner' has also been launched where people can share recipes  of  their  regions.  More  details  about  the  programme  and  activities  conducted  are available at https://ekbharat.gov.in/.

(b) to (d): Yes, PM e-Vidya is a programme under Atma Nirbhar Bharat for multi-mode access to digital/online education. It consists of the following four kinds of digital education resources:

- i. One nation, one digital education platform: DIKSHA portal for school education in states/UTs
- ii. One class, one channel: One earmarked TV channel per class from 1 to 12
- iii. Extensive use of Radio, Community radio and Podcasts
- iv. Special e-content for visually and hearing impaired.

Further,  Department  of  Higher  Education,  Ministry  of  Education  is  administering 'National  Mission  on  Education  through  Information  and  Communication  Technology' (NMEICT) Scheme to leverage the potential of ICT, in providing high quality personalized and interactive knowledge modules over the internet/ intranet for all the learners in Higher Education  Institutions  in  anytime  anywhere  mode. Under  this  scheme,  various  digital initiatives are being undertaken viz. SWAYAM ("Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring  Minds"),  SWAYAM  Prabha,  National  Digital  Library  (NDL),  Virtual  Lab,  eYantra, FOSSEE, NEAT (National Education Alliance for technology) etc. to ensure quality education to students, across the country.

In order to promote Online education, UGC has notified necessary regulation, which facilitates the Universities to offer full-fledged Online Program. The current provisions of 20 per  cent  Online  courses  in  a  programme,  as  per  provisions  of  UGC  SWAYAM  and  ODL Regulations, enhanced up to maximum 40 per cent.