Lok Sabha Question No. 634 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-24
Subject: Digital Services for Online Education
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Khan Saumitra

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 634 ANSWERED ON 24.07.2023

## Digital Services for Online Education

## 634.  SHRI SAUMITRA KHAN:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government has established a Digital University as announced in the 2023-24 Budget, if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether the Government has partnered with any institutes, within the country and abroad, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  manner  in  which  the  Government  is  planning  to  promote  the  same  among  vulnerable communities and classes that cannot easily afford digital devices to pursue an online education in various States of the country including West Bengal;
- (d) the official figures of all the scholarships granted through the National Scholarship Portal in 2022-23, scheme/State-wise;
- (e)  the details of the scholarship scheme which has the most number of beneficiaries; and
- (f) the  number  of  beneficiaries  who  failed  in  their  subsequent  years  of  study,  thereby  waiving  their scholarship and the action taken or likely by the Government to help them?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUBHAS SARKAR)

(a) to (c)  Government of India in its Budget Announcement 2022-2023 has announced establishment of Digital University. It will provide access to students across the country for world-class quality universal education  with  personalised  learning  experience  at  their  doorsteps.  The  salient  feature  of  the  Digital University  is  a  networked  hub-spoke  model,  with  the  hub  building  cutting  edge  ICT  expertise  by partnering with various top institutions such as Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, Delhi University, Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi, Indian Institute of Technology-Kharagpur, etc.

To ensure the reach of educational contents to all communities including vulnerable communities and classes in all States including West Bengal, various initiatives such as Multi-lingual content, accessible Learning  Management  System,  linking  peer  learners  to  create  strong  learning  communities  and synchronised,  experiential  learning  by  blending  multi-modal  education  through  SWAYAM,  SWAYAM PRABHA TV CHANNELS etc. has been planned.

(d) to (f) The National Scholarship Portal (NSP) is maintained by National Informatics Centre (NIC) of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). As per the information provided by the NIC teams  maintaining  the  NSP,  in  Academic  Year  2022-2023,  a  total  of  142  scholarship  schemes  were hosted on NSP covering Central Sector Schemes, Centrally Sponsored Schemes and State Schemes. The  Scheme-wise  details  on  these  scholarships  are  at  https://www.education.gov.in/parl\_ques.  The State-wise information can be accessed at https://nsp.gov.in/dashboard/statepage#. The NSP maintains a 24X7 helpline to assist the students. It also sends communication to the state nodal officers and SMS to the eligible students, so that they can complete the application in a timely manner.

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