Lok Sabha Question No. 4881 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-23
Subject: Integration of App Based Numeracy learning tools Vedic Mathematics
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Shri Captain Brijesh Chowta, Shri Jagdambika Pal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-4881 ANSWERED ON-23/03/2026

## Integration of App Based Numeracy learning tools Vedic Mathematics

4881. Shri Anurag Singh Thakur: Shri Jagdambika Pal: Shri Captain Brijesh Chowta:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the steps taken during the last five years to mandate, operationalise Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) Mission, as envisaged in National Education Policy (NEP) 2020;
- (b) whether the Government has integrated app based numeracy learning tools, rooted in the country's  traditional  knowledge  systems  such  as  Vedic  Mathematics,  delivered  through indigenous homegrown applications on cloud-based platforms leveraging AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics) technologies and gamification, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the extent to which these initiatives have been implemented across approximately 11 lakh Government schools and 3 lakh Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) schools for holistic child development to address deficiencies in essential life skills;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to permit channelisation of CSR funds of Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs) for bridging the national numeracy gap by supporting early-stage EdTech startups that fuse our country traditional knowledge with AVGC-enabled gamified learning platforms; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

- (a): The Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSE&L), Ministry of Education (MoE) has launched a National Mission called ' National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN Bharat Mission (NBM)) '  on  5 th July,  2021  for

ensuring  that  every  child  in  the  country  necessarily  attains  foundational  literacy  and numeracy (FLN) by the end of Grade 2. This Mission aligned with the National Education Policy  (NEP)  2020,  has  been  set  up  under  the  aegis  of  the  centrally  sponsored  scheme  of Samagra Shiksha- an integrated scheme for School Education. Under Samagra Shiksha, all 36 States/Union Territories  are  implementing  the  NBM. Under  the  NBM,  a  range  of  systemic interventions  have  been  undertaken  and  the  following  progress  has  been  made  across  the country:

(i) A 3-months play based 'School Preparation Module and Guidelines' for Grade I named ' Vidya Pravesh ' was launched on 29 th July, 2021. The goal of Vidya Pravesh programme is to promote  school  preparedness  in  all  children  coming  to  Grade-I  from  diverse  backgrounds (Balvatika,  Anganwadi  Centers  (AWCs),  at  home,  private  play  schools  etc.),  to  ensure  a smooth transition  of  children  to  Grade-I.  It  provides  play  based,  age  and  developmentally appropriate learning experiences in a joyful and stimulating environment leading to holistic development to bolster a child's pre-literacy, pre-numeracy, cognitive and social skills. This programme is being implemented across the country. From 2022-23 till date, over 4.2 crore students in around 8.9 lakh schools have benefitted. The Vidya Pravesh Programme is a new initiative so that the children are school ready.

(ii)  To  improve  the  learning  outcomes  at  foundational  stage,  the  National  Curricular Framework for Foundational Stage (NCF-FS) was released on 20 th October, 2022 providing a structure for the syllabus, training of teachers, Learning Teaching Material (LTM), etc.

The NEP recommends a toy based pedagogy for FLN for joyful learning. The various LTM being used for the same are as under:

- The Jaadui Pitara (JP), a set of 53 play-based learning-teaching materials for ages 3-8 was launched on 20 th February 2023. Available in 22 Indian languages, JP includes toys, puzzles, story cards, flashcards, and teacher handbooks. Its digital extension, the e-Jaadui Pitara , launched on 10 th February 2024, offers multilingual stories, activities,  songs  in  22  Indian  languages,  and  AI-based  botsKatha  Sakhi,  Teacher Tara, and Parent Tara -to support children, teachers, and parents. As envisaged in NEP 2020, these initiatives are an integral part of the foundational stage.
- Primers  (launched  in  March,  2024)  have  been  developed  in  121  local  and  tribal languages for FLN in mother tongues spoken by populations of at least 10,000.

(iii)  Lakshyas or Targets for FLN starting from the Balvatika-3 upto Grade-2, based on the learning outcomes have been developed on the basis of national and international research.

(iv) The Government of India conducts periodic large-scale assessments, to measure learning and  education  outcomes  across  the  country,  through  PARAKH  (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development) Rashtriya Sarvekshan, which is  conducted by National Assessment Centre, PARAKH under the aegis of the Ministry of Education. The primary objective of this survey is to evaluate the learning competencies of students  at  the  end  of  each  of  the  educational  stages  i.e.  Foundational,  Preparatory,  and Middle. The latest PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan was conducted on December 4, 2024. A comparative  analysis  of  State-wise  average  scores  at  foundational  stage  during  National Achievement Survey (NAS) 2021 and PRS 2024 reflects the depth and impact of NIPUN Bharat Mission.

There  is  an  improvement  in  learning  achievements  of  the  students  reflecting  the success of NIPUN Bharat Mission across the country. It also shows that the performance of children in Grade 3 in rural and government schools is better than urban and private schools, indicating  clear  improvement  in  learning  outcomes  from  previous  survey.  This  can  be accessed at https://dashboard.parakh.ncert.gov.in/en.

(v)  The  Holistic  Progress  Card  (HPC)  has  also  been  introduced  as  a  formative  assessment tool  to  provide  a  multidimensional  view  of  student  progress.  It  goes  beyond  academics  to include  co-  curricular  and  socio-emotional  development.  Insights  from  these  assessments guide evidence-based interventions, ensuring uniform progress across all regions.

The Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSE&L) has launched a national initiative  to  improve  learning  outcomes  through  an  integrated  teacher  training  programme called the National  Initiative  for  School  Heads'  and  Teachers'  Holistic  Advancement (NISHTHA) under  Samagra  Shiksha.  NISHTHA  supports  large-scale  in-service  teacher capacity building and includes training modules for primary teachers focusing on pedagogy, FLN, inclusive education and classroom practices, and is implemented in coordination with the States and Union Territories through face-to-face and online modes. More than 15.57 lakh users including pre-primary teachers, master trainers and  Anganwadi  Workers have completed NISHTHA online training program for FLN & ECCE. Besides, these states are also conducting physical trainings of teachers at State level. (b)  to  (e)  In  Union  Budget  2026-27  Government  announced  the  establishment  of  A VGC (Animation,  Visual Effects, Gaming  and  Comics)  content  creator labs across  15000 secondary  schools  and  500  colleges  with  the  support  of  Indian  Institute  of  Creative Technologies (IICT) Mumbai, aimed at nurturing creative talent, strengthening India's AVGC Eco-system,  and  building  a  robust  pipeline  of  skilled  creators  for  the  country's  rapidly expanding orange economy. IICT aims to function as a world-class institution for education, research, innovation, and capacity building in animation, visual effects, gaming, and extended reality. An allocation of Rs. 392.85 crores has been made for its development and operations. The new textbooks being developed by NCERT in pursuance to NCF-SE are rooted in Indian Knowledge Systems and is guided by Panchkosha. Education is in the concurrent list of the Constitution of India. Hence, majority of the schools  are  under  the  domain  of  the  respective  State  Governments/UT  administrations. Moreover,  Samagra  Shiksha  scheme  is  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme.  Under  the  scheme, funds  are  contributed  by  Centre  and  State  as  per  sharing  ratio.  The  States/UTs,  being  the implementing agencies,  are  free  to  engage  with  other  agencies/enterprises  for  CSR  related

activities, as per requirement.

Vidyanjali,  a  school  volunteer  management  program  of  Department  of  School Education & Literacy under Ministry of Education, was launched in September 2021 with the aim  to  strengthen  government  and  government  aided  schools  and  improve  the  quality  of school education through community, CSR and private sector involvement across the country.

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