Digital Education and Literacy in India: An Overview

Digital learning plays an inevitable role in everyone’s day to day life in India. The usage of internet and digital technology has made a radical change in education. A person’s development and human potential are ultimately enhanced by the requirement for a digitalisation of education. COVID-19 outbreak has impacted the Indian educational system during the pandemic. However, the epidemic has changed the motive for learning technology transformation. The study aims to examine & analyse the existing structure, government initiatives and challenges faced by educators and learners on digital education and literacy. The availability of computers and internet facilities in schools is inadequate i.e. 16.26% & 7.42% respectively which is major concern to enhance the digital learning. 16.5% & 20.1% of person of age 5 years and above able to operate computers and access internet respectively. The Indian government launched number of programmes including National Digital Educational Architecture (NDEAR), PM eVidya, SWAYAM, SWAYAM Prabha, the National Digital Library, and the National Academic Depository to enhance the digital learning. The methodology used in study is analytical and empirical database collated from secondary source of data. The findings of study conclude that the learners and teachers are facing many problems such as inadequate availability of digital infrastructures, poor or no internet connectivity in rural areas, inadequate digital devices, insufficient training on digital methodology. Government should laid importance to enhance digital infrastructures and collaborate with private corporate sector for wide coverage of digital infrastructure and provision of devices to needy learners. Blended techniques of teaching should be adopted.