NCERT 65th Foundation Day: Bal Vatika, DIKSHA 2.0, PRASHAST 2.0
Why in the news
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) celebrated its 65th Foundation Day with a set of launches aimed at early learning, digital access and inclusion.
Key facts
- Bal Vatika DTH channel: PM eVidya Channel No. 35, for children aged 3-6, aimed at foundational literacy and numeracy through audio-visual content. It also supports teachers, Anganwadi workers and parents.
- DIKSHA 2.0: uses artificial intelligence to give structured lessons, adaptive assessments and personalised feedback. Tools include Read Aloud, closed captioning and translation into 12 Indian languages.
- PRASHAST 2.0: an upgraded disability screening tool that works with UDISE+, APAAR and the Swavlamban Card for early identification and support.
- Kitab Ek Padhe Anek: accessible textbooks for Classes 1-2, following Universal Design for Learning principles.
| Initiative | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Bal Vatika DTH | Early childhood learning, ages 3-6 |
| DIKSHA 2.0 | AI-based adaptive digital lessons |
| PRASHAST 2.0 | Disability screening of children |
| Kitab Ek Padhe Anek | Accessible Class 1-2 textbooks |
About the other announcements
The event also featured virtual reality labs in demonstration schools, the launch of a PM eVidya mobile app, new language primers (Hindi, Sanskrit, Ho-Hindi and Koya), a book on 100 personalities of Odisha, and a vocational education handbook from PSSCIVE.
Exam angle
- Match each initiative with its purpose: Bal Vatika for ages 3-6, PRASHAST for disability screening.
- PM eVidya Channel No. 35 carries the Bal Vatika channel.
- DIKSHA 2.0 supports 12 Indian languages for translation.
- Know that PRASHAST 2.0 links with UDISE+ and APAAR databases.