Abstract

DIKSHA: An Initiative for Digital Open Educational Resources in School Education Abstract DIKSHA (Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing) was launched in the year 2017 under the Ministry of Education, Government of India and is a national digital education platform developed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). DIKSHA is a key component of the PM e-Vidya program, which envisages ‘One Nation: One Digital Platform' for education. DIKSHA aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which aims to create an inclusive, skills-based and globally competitive educational framework. The importance of the platform was particularly highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it ensured continuity of education amid widespread school closures. Built on open-source technology and adhering to the principles of open architecture, access and licensing, DIKSHA offers a vast repository of digital resources, including e-books, lesson plans, and interactive content. Its multilingual support gives accessibility to 36 Indian languages and 7 foreign languages in different linguistic demographics, expanding learning opportunities in remote and underserved areas. DIKSHA collaborates to integrate resources from key portals such as NROER, NIOS and e-Pathshala designed for classes 1 to 12. The ‘GYANKUNJ’ project in Gujarat further eliminates the digital divide by providing smart boards, laptops and digital programs to students. The integration of the platform with QR-coded energized textbooks and its mobile application enhances its reach and utility. DIKSHA also emphasizes continuing professional development for teachers through initiatives such as the NISHTHA training program, which has issued more than 14 million certificates. The platform's analytics dashboards provide valuable insights into user engagement, facilitating data-driven decision-making in educational planning. The findings of previous studies conducted regarding the effectiveness of DIKSHA, stated that teachers with high awareness and consumption rates among teachers and students use DIKSHA for lesson planning and evaluation, and students use digital content and interactive work of textbooks. However, challenges such as Internet connectivity issues and digital literacy gaps were identified, underscoring the need for structural improvements and targeted training programs. In conclusion, DIKSHA has emerged as a key tool in India's educational landscape, promoting inclusiveness and technological progress in line with global educational goals. Its continued evolution and integration into the educational process holds promise to enhance the quality and accessibility of education across the country.