NEP 2020 Expands Skill-Based Learning and Digital Education Through DIKSHA, PM eVidya: Centre

The Central Government has announced that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has given a big boost to skill-based education, digital learning, and access to quality education in India, including through the DIKSHA and PM eVidya platforms.

In reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Education Dr. Sukanta Majumdar told Parliament that NEP 2020 has been focused on making the education system more practical, technology enabled and industry oriented, and also endeavoured to bridge the learning gap between the urban and the rural areas.

Focus on Skill Based Education

The Ministry of Education is introducing pre-vocational education to students of Classes 6 to 8 with 10 bagless days, experiential learning programmes and NCERT's pre-vocational education activity-based textbooks.

Students have the option to take skill-based courses which are mapped with the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) at the secondary and senior secondary level for future career preparation.

The Centre also pointed out that the higher education institutions are increasing their industry-oriented programmes with the help of Community Colleges, Bachelor of Vocation (B.Voc.) courses and Deen Dayal Upadhyay Centres for Knowledge Acquisition and Upgradation of Skilled Human Abilities and Livelihood.

The government also referred to the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) launched Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programme (AEDP) 2025, which is a blend of classroom instruction and structured apprenticeship, exposure and on-the-job training (OJT) under the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS).

In addition, colleges and universities are continuing to develop programs in new areas like artificial intelligence (AI), data science, cybersecurity, robotics, quantum technology, semiconductors, and sustainable energy, to address the changing needs of the industry.

DIKSHA and PM eVidya expand Digital Learning.

Digital education is still one of the main thrusts of the implementation of NEP 2020, the Ministry said, adding that platforms like DIKSHA and PM eVidya are aiding in the provision of learning resources to students in the country.

PM eVidya was launched in 2020 to bring education to the students via TV, radio and online platforms so that they can learn even if they don't have access to the internet.

In the interim, the digital platform DIKSHA has emerged as the central platform for school education in the country, providing learning resources for students and teachers, based on the curriculum in various Indian languages.

DIKSHA, according to the Ministry, has logged over 579 crore learning sessions by over 2.29 crore users and offers access to hundreds of virtual labs where students can conduct virtual scientific experiments.

Bridging the Rural-Urban Education Gap

The Centre is looking at the BharatNet scheme announced in the Union Budget 2025, which aims to provide broadband connectivity to government secondary schools in rural areas in phases, to improve the digital infrastructure.

Schools are also being provided ICT lab and smart classroom facilities under Samagra Shiksha programme to enhance technology based learning.

Students of higher education institutions can still avail free online courses and e-learning materials from platforms like SWAYAM, SWAYAM Prabha, e-PG Pathshala and UGC e-resource portal.

The Ministry also added that the recent Union Budgets have provided support for girls' hostels in STEM institutions and development of digital books in Indian languages under Bhartiya Bhasha Pustak Yojana (BBPY).

What Students Should Know

The Centre stated that the NEP 2020 is focussing more on skill development and experiential learning, and digital education for school and higher education. The policy will help to ensure that education is more accessible, employment-oriented and relevant to the changing needs of the economy, with vocational learning starting from the middle school level and the increased integration of industry-focused programmes in higher education, as well as increased access to digital learning platforms like DIKSHA and PM eVidya.