January - March 2019 ISSN: 2250-1940 (P), 2349-1647(O)

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RESEARCH EXPLORER-A Blind Review & Refereed Quarterly International Journal
ISSN: 2250-1940 (P) 2349-1647 (O)
Impact Factor: 3.655 (CIF), 2.78 (IRJIF), 2.62 (NAAS)
Volume VII, Issue 22
January - March 2019
Formally UGC Approved Journal (63185), © Author

DIGITAL INDIA IMPLICATIONS IN EDUCATION SECTOR

R.K. MAHALAKSHMI

Dr. J. KAMATCHI ESWARAN

Assistant Professors of Commerce
V.H.N.S.N College (Autonomous), Virudhunagar

Abstract

India is already home to the 2nd largest number of Internet users globally with nearly 462
million users as of December 2017. There are more than a billion people who will need to
be brought online for India to realise the vision of a digitally connected, knowledge
economy. Government’s Digital India programme will play a transformational role in
achieving this. Digital India is an umbrella programme which covers many departments. It
aims at ensuring the government services are made available to citizens electronically by
reducing paperwork.
Keywords: Digital India, Education, Digital Programmes.

Introduction Vision of Digital India: Initiative of

Throughout the world, Information Dream Project
and Communication Technologies (ICT) Digital Infrastructure as a Utility to
continue to proliferate at incredible speed. Every Citizen:This initiative brings
Digitalization is one of the most together to deliver high speed
fundamental period of transformation we communication technologies and digital
have ever witnessed. Digital India was a services that will reach to the remotest
flagship programme launched by the Prime villages, round the clock. Public services
Minister of India NarendraModi on 1 July like land records, certificates and many
2015 - with an objective of connecting more will be made available online or
rural areas with high-speed internet public cloud.
networks and improving digital literacy. Governance and Services on
The vision of this programme is to Demand:This vision will provide single
transform India into a digitally empowered window access to every individual. Every
society and knowledge economy. It is one government services or information is
of the biggest step by our Government of available online and on mobile platforms
India to motivate the citizen of the country with a single touch.
and connect Indian economy to knowledge Digital Empowerment of Citizens:Under
savvy world. this vision, every citizen will empower
through digital literacy and universal

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access to digital resources. All documents supplemented with amendments in labor

and certificates to be available on cloud laws of India to make it a successful
and in Indian languages. campaign.
From smart phones to lightning- SundarPichai, SatyaNadella, Elon
fast laptops to GPS devices, it’s hard to Musk researched about Digital India and
imagine life without technology. This its preparedness to create jobs
facility will aim to lessen the usage of opportunities in the information sector. He
physical documents and enable sharing of concluded that creating new jobs should be
e-documents across organizations. Today, continued with shifting more workers into
the world has transformed from knowledge high productivity jobs in order to provide
savvy to tech savvy. Think of something long term push to the technological sector
and it’s available in one click. So digital in India. Microsoft CEO, SatyaNadella
India is a step by the government to inspire intends to become India’s partner in
and connect Indian economy to such a Digital India program. He said that his
knowledge savvy world. It brings out company will set up low cost broadband
various schemes like E-health digital technology services to 5lakhs villages
locker, E-Sign, E-Education etc. across the country.
Review of Literature Arvind Gupta intends to say that
Digital India” initiative has been an Digital India movement will play an
intriguing subject matter of numerous important role in effective delivery of
researches from various disciplines services, monitoring performance
because of its great significance and managing projects, and improving
influence on the economy as a whole and governance. An Integrated Office of
particularly the technological sector. Being Innovation & Technology to achieve the
a recent move, there have been various sameand for problem solving, sharing
researches on different aspects of the applications and knowledge management
initiative ranging from the economical to will be the key to rapid results, given that
social and ethical dimensions. Some of most departments work on their own silos.
these researches retrieved through internet Tracking and managing the
searches have been reviewed here. projects assume significance because India
Paramasivan. C Education has been busy spending money in buying
becomes a powerful weapon to the socio- technology that we have not used
economic setup of the country which effectively or in some cases not even
brings colorful changes in almost all the reached its implementation stage. Sharing,
stakeholders. Providing quality and time learning’s need to be best practices across
bound education to the students is the vital departments Tracking and managing the
role of the educational system of the projects assumes significance because
country particularly in higher education India has been busy spending money in
which is highly knowledge based, buying technology that we have not used
innovation oriented and research centered. effectively or in some cases not even
Education and educational system largely reached implementation stage. Sharing
depends on the academicians particularly learning’s and best practices across
the teaching faculty. departments needs to be driven by this
Prof.Singh began with the basic Office of Technology.
overview of what Digital India entails and A study by Zinnov mentioned that
led a discussion of conceptual structure of increased access to enabling infrastructure
the program and examined the impact of such as increased use of smartphones and
“Digital India” initiative on the easy access to Internet will result in greater
technological sector of India. He adoption of technology by small
concluded that this initiative has to be businesses. Accordingly, the Digital India

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project will be an exponential driver for used a strong tool for their admission
massive growth in IT adoption. The procedure to college.
estimated budget of Digital India is going Coming to higher education
to be $19 billion between 2014-2018. institutions, most of them provide students
Objectives of the Study with digitalized learning materials
The main objective of the study is managed through online
to know about the application of Digital learning/knowledge management systems.
India plan and its impact on educational Some universities are also experimenting
sector. with virtual learning spaces and have been
Transformation of Educational Sector providing free courses and learning
with the Intrusion of Digital India material online.
Digital technology in India has India’s vibrant economy with a
been evolving over the last few years, burgeoning middle class and more than
changing the way students learn concepts 200 million Internet users has made the
in school. The traditional chalk and talk country the third largest online market
method has paved the way for more after China and the United States. With
interactive teaching methods as schools are this kind of far-reaching impact, there is
increasingly adopting digital solutions to hope for an increase in the use of digital
keep themselves abreast with the technologies in the education field.
technological changes. As the current However, lack of infrastructure, poor
generation of students is well-versed with electricity access and low Internet
laptops, i-pads, and smartphones, these penetration in the semi-urban and rural
innovative methods of teaching guarantee areas have held back development of
more participation from students. digital services in schools. Needless to say,
To cater to the school students’ this calls for government participation to
needs, education providers such as address these challenges and develop a
Educomp, Tata Class Edge, Pearson, and sound ecosystem that can boost the usage
Teach Next have been coming up with of digital technologies.
interactive software to aid teachers in Despite the aforementioned
classroom teaching. However, usage of challenges, India’s booming urban areas
digital technologies in institutes of higher provide an excellent opportunity for
education is still in its nascent stages and digitalization of educational services. To
efforts are being made to fine-tune these increase the quality of education with the
technologies to adapt to the needs of latest digital technological know-how,
University students. In short, content majority of the schools and universities are
development is yet to mature in colleges trying to keep pace with the digital
and universities across India. changes by implementing them. Thus, by
Right from K-12 schooling to empowering educators, digital technology
higher education programs, every level of holds the key to India’s educational
our education system is affected by challenges.
technology. With increased connectivity, Digital Education in Indian Universities
speed and cloud-based storage capabilities, The quality of higher education is
schools and colleges have an enhanced top-notch in the tier-one universities such
communication network that makes way as the Indian Institute of Technologies
for improved knowledge sharing. Digital (IIT), Birla Institute of Technological
portfolios are becoming quite a rage Sciences, and the National Institute of
among high school students who use it to Technologies. The same quality of
demonstrate their knowledge and education is not maintained in tier-3
achievements and are now being widely schools and universities in both rural and
urban areas. For this reason, IIT has

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introduced the National Programme on Most schools utilize digital tools such as
Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL), smart boards, LCD screens, audio-visual
a government funded initiative, to help videos, digital recordings of older lectures
students across the world learn concepts and so on to teach children difficult as well
providing free access to videos on as easy concepts. Moreover, the role of a
YouTube.com “Professors record lectures teacher has always been to impart
and upload them online for the benefit of knowledge to students and become
students in the rural and urban areas. In facilitators using digital tools. However,
this way, students have access to quality many school heads concur that these
educational videos at free of cost,” says an technologies will never replace the
Assistant Professor at the Indian Institute physical presence of a teacher, instead
of Technology (IIT), Madras. The main complement the entire teaching process.
aim of the Government is to make sure In India, most of the schools
that people have access to the latest teachers are conducting ‘Smart Classes’
curriculum being offered at the IIT and for 6-12th standard and teachers have been
this is where NPTEL is used effectively trained with the software to use it for main
and about 60% of our viewers are from the subjects (Maths, Science, History and
North-Eastern states and other states. Geography). The teachers are using it
In India, among colleges digital extensively in all the classes; and they plan
Technologies are being used in a few ahead. They go by what they have to relate
colleges, whereas in many others it has to using the software and add it to their
still not been implemented. Moreover, power point presentation (if needed). If it
there are many reasons for the irregular is a biology/math class, everything would
use of digital mode of education. The main be shown in the software while the teacher
problem is lack of funds. Hence, certain explains.
colleges are able to digitalize their The schools will soon be a place
teaching and a few others are not able to where the students will learn to study on
however, most of the regular colleges their own with the help of computers while
follow the traditional learning methods. In the teacher being a mere facilitator. This
India most of the University’s distance concept of blended learning where
education modules have access to all the teachers oversee students’ participation
learning material through the digital while watching online lectures is proving
medium. Most of the universities are in the to be effective. The teachers always try
process of recording lectures and innovative things in our pedagogy and do
uploading them online for students to view not rely on textbook knowledge.
the videos at their convenience as well as For a Digital India to succeed in
engage in a discussion during the class.” impacting education, it needs a vision and
Digital Tools Used and Impact of mission to integrate technology as an
Learning Outcomes in the Indian important part of our large and complex
Schools school system. It must have a targeted
Primary and Secondary schools approach to improve education through
across the country appear to be more digitalization and by providing better
advanced in the adoption of technology. teachers and with a comprehensive vision
Teachers in primary schools use smart to provide benefit to a large extent of
boards and LCD screens to teach concepts children.
in Mathematics, Science, and English Some of the techniques that can be
Grammar. Schools across the country are incorporated in schools-Introduce benefits
using technology seamlessly to engage of technology in education–The very basic
with students and achieve desired results thing is to teach children how to
through well-planned learning methods. incorporate technology with their

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education, to gain benefit and to use it as a College professors, on the other hand,
tool to compete with the ever-growing have been more reticent towards using
world. This is mainly required in rural digital tools for conducting classes.
areas where children are very far away Among those who use tools such as
from this piece of knowledge. PowerPoint presentations, most are ill-
E learning apps– After this some equipped with knowledge to use the
innovative tools can be introduced for format and hence get rated poorly by
providing notes, books, resolving queries students.
of student, practicing question etc. There Digital Tools for Evaluation of Students
are 100’s of app and software available for Education providers that provide
students to learn. digital software solutions to schools have
Smart schools Government should built-in software assessing students’
try to incorporate technology from the performance over the years. The data give
ground level that is school, more smart teachers an insight into a student’s
school should be open, public schools performance for evaluation of classroom
must be digitalized, classes must be lessons and conceptual understanding of
provided to teach student and teachers subjects taught through the digital
about the benefits of digital world and medium. Looking at it another way, the
everybody must have basic computer data help teachers analyze a student’s
proficiency. performance from first grade to tenth
Smart tools-Schools should be grade by observing his or her strengths as
digitalized and must use smart tool to well as shortcomings and guiding him or
provide education to students like smart her accordingly. These facilities are not
board, visual/audio education, school available in the Indian Universities though.
management software for management of Challenges in the Implementation of
school data. Digital India
Training the Teachers for Digital More than a year has been passed since Digital
Teaching India mission has been announced but it is
Frost & Sullivan found through its facing multiple challenges in successful
conversations with school heads and implementation. Few of the challenges are –
1. High level of digital illiteracy is the biggest
professors that there are varying degrees of
challenge in the success of digital India
comfort among educators with respect to
programme. Low digital literacy is key
use of technology. Leveraging such tools hindrance in adaptation of technologies.
requires specific training and orientation in According to ASSOCHAM- Deloitte report
not just the application of curriculum in on Digital India around 950 million Indians
digital formats, but also other related tasks, are still not on internet. So, there is still to
such as evaluation, peer feedback, group do more to connect people in digital India.
project work, and so on. 2. Making Digital India is a scheme known
For the last few years, we have and creating awareness among common
teachers being trained on the curriculum masses about its benefits is also a great
and also MS Office. The teachers were challenge. Participation to digital kranti
divided into small groups subject-wise and needs peoples wish, capacity to have
mobiles and needs money for continuity.
train them accordingly. It is not a 100 3. It is not easy to ensure each panchayat of
percent substitution for in-person class India to connect with functional broad band
coaching. The teachers work on lesson with optical fibre network. It is a
planners. In the planner, the teacher mammoth task to have connectivity with
explains what needs to be taken from the each and every village, town and city.
software and all concepts are taught There are 2.5 lakhs Gram Panchayats in
accordingly through PowerPoint India and connecting all is not an easy task.
presentation as well as the digital software.

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The recurring repairing process is also a private sector, must be favourable taxation
great challenge. policies.
4. The issue pertaining to taxation and 7. The success of digital India project depends
regulatory guidelines have proved to road upon maximum connectivity with
block in realizing the vision of Digital minimum cyber security risks. For this we
India. Some of the common policy hurdles need a strong anti-cybercrime team which
include lack of clarity in FDI policies have maintains the database and protects it round
impacted the growth of ecommerce the clock.
(ASSOCHOM). 8. To improve skill in cyber security, we need
5. The biggest challenge faced by Digital to introduce cyber security course at
India programme is slow and delayed graduate level and encourage international
infrastructure development. India’s digital certification bodies to introduce various
infrastructure is comprehensively skill based cyber security courses.
inadequate to tackle growing increase in 9. There is need for effective participation of
digital transactions. India needs over 80 various departments and demanding
lakh hotspots as against the availability commitment and efforts. Various policies
ofabout 31000 hotspot at present to reach in different areas should support this goal.
global level (ASSOCHOM). 10. For successful implementation, there must
6. The private participation in government be amendments in various legislations that
projects in India is poor because of long have for long hindered the growth of
and complex regulatory processes. technology in India.
7. Many request proposals issued by Conclusion
government are not picked up by competent Digital India will open up greater
private sector organizations since they are possibilities than ever before. A powerful set
not commercially viable. of forces is accelerating the speed of social
8. There is a wide digital divide between change throughout the world. These include a
urban and rural India. Till now funds have rapid rise in the levels of education, high rates
not been deployed effectively to meet the of technological innovation and application –
cost of infrastructure creation in rural areas. ever faster and cheaper communication that
Suggestions dissolves physical and social barriers, both
Digital India campaign can’t be within country and internationally, an easier
successful on its own. Policy changes are access to information and the further opening
needed to make digital India a reality. up of global markets. It is here that IT plays a
1. Digital literacy is first step in empowering pivotal role. We have to take Digital India as a
citizens. People should know how to secure business transformation and proactively
their online data. identify opportunities in advance and invest in
2. To make this programme successful, a it before demand actually arises.
massive awareness programme has to be References
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in rural and remote areas, about the benefits largest-it-marketin-apac-region-by-2018/
of internet services to increase the growth 2. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/it
of internet usage. es/digital-technology-can-add-101-billion-
3. Digital divide needs to be addressed. to-indiagdp-by-2020
4. Manufacturing content is not government’s 3. https://ww2.frost.com/frost-
strength. This mission needs content and perspectives/digital-education-india
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