NCERT unveils Bal Vatika TV channel and AI-powered DIKSHA 2.0 platform

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) marked its 65th foundation day on Sept 1 by unveiling a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening digital, inclusive, and regional learning in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan attended the ceremony as the chief guest, joined by Education Secretary Sanjay Kumar, former ISRO Chairman Sreedhara Panicker Somanath, and Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti Chairman Chamu Krishna Shastry.

Among the major announcements was the launch of Bal Vatika—PM eVidya DTH Channel No 35, designed to enhance foundational literacy and numeracy for children aged 3 to 6 years.

The channel will provide audio-visual content for teachers, Anganwadi workers, and parents.

The upgraded DIKSHA 2.0 platform was also introduced, offering structured lessons, adaptive assessments, and performance-based feedback.

The platform features AI tools such as Read Aloud, Closed Captioning, and multilingual translation across 12 languages to make learning more accessible.

NCERT also inaugurated its new entrance complex at Aurobindo Marg and released primers in Hindi, Sanskrit, Ho-Hindi, and Koya.

The launch of the PM eVidya mobile app provides a centralized digital gateway for students, while Virtual Reality (VR) labs were set up in four demonstration schools to promote experiential learning.

To advance inclusive education, the council rolled out PRASHAST 2.0, a digital screening tool for early detection of disabilities in children.

This tool has been integrated with UDISE+, APAAR, and the Swavlamban Card to expand its reach.

In addition, the Kitab Ek Padhe Anek initiative was introduced to develop universally accessible textbooks.

Highlighting regional contributions, NCERT published “Utkal Jananinkara Sujogya Santana,” a book honoring 100 outstanding individuals from Odisha who contributed to the state’s growth and India’s independence movement.

The event also included the release of a vocational education handbook by PSSCIVE to strengthen skill-based learning.

Reaffirming its role in implementing NEP 2020, NCERT emphasized ongoing work on the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE 2023) and the Foundational Stage Framework (NCF-FS 2022), underscoring its commitment to driving educational reforms.