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Digi Tech

India’s Digital Transformation

Digital India

Written by Rishi Suri on Digilah (Tech Thought Leadership).

India’s digital evolution has significantly advanced, moving beyond the foundational Aadhaar system (Digital India) to encompass a broader spectrum of digital innovations aimed at enhancing governance and service delivery.

The Digital India program, inaugurated in 2015, represents the backbone of this transformation. Its mission is to provide electronic access to government services, boost online infrastructure, and improve Internet connectivity. The initiative revolves around three main pillars: digital infrastructure as a utility for every citizen, on-demand governance and services, and empowering citizens through digital means.

Aadhaar: The Digital Identity Revolution

Aadhaar, the world’s largest biometric identification system, has been a cornerstone of India’s digital framework. Over the past decade, its role has expanded significantly, offering a reliable digital identity for Indian residents. This system has facilitated access to a variety of services, including banking, mobile connectivity, and government subsidies. By streamlining bureaucratic processes and minimizing fraud, Aadhaar exemplifies how digital solutions can enhance governance.

Unified Payments Interface (UPI)

The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has revolutionized payment methods in India. Developed by the National Payments Corporation of India and supported by the Reserve Bank of India, UPI allows users to effortlessly transfer money between different banks. Its user-friendly design and efficiency have driven widespread adoption, positioning it as a key component of India’s fintech progress.

Digital Health Innovations

India’s health sector is also experiencing a digital transformation. The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission aims to build a comprehensive digital health ecosystem, providing universal health coverage in an accessible and efficient manner. This initiative includes creating unique health IDs, maintaining digital health records, and enhancing interoperability within the healthcare system.

Advancing Education Through Digital Means

The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) underscores the role of digital technologies in expanding educational access and quality. Platforms such as Diksha, which offers a wide range of educational resources, and the National Digital Library of India, reflect the commitment to leveraging digital tools for educational improvement.

Connecting Rural Areas

The BharatNet project is working to deliver high-speed Internet to all Gram Panchayats, ensuring that digital services reach even the most remote areas. Complementarily, the Digital Village initiative aims to transform rural regions by enhancing technology access, digital literacy, and essential services, thus narrowing the urban-rural divide.

Addressing Challenges

Despite these advancements, challenges such as digital literacy, privacy issues, and cybersecurity threats remain. Addressing these concerns through policies like the Personal Data Protection Bill and improving cybersecurity measures and digital literacy programs demonstrates a commitment to overcoming these obstacles.

Over the past decade, India’s digital landscape has evolved remarkably. By fostering technological innovation, streamlining governance, and empowering citizens, these initiatives set a benchmark for digital transformation. India’s journey underscores the transformative potential of technology in shaping governance and society, paving the way for a digitally empowered future.

(The Writer is the editor of the oldest and largest Urdu newspaper of India, The Daily Milap (www.thedailymilap.com). He also the co founder of Global Order (www.globalorder.live), a foreign policy publication).

Most asked questions

How is Aadhar enhancing the governance?

By streamlining bureaucratic processes and minimizing fraud, Aadhaar exemplifies how digital solutions can enhance governance.

What is the aim of Digital Village initiative?

The Digital Village initiative aims to transform rural regions by enhancing technology access, digital literacy, and essential services, thus narrowing the urban-rural divide.

Most searched queries

Unified Payments Interface (UPI)

National Education Policy 2020

Personal Data Protection Bill

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Edu Tech

Developing IT skills for students in India

Written by Sharada Subramaniam on Digilah (Tech Thought Leadership).

Introduction

In recent times, Computational Thinking (CT), Artificial Intelligence, and programming have become central to the debate on exploiting the full potential of ICT for education. Today children are growing up in an environment surrounded by Artificial Intelligence. 

One can easily find AI in almost every field from hospitals to smart homes to banking to self-driving cars. Indeed, these skills are now considered by many as being as fundamental as numeracy and literacy.

So, it is also necessary to dispel the myth that subjects such as Coding, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Programming, Cyber Protection, and other technologies are only for those who want to become engineers or programmers.

When my husband and I decided to start a social impact venture sometime back, we both were clear we wanted to work in the IT education space. It was mainly an urge to make a difference in whatever small way we could to improve the school system.

We noticed the critical gaps that exist between the school curriculum in India, and the actual requirements of the real world. 

Rote learning and exam-targeted evaluation have created fear, anxiety and clone- like behaviour among kids, killing originality, freedom of expression, and creative out of the box thinking.

The high stress levels among school- going children, poor concentration, and the lack of suitable skills were the most concerning problems. 

Another major red flag were reports on the quality and curriculum of technological skills learning, and the inability of even engineering graduates to write computer programmes and codes.

The IT world changes at such a fast pace that no set curriculum can actually keep pace. What is required is a flexible set of subjects that can help impart the right skill sets to the children to enable them to excel, secure high-paying jobs, and create economic wealth.

Need for Professional Skill Based Courses

What can change in the way such skills are imparted at schools? The UNICEF’s Global Framework on Transferable Skills[1] mentions- “Children and adolescents today live in a world of challenges and opportunities, including new technologies, changing labour markets, migration, conflict, environmental and political changes.

To succeed within this current and future environment, all children and adolescents need access to quality education and learning that develops skills, knowledge, attitudes, values, and enables them to become successful life-long learners who can learn, unlearn, and re-learn; find and retain productive work; make wise decisions; and positively engage in their communities.”

India’s New Education Policy 2020 (NEP)[2] also places a lot of emphasis of the development of skill based learning for the child, and includes digital literacy, communication, creativity, and critical thinking as the priorities. 

NEP seeks to equip young people with the knowledge and skills necessary to confidently lead the country into the future by putting a strong emphasis on holistic development, flexible and multidisciplinary education, technological integration, and inclusive practices.

Incorporating coding learning activities in early childhood provides students the opportunity to create, communicate, and solve problems using technology that are considered  important in the development of a globally competitive workforce.

India is aiming to achieve the vision to make India an economic superpower by 2047, the 100th year of India’s independence. This vision encompasses various aspects of development, including economic growth, social progress, environmental sustainability, and good governance. 

None of these is possible without a skilled workforce, adept at incorporating technology into all the above aspects.

How to impart IT Skills to children?

Today’s students will need to be able to speak and understand the language of coding in order for them to have a job. So the teaching has to be oriented to their future capacity to get jobs.

Learning how code is structured can help with problem-solving, critical thinking, creative collaboration, and logical reasoning skills. 

Programming also helps develop creativity because as you create your own programs, you are required to think creatively about how things work together on the screen and what types of interactions your programme requires from users – something that not many other classes require!

It is also essential that children are taught to relate all their coding projects to real life experiences so that the practical utility of programmes are clear.

Coding can be fun with games, websites, blogs, and other projects being created. Chatbots and the use of ChatGPT can also be taught.

It is important to introduce these skills right from the primary school level. Schools in India struggle to hire competent faculty to teach the latest technology to school kids.

Any IT teacher will have to keep updating his or her own knowledge in order to stay relevant in today’s fast- changing world of AI and IT. 

Hence it is both the need of the hour as well as a practical approach to engage competent professionals and industry experts in IT education.

IT education could be imparted in a blended mode where the school remains central to the education system, but the curriculum and pedagogy can be strengthened by engaging professionals to take charge of delivering quality IT Skill education to the children.

Such professionals will have the competency to constantly be on top of the latest developments in technology, new concepts, and the practical applications of technology. 

They will also bring project experience from the real world and encourage children to think beyond the narrow boundaries of their curriculum.

Our venture Gensmart Open Advanced Learning Solutions (GOALS), an EdTech company, was born out of a vision to bring world-class education, wellness, and career-oriented skills to every student. 

We offer a basket of specially curated courses in several modes- as an online education platform, as offline direct training programmes, and as specific training courses during off- school hours.

The mission is to make every person a worthy citizen by imparting skill-based education to create excellence at work. The creation of content, documentation of case studies, best practices, knowledge-sharing platforms, training, coaching material, mentoring manuals, videos and audio content is our forte.

We regularly use online coaching and assessment tools such as Google Forms, Zoom, our GOALS application, YouTube, Telegram, WhatsApp, and our website. We extensively use social media and creatives such as animation, Chatbot, short videos, and interactive sessions. 

We focus on self-direction, transformation, experience, mentorship, mental orientation, motivation, and readiness to learn for our learners.

[1]https://www.unicef.org/media/64751/file/Global-framework-on-transferable-skills-2019.pdf

[2]https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/NEP_Final_English_0.pdf

Most asked questions

What is NEP 2020?

What is the new venture called GOALS?

Most searched queries

NEP 2020

GOALS

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Decision Making Tech

Research, Technology, and right decisions

Written by : Sumesh Raghwani on Digilah (Tech Thought Leadership)

Research and technology have had numerous benefits for society across various fields and aspects of life. Here are some keyways in which research and technology have positively impacted mankind:

     

      1. Improved Communication: Technological advancements such as the internet, mobile phones, and social media have revolutionized communication. People can now connect and communicate with each other globally in real time, enabling the exchange of information, ideas, and knowledge on a scale never seen before. This has facilitated collaboration, enhanced education, and fostered a sense of global community.

       

        • Healthcare Advancements: Research and technology have greatly improved healthcare outcomes. Medical research has led to the development of life-saving treatments, vaccines, and diagnostic tools. Advanced medical devices and imaging technologies have enabled early detection and precise treatment of diseases. Telemedicine has made healthcare more accessible, particularly for those in remote areas. Overall, research and technology have contributed to increased life expectancy and improved quality of life.

         

          • Enhancing Education: Technology has transformed the way we learn and access information. Online education platforms, digital libraries, and interactive educational tools have made learning more accessible and engaging. Students can access a wealth of knowledge and resources from anywhere, allowing for personalized and self-paced learning. Additionally, educational research has helped in developing effective teaching methodologies and curriculum enhancements.

           

            • Economic Growth: Technological advancements drive economic growth by fostering innovation and creating new industries and job opportunities. Research and development (R&D) initiatives lead to the discovery of new products, processes, and technologies, stimulating economic activity. Industries such as information technology, biotechnology, and renewable energy have emerged as a result of research and technological advancements, contributing to job creation and economic prosperity.

             

              • Environmental Sustainability: Research and technology have played a crucial role in addressing environmental challenges. Advancements in renewable energy technologies, such as solar and wind power, have helped reduce reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate climate change. Sustainable agricultural practices and efficient waste management systems have been developed through research, leading to more eco-friendly practices. Furthermore, scientific research has provided valuable insights into environmental conservation and biodiversity preservation.

               

                • Increased Accessibility and Inclusion: Technology has made significant strides in improving accessibility and inclusivity for individuals with disabilities. Assistive technologies, such as screen readers and mobility aids, have empowered people with disabilities to participate more fully in society. Moreover, research and technological innovations have led to the development of universal design principles that benefit everyone, regardless of their abilities.

                 

                  • Enhanced Transportation and Infrastructure: Research and technology have transformed transportation systems, making them safer, more efficient, and environmentally friendly. The development of electric vehicles, autonomous driving technologies, and high-speed rail systems has improved transportation options while reducing carbon emissions. Smart infrastructure, including intelligent transportation systems and sensor networks, has enhanced traffic management and optimized resource utilization.

                These are just a few examples of how research and technology have benefited society. The continuous progress in these areas holds the potential for further positive impacts, addressing emerging challenges and improving the overall well-being of individuals and communities.

                This research has also led to advancements in language understanding allowing me to grasp nuances, idioms, and specific domain knowledge more effectively.
                Overall, the research and technology journey has been transformative to me, improving my performance, efficiency, user experience. As the journey continues, I look forward to further advancements that will enable me to continuously improve and adapt to better serve the needs.

                Most asked questions

                What is the role of research and technology in society?

                Can R&D really work towards development of a country?

                Most searched queries

                Sustainability

                Telemedicine

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                Categories
                Edu Tech

                AI for Inclusive Education Personalized Learning systems

                Written by Dr. Sandeep Bansal on Digilah (Tech Thought Leadership)

                Everyone knows that different individuals possess different capabilities, comprehension abilities, problem-solving skills, and hence the learning needs vary across the students of a class with their varying interests, abilities, performance, pre-requisite knowledge, etc.

                In order to address such needs, the adaptive/Personalized learning/teaching systems are being worked upon with the involvement of technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning etc. These systems provide different learning paths with different paces to different learners based on their needs & performance but they use the same study material for all the learners; though it may be delivered to them at a different pace depending on their needs and performance; while the learners need study material as per their need, capabilities for the same topic. This gives a rise to the need of not only developing different study materials varying with variations in different parameters but developing the machine learning models also which would take care of not only the learning needs being dealt with by today’s system but other needs being discussed further here.  

                Countries like India have lots of diversities with respect to language, culture, regions, etc. Such learning systems can play a key role to bring inclusivity in education as we note:  

                • Learners with physical disabilities (Divyang Jan): In India, around 1% of school-going children are children with physical disabilities and need transformation of e-content.
                • Learners with learning disabilities: In India around 5% of the school going children are affected with learning disabilities (dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and dysgraphia etc.. Each type of disorder may coexist with another). In such cases also the study material needs transformation.
                • Learners with different socio-cultural identities, socio economic & geographical identities with the needs of study material in different languages, dialect & culture.

                The fundamental principles of  NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY (2020) of Indian Government include –

                • recognizing, identifying, and fostering the unique capabilities of each student
                • focus on regular formative assessment for learning
                • extensive use of technology in teaching and learning, removing language barriers,
                • increasing access for Divyang students, and educational planning and management

                Therefore the role of AI based adaptive system delivering the right content at the right time to the learners in personalized manner has a very important role to play. The machine learning models need training data also for their adaption to the different learner’s need with regard to their learning attributes (like some emerging system) & varying needs of different content for the same topic (not common & to be evolved). How it all would work may be understood with a simple architecture of the whole system. The basic building blocks including the content would be as follows:

                1. Artificial Intelligence-based Decision System: This would be the core of the whole system to interface with the front-end i.e. learner’s interface, with the learner’s repository where the learner’s attributes would be stored and with the content repository where the content of different languages, formats, and levels to choose from for the learners would be stored.
                • Learner Interface: It provides the test material to the learners and based on performance captures different attributes of the learners e.g. learning disabilities, problem-solving skills, comprehension abilities, misconceptions, gaps in prerequisite knowledge which are then sent to the “Learner’s Repository” module. The whole process is controlled by the core AI-based Decision system. The interface may be equipped with conversational AI (powered by Natural Language Processing, Speech recognition to interpret the intent of the user and providing smooth interaction with the system) in his/her language.
                1. Content Repository: Different type of content e.g. Content for physical disabilities, Content for learning disabilities (the content of different levels of explanation with a provision of need-based detailing of basics & prerequisites involved in the concept to enable the learner to drill down), The content to address the needs of study material in different languages, dialect & culture etc.
                • Learner’s module: The attributes of the learners captured by the AI system through the learner’s interface would be stored in this repository consisting of attributes of different learners with their respective learning attributes and learning paths to be followed by them.

                Learning Path (sub module of learner’s module): To decide on the appropriate learning path for the learner, the system first evaluates the learners with respect to different attributes, different learning issues etc.. For example a learner first needs to understand the concepts of Motion to understand “Simple Harmonic Motion”, then waves, then Light’s concepts, then concepts of reflection & refraction and so on. During assessment of the learner, if it is found by the AI system that the learner is lacking somewhere, the system would advise the learner to go back to the basics.

                Content Selection by the Decision system: The content selection logic of the system would take care of the content selection at all stages from the content repository based on different attributes & need of the learners. Based on various factors of the learner’s as summarised below, the AI based system would choose the appropriate content for the learner.

                For the proposed system the availability of content for training the models & e-content for the learners in different formats is a bigger challenge. The initiatives of the Government of India e.g. Natural Language Technology Missions (targeting content in Indian languages), guidelines, policies for e-content development (including those for children with special needs) by Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment would play a key role to make such content available. As an outcome a lot of content is expected to be made available in different languages & formats which may be used for such solutions.