NEW DELHI: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has launched new initiatives, including Bal Vatika DTH TV channel and DIKSHA 2.0 to strengthen digital and inclusive learning in line with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, marking its 65th foundation day on September 1.
The event was attended by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Sanjay Kumar, Secretary (DoSE&L), Ministry of Education, former ISRO Chairman Sreedhara Panicker Somanath, and Chamu Krishna Shastry, Chairman of Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti.
The NCERT launched Bal Vatika – PM eVidya DTH Channel No. 35, aimed at enhancing foundational literacy and numeracy among children aged 3–6 years through engaging audio-visual content tailored for teachers, Anganwadi workers, and parents.
The upgraded DIKSHA 2.0 platform was also unveiled on the occasion, marking another major milestone. The platform offers structured lessons, adaptive assessments, performance feedback, and AI-powered features like Read Aloud, Closed Captioning, and multilingual text translation in 12 languages.
On the occasion of NCERT’s 65th Foundation Day, Hon’ble Union Minister of Education, Government of India Shri Dharmendra Pradhan ji launched several initiatives to strengthen the educational landscape envisioned in the NEP-2020.
Launch of 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞… pic.twitter.com/LgxkasofFm
— NCERT (@ncert) September 1, 2025
Additional highlights included the inauguration of NCERT’s new entrance complex on Aurobindo Marg, the release of primers in Hindi, Sanskrit, Ho-Hindi, and Koya languages, the launch of the PM eVidya mobile app as a centralised digital learning gateway, and the establishment of Virtual Reality (VR) labs in four demonstration schools.
The NCERT also introduced PRASHAST 2.0, an enhanced screening tool for early identification of children with disabilities, integrated with platforms like UDISE+, APAAR, and the Swavlamban Card.
It also rolled out ‘Kitab Ek Padhe Anek’, a universal design of learning initiative to create accessible textbooks for diverse learners.
The NCERT also published Utkal Jananinkara Sujogya Santana, a book celebrating 100 distinguished personalities from Odisha who played pivotal roles in the state’s development and India’s freedom movement.
Reinforcing the importance of vocational education under NEP 2020, PSSCIVE released the Handbook for Key Functionaries on Vocational Education.
Commemorating five years of NEP 2020, the NCERT reaffirmed its leadership in driving educational reform through the development and dissemination of the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE 2023) and the Foundational Stage Framework (NCF-FS 2022).