The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) marked its 65th foundation day on September 1 with a sweeping set of new initiatives to transform school education in India—ranging from a dedicated TV channel for preschoolers to AI-powered learning platforms and inclusive tools for children with disabilities.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who presided as chief guest, unveiled the Bal Vatika – PM eVidya DTH Channel No. 35, designed to deliver engaging audio-visual content for children aged 3–6 years. The channel will also support teachers, Anganwadi workers and parents in building strong foundational literacy and numeracy skills.

A major highlight was the launch of DIKSHA 2.0, an upgraded learning platform featuring structured lessons, adaptive assessments, performance feedback and cutting-edge AI tools such as Read Aloud, Closed Captioning and multilingual translation in 12 Indian languages.

Other announcements underscored NCERT’s pivot toward inclusivity and innovation. These included:

·        PRASHAST 2.0, an integrated screening tool for early detection of disabilities, linked with UDISE+, APAAR and the Swavlamban Card.

·        Kitab Ek Padhe Anek, a universal design initiative to create accessible textbooks for diverse learners.

·        Release of primers in Hindi, Sanskrit, Ho-Hindi and Koya languages.

·        Launch of the PM eVidya mobile app as a centralized digital learning gateway.

·        Establishment of VR labs in four demonstration schools.

·        Publication of Utkal Jananinkara Sujogya Santana, chronicling 100 pioneering personalities from Odisha.

The council also inaugurated its new entrance complex on Aurobindo Marg and reinforced the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s emphasis on vocational training, with the PSSCIVE rolling out a handbook for key functionaries.

Commemorating five years of NEP 2020, NCERT highlighted its role in shaping India’s curriculum reforms through the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE 2023) and the Foundational Stage Framework (NCF-FS 2022).

Pradhan urged NCERT to continue driving innovation in pedagogy and digital education, stressing that strengthening foundational learning and inclusivity is “central to building a future-ready India.”