NCERT Marks 65th Foundation Day by Launching Bal Vatika Channel, DIKSHA 2.0, PRASHAST 2.0 and More in New Delhi.

Recently on September 1, 2025, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) celebrated its 65th Foundation Day at its headquarters in New Delhi, unveiling key initiatives under the Ministry of Education (MoE) to enhance foundational, digital, and inclusive learning in line with the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020).

      - One of the major highlights of the event, graced by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan along with Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of the Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSE&L), was the launch of Bal Vatika, a dedicated PM eVidya DTH channel (Channel No. 35), offering engaging audio-visual content for children aged 3–6, as well as Anganwadi workers, teachers, and parents to promote foundational literacy and numeracy skills.

      - The upgraded DIKSHA 2.0 platform was unveiled, delivering structured lessons, adaptive assessments, and performance feedback, with AI-powered features like Read Aloud, Closed Captioning, and automatic translation into 12 Indian languages, thereby promoting inclusive, digital-first education.

      - NCERT also introduced PRASHAST 2.0, an enhanced pre-assessment screening tool for early identification of children with disabilities; this tool integrates seamlessly with national portals like UDISE+, APAAR, and the Swavlamban Card to ensure effective follow-up and support.

Main Point :-   (i) Adding to the momentum, the institution inaugurated its new entrance complex located on Aurobindo Marg in New Delhi, published primers in Hindi, Sanskrit, Ho-Hindi, and Koya languages, launched the PM eVidya mobile app as a centralized learning gateway, and set up Virtual Reality (VR) labs at four NCERT demonstration schools.

      (ii) NCERT also rolled out Kitab Ek Padhe Anek, an initiative based on a Universal Design for Learning to create inclusive textbooks for Classes 1 and 2, and released Utkal Jananinkara Sujogya Santana, a book profiling 100 notable Odia figures who contributed to the state and India’s freedom movement; additionally, PSSCIVE launched a handbook for functionaries on vocational education to align with NEP 2020’s focus on skill-based learning.

(iii) Celebrating five years of NEP 2020, NCERT reaffirmed its leadership in education reform, citing its recent contributions such as the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE 2023) and the Foundational Stage Framework (NCF-FS 2022), positioning itself as a catalyst for systemic change.