PARLIAMENT QUESTIONS: Access to Higher Education under National Digital University Initiative

The Government of India has framed the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 with a vision to strengthen learner-centric and technology-enabled education. In alignment with this vision, the Government has envisaged the establishment of a Digital University platform to provide flexible learning for all students.

The National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT), under the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), launched the "NIELIT Digital University (NDU) Platform" in October 2025 to facilitate access to digital learning opportunities for learners, including those from rural, remote and tribal areas. The NDU provides online and blended, skill-based courses in emerging technology areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing, Industry 4.0 and other frontier domains.

The NDU Platform has reached learners from more than 750 districts in the country, with over 2.70 lakh registrations, and currently offers more than 100 courses across various disciplines. The Platform also provides learners an option to register on the NIELIT Alumni-cum-Placement Portal, enabling them to access employment opportunities and mentoring facilities. Since October 2025, more than 35,000 learners and more than 190 recruiters have registered on the Alumni Portal.

Additionally, in alignment with the objectives of NEP 2020, the Ministry of Education is implementing the National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NMEICT) Scheme. The Scheme promotes the use of technology in all processes of education.

To strengthen industry-academia linkages and enhance employability of learners, SWAYAM Plus platform has been launched under NMEICT scheme. The Platform offers more than 500 employability-focused courses. These courses have been curated from more than 80 industry partners across 15 sectors, including information technology, artificial intelligence, semiconductor manufacturing, and advanced manufacturing etc. So far, more than 6 lakh learners have enrolled on SWAYAM Plus platform for their skill augmentation.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Education, Dr Sukanta Majumdar in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

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