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| Language Bridge: Digital Education in Indian Languages [Source: AICTE] |
The Government of India has initiated a transformative policy directing all educational institutions to provide digital study materials in Indian languages within three years. This landmark decision aims to foster inclusive learning environments by catering to the linguistic diversity prevalent across the nation.
Background:
Aligned with the National Education Policy 2020's emphasis on native language education, this initiative follows a three-language formula for school education till Class X. The National Curriculum Framework 2023 further reinforces this by mandating the study of two native Indian languages until Class X and at least one thereafter.
Initiative Overview:
This directive encompasses both public and private educational institutions, spanning from school textbooks to specialized university texts in disciplines ranging from sciences to humanities. Central to this effort is 'Anuvadini,' an Artificial Intelligence-based translation tool developed domestically, which expedites the conversion of English materials into multiple languages, supplemented by expert reviews for accuracy.
Progress Update:
Over the past two years, substantial progress has been made, with thousands of textbooks translated and curated on the online portal Ekumbh. Additionally, 12 regional languages now feature as textual options for national entrance examinations.
UGC Guidelines:
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued guidelines for higher education institutions, facilitating courses in Indian languages. These guidelines incorporate standard glossaries provided by the Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology, covering a wide array of topics. Technical terms challenging for students may be supplemented with English equivalents in quotes.
Intended Benefits:
This initiative aims to democratize access to quality education by eliminating language barriers, thereby reducing dropout rates. Furthermore, it promotes the utilization of native languages in academia and professional spheres, fostering inclusivity and linguistic empowerment.
Application Beyond Education:
Beyond education, this initiative has broader implications, as evidenced by the translation of legal judgments in Kerala High Court and District Courts into Malayalam using 'Anuvadini.' This underscores the versatile application of AI-driven language tools in diverse domains.
Digital Ecosystem:
The initiative is bolstered by the provision of study materials in over 30 languages on the DIKSHA portal for school education. Moreover, competitive exams like JEE, NEET, and CUET are now available in 12 Indian languages alongside English. The translation efforts extend to engineering, medical, law, undergraduate, postgraduate, and skill development books.