What Is DIKSHA?
India’s ‘One Nation, One Digital Platform’ for School Education – The Lowdown
So, what is DIKSHA? DIKSHA is India’s go-to national digital platform for school education, chock-full of curriculum-linked e-content, teacher training & testing – that’s right, all totally free. The full title is Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing, and it’s actually managed by the National Council of Educational Research & Training (NCERT) & the Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET) – under the wing of the Ministry of Education. Wants to know who can use it? The short answer is anyone – students from FLN to Class 12, teachers, parents & state boards – all completely free.
Diksha Portal
What’s the DIKSHA Portal all about?
DIKSHA is a super useful digital learning platform built on open-source tech that allows teachers & students to access top-quality, curriculum-aligned resources across India. It acts as a central hub where states, boards & content creators can upload & share educational materials tailored to their regional curricula & languages.
What does DIKSHA stand for – and when was it launched?
DIKSHA stands for Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing – and it was first launched in 2017 by then Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu.
Who actually runs the DIKSHA Platform?
DIKSHA is run by NCERT & CIET, with their HQ in the Ministry of Education, Government of India.
Open-source & built on Sunbird
The platform is built on Sunbird – an open-source tech framework developed in India & licensed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This means that each state or board can manage its own content while still sharing a common infrastructure – pretty cool!
So, what’s the point of DIKSHA?
- Providing high-quality digital content for everyone – from FLN to Class 12 – across all the major boards & state syllabuses.
- Helping teachers improve their skills – with things like the NISHTHA training program & state-specific courses with certification.
- Making it easy to access in lots of different languages – 135 to be exact, including 128 of India’s official languages – to make sure it’s relevant for everyone.
- Bridging the gap between those with good internet access & those who struggle – with offline access, QR-coded textbooks, & pre-loaded Smart Class content for low-connectivity areas.
Who uses DIKSHA?
- We’ve got students learning from foundational learning right through to Class 12, covering all the main state boards.
- And teachers too, who use it to get their lesson plans, classroom resources, and even certified training courses.
- Also parents, who can use DIKSHA to get hold of textbooks, videos and assessments to help their kid’s learning.
- Not to forget the States/UTs and boards – CBSE, NIOS, KVs and State SCERTs all make use of DIKSHA to host and put their content out there.
- Plus, we get content from schools, NGOs, and private organisations through initiatives like VidyaDaan.
What makes DIKSHA tick?
QR-coded Energised Textbooks
Energised Textbooks are basically just the standard NCERT textbooks with QR codes stuck on the inside cover. When you scan a code using the DIKSHA app, it links straight on over to videos, interactives, and teacher guides for that exact topic – and it’s all just right there in the textbook.
Videos, virtual labs, AR/VR and simulations
- We’ve got animations in both 2D & 3D, and even AR experiences to make things clearer for people who learn that way.
- Over 650 Virtual Labs are available for science and critical thinking – that’s a whole lot of hands-on practice.
- And we have simulations to suit all sorts of different learning styles.
Teacher training courses (NISHTHA)
- So NISHTHA ( National Initiative for School Heads and Teachers Holistic Advancement ) has been running on DIKSHA since last October.
- Over 63 lakh teachers and school heads have gone through some bit of CPD via NISHTHA – so that’s a whole lot of people.
- Our self-paced, certified modules cover all sorts of things – pedagogy, ICT, FLN and ECCE.
Assessments and question banks
- We’ve got a big collection of competency-based question banks, along with some adaptive assessments.
- And on top of that, we have unlimited practice questions, with all the solutions, so people can go and test their own knowledge.
Inclusive features (ISL videos, DAISY, text-to-speech)
- We’ve got Indian Sign Language videos and a whole dictionary for learners with a hearing impairment.
- DAISY audiobook format for visually impaired students.
- And our e-books are all compatible with text-to-speech tools (UNICODE).
Offline access and Smart Class preloading
- To be honest, it’s pretty useful that you can download the content in advance so you can use it without needing the internet.
- And the States actually preload DIKSHA content on Smart Class boards so that teachers have it to hand without having to fight for a decent internet signal.
How to Use DIKSHA
- First of all download the app (Android 5.1+ is the minimum) or pop on over to the website at diksha.gov.in.
- Pick the board, medium, and class you are interested in from the available options.
- Then scan a textbook QR code using the app, and instant access to all the linked resources is yours.
- (And finally, if you want to get all fancy) sign up for courses like NISHTHA using the platform’s learning management system.
DIKSHA, PM e-Vidya and NEP 2020
DIKSHA is one of the key bits of the PM e-Vidya – the government’s comprehensive digital education programme – launched in the Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative. So under PM e-Vidya, DIKSHA is the main ‘One Nation One Digital Platform’ for school education – and that just perfectly fits in with the idea of making it all rather easier to get at, for everyone.
All the features we have here – like multiple languages, inclusive design, and FLN focus – just so happen to align very nicely with the National Education Policy 2020 – the idea of just making education a bit more equitable, a bit more barrier-free.
So, what’s the difference between DIKSHA, SWAYAM and PM e-Vidya
| Platform | Audience | Content Type |
| DIKSHA | School students (K–12), teachers, parents | Curriculum-linked e-content, ETBs, teacher CPD, assessments |
| SWAYAM | Higher education learners | MOOCs, university-level courses |
| PM e-Vidya | All learners (umbrella initiative) | Multi-mode: DIKSHA, SWAYAM, DTH channels, radio, podcasts |
Source: PIB
DIKSHA Key Facts and Latest Figures (2026)
| Fact | Figure |
| Launch year | 2017 |
| Languages supported | 135 (128 Indian + 7 foreign) |
| Registered users | 2.25 crore (June 2026) |
| Daily active users | ~3 lakh |
| Learning sessions | 575.25 crore |
| Energised textbooks | QR-coded for all grades |
| Virtual labs | 614+ |
| NISHTHA enrolments | 63+ lakh teachers |
Sources: PIB, CivilsDaily
Benefits and Limitations of DIKSHA
| Benefits | Limitations |
| Free, curriculum-aligned content for all boards | Device and internet access remain barriers in rural areas |
| Multilingual and inclusive design (ISL, DAISY, TTS) | Low daily active use (~3 lakh) vs. registered users (2.25 crore) |
| Offline access and QR-linked textbooks | Uneven content quality across states due to federated model |
| Certified teacher training at scale (NISHTHA) | Awareness gaps persist in some regions |
DIKSHA for Competitive Exams: Quick Revision Points
- Full form: Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing
- Launched: 2017
- Run by: NCERT + CIET, Ministry of Education
- Status: “One Nation, One Digital Platform” under PM e-Vidya
- Built on: Sunbird (open-source)
- Key feature: QR-coded Energised Textbooks
- Teacher training: NISHTHA (63+ lakh completed)
Conclusion
DIKSHA has transformed how India accesses school education—unifying students, teachers, and boards on a single free platform. With 2.25 crore users, 614+ virtual labs, and content in 135 languages, it remains the backbone of digital learning under NEP 2020. Explore DIKSHA today at diksha.gov.in or download the app to access quality education anytime, anywhere.
