Impact Factor (2025): 6.9
DOI Prefix: 10.47001/IRJIET
The
National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) serves as a foundational blueprint
for reconstructing India’s educational architecture, with digital
transformation identified as a primary catalyst for achieving equity, quality,
and global competitiveness. This study critically analyzes the role of NEP 2020
in bridging the "digital divide"—a multifaceted phenomenon
encompassing disparities in access, affordability, and digital literacy.
Employing a qualitative analytical methodology, the research synthesizes
secondary data from the Ministry of Education, UDISE+ 2023-24 reports, and the
UNESCO Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report 2024-25. Key findings indicate
that while administrative and infrastructural initiatives such as the Academic
Bank of Credits (ABC) and PM e-Vidya have significantly expanded the reach of
digital content, a deep-seated "technology paradox" persists. Data
reveals that while school internet access increased from 22.3% in 2019-20 to
53.9% in 2023-24, nearly half of Indian schools remain offline, and a stark
gender divide exists, with only 34% of women utilizing the internet compared to
over 50% of men. The study concludes that bridging the digital divide requires
moving beyond technocentric solutions to address systemic socio-economic
barriers. Successful transformation is contingent upon sustained public
investment (aiming for the elusive 6% of GDP target), localized content in
regional languages, and robust teacher professionalization.
Country : India
IRJIET, Volume 10, Issue 4, April 2026 pp. 94-99