Launched by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Operation Digital Board (ODB) is an innovative initiative geared towards improving education quality throughout the country. This operation seeks to harness the power of technology in education, aiming to embed digital and interactive boards in every classroom. The initiative mirrors the objectives of the 1987-launched Operation Blackboard, a program designed to ensure all primary schools in the country are equipped with necessary facilities.
Key Features of Operation Digital Board
The massive rollout of digital boards under ODB is expected to reach all government and government-aided schools beginning from the 9th grade, as well as higher education institutions starting from 2019. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has been mandated to implement ODB in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
ODB will be adopted as a central scheme which uses loan financing from Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA). For the school level, Digital or SMART boards will be installed in all Government and Government-aided schools through a cooperative scheme involving the Central Government and State/UTs.
The ambition of ODB goes beyond simply converting a traditional classroom into a digital one. Its broader goals include ensuring student access to e-resources anytime and anywhere and providing personalized adaptive learning and intelligent tutoring by leveraging advanced technologies such as Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence & Data Analytics.
Higher Education Financing Agency
HEFA was established in 2017 as a joint venture between MHRD and Canara Bank. It endeavors to finance the creation of capital assets for India’s leading educational institutions. HEFA works under a 91-9 equity participation ratio between the MHRD and Canara Bank, respectively. The agency operates as a Union Government company under Section 8 [Not-for-profit] of the Companies Act 2013 and is also registered as a Non-deposit taking NBFC-ND with RBI. Recently, HEFA has expanded its operations to include school education and educational institutes under the Ministry of Health.
Notable Facts About Operation Digital Board
| Year Launched | Implementing Agency | Facilities Provided | Teaching Methods |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | UGC | Digital/SMART Boards | Personalised Adaptive Learning, Intelligent Tutoring |
| e-Resources | AI, Machine Learning, Data Analytics |
Benefits of Operation Digital Board
ODB aims to enhance learning quality by providing high-quality content accessible in every classroom. The integration of technology into teaching methods is also expected to inspire teachers nationwide to raise their own teaching standards. Additionally, the initiative complements others such as e-Pathshala, DIKSHA, National Repository of Open Educational Resources (NROER), National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL), e-PG Pathshala, SWAYAM, and SWAYAM-Prabha DTH Channels. These initiatives collectively provide high-quality content that can be carried into every classroom, thus enabling blended learning and flip class learning.