"Inclusive by Design": Centre Plans Massive Screening of 25 Crore Students to Identify Learning Disabilities By Education Desk ...
"Inclusive by Design": Centre Plans Massive Screening of 25 Crore Students to Identify Learning Disabilities
By Education Desk | New Delhi Updated: January 22, 2026 15:19 IST
In a landmark move to bridge the gap in inclusive education, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today announced a nationwide initiative to screen over 25 crore school students for specific learning disabilities. Speaking at the inaugural session of the 3-day Inclusive Education Summit 2026 in New Delhi, the Minister emphasized that the goal is to make education accessible to every child, ensuring no talent goes unrecognized due to a lack of support.
The "Invisible" Data Gap
Highlighting a critical disparity in current data, Shri Pradhan pointed out that while global estimates suggest India has approximately 1.2 crore children with special needs (CwSN), official government records currently identify only 22–23 lakh such students.
"We are missing out on identifying nearly 1 crore children who need our support. Many suffer silently from invisible disabilities like Dyslexia (reading difficulty) or Dyscalculia (math difficulty), often labelled as 'slow learners' instead of receiving the specific pedagogical help they need," the Minister stated.
AI to Power the Drive
To handle the scale of 25 crore students, the Ministry of Education advocates the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advanced digital tools.
Smart Screening: AI-driven apps will be deployed to assist teachers in early identification of learning gaps without requiring expensive clinical setups in every school.
Personalized Learning: Once identified, technology will also be used to customize study materials for these students, moving away from a "one-size-fits-all" approach.
"No Stigma" Approach
A core theme of the Minister's address was the need to de-stigmatize disabilities. He urged schools and parents to view the screening process not as a diagnostic label, but as a gateway to empowerment.
Dignity First: The identification process will be designed to be sensitive and private.
Collective Duty: "Inclusive education is not just the job of a special educator; it is the collective responsibility of the principal, the class teacher, the peers, and the society," Shri Pradhan added.
Related: Curriculum Overhaul for NITs & IISERs
In a separate but significant development, the Minister also confirmed that National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and IISERs are set to revamp their curriculum. The new syllabus will focus on:
Global Relevance: Aligning with international industry standards.
Sustainability: Integrating green energy and sustainable development goals into core engineering streams.
