Finally, the much awaited low-cost Indian tablet PC Aakash has been launched by Govt of India. The earlier unveiled tablet Sakshat has been renamed to Aakash. The world's cheapest tablet, as it's said to be, is completely made in India. Indian Govt aims to provide one full-featured tablet for every student to help reduce digital illiteracy. On the occasion of its launch, 500 Aakash tablets were distributed to children.


However, a simple search will tell you that Aakash is not the world's cheapest tablet available. There are many Chinese tablets available for low prices than Aakash tablet PC, and even with better features and specifications than of Aakash.









The learning contents and content development tools can be accessed from the Sakshat Portal.

http://www.sakshat.ac.in/
After registering on the website students and teachers can access the digital repository, ebooks, eJournals, forums, eLibrary etc.




When the first Low Cost Access cum Computing Device was unveiled by name of Sakshat Tablet, Govt had aimed to provide the device at the cost of $35. But Aakash will cost the government around $49 (inclusive of all taxes etc) approximately Rs. 2,276 according to the exchange rate of that time.

It will be given to students after subsidizing the price by up to 50 percent. In the first phase of the pilot project, 100,000 devices will be provided then based on the feedback of different climate condition etc.. the device will be manufactured in mass increasing features and reducing the cost.


In my state, Chhattisgarh 20 pieces of  the tablet were sent to Nationality Institute of Technology

 NIT Raipur. Students of other colleges like Bhilai Institute of Technolgy are also very  much interested to own this tablet. Let's See when will BIT Durg get Aakash Tablet PC, most probably it will be listed in the next phase of the project.

Even without Govt's subsidy, the price is very low. I too hope to get hands on this very soon. So when are you getting yours?


Shekhar Sahu