Context: The Ministry of Education trained 72 lakh teachers across up to 60,000 schools to identify children with probable disabilities through PRASHAST.
- PRASHAST: Digital, school-based screening tool to identify children with 21 disability conditions recognised under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016.
- Screening mechanism: Two-part checklist based on observable indicators; special educators validate cases and facilitate medical referrals where required.
- Objective: Early identification of disabilities, timely intervention and inclusive education.
- RPwD Act, 2016: Replaced the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995; recognises 21 specified disabilities, compared with 7 under the earlier Act.
- Inclusive education: The Samagra Shiksha scheme supports inclusive education for children with special needs across school education.
