Shri Anil Swarup on Learning-First Devices & Digital Safety | Intel x iPrep | PadhAI Ka Future

Описание: In this insightful discussion around “PadhAI Ka Future”, we explore how learning devices can move beyond being just hardware to becoming safe, trusted, and purpose-driven learning companions for children. The “PadhAI Ka Future” campaign by ‪@Intel‬ is a national initiative focused on reshaping how digital devices are perceived and used in education.

In Conversation With
🎤 Rohit Prakash - Co-Founder, iDream Education
A strong advocate of equitable, high-quality, safe digital learning for Indian students, Rohit brings on-ground insights from years of working across government schools, CSR programs, and large-scale education implementations.

🎤Shri Anil Swarup Ji - Former Secretary, Ministry of Education in GoI
Anil Swarup is an Indian author and retired Indian Administrative Service officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre and 1981 batch. Mr.Swarup in his 38 years of career has served in various capacities and later went on to become the Secretary to the Government of India. Below is a detailed introduction and description tailored for a podcast, highlighting his legacy of integrity and proactive leadership.
He is a man who doesn't just discuss policy - he makes it happen. Anil Swarup is a former Secretary to the Government of India, widely celebrated for steering the nation through some of its most complex crises. From cleaning up the aftermath of the multi-billion dollar 'CoalGate' scam as Coal Secretary to revolutionizing the classroom landscape as Education Secretary, his career is a masterclass in bureaucratic agility and ethics.
Beyond the halls of power, he is a prolific author and the founder of the Nexus of Good, a movement dedicated to scaling positive social impact.
His Current Work & Legacy:
Post-retirement, Swarup has dedicated himself to promoting a culture of positivity through his foundation, Nexus of Good, which identifies and replicates successful grassroots initiatives across India. He is also a celebrated author of several bestsellers, including:
Not Just a Civil Servant (2019)
Ethical Dilemmas of a Civil Servant (2020)
Encounters with Politicians (2024)
You Can Make It Happen (2025)
Personal Resilience:
Swarup Ji is known for his remarkable personal resilience; in 2024, he shared his journey of continuing his public service and literary work while battling stage 3/4 cancer, diagnosed two years prior. He remains a frequent speaker and mentor, guiding the next generation of civil servants toward ethical and effective leadership.

In this powerful and thought-provoking podcast of “PadhAI Ka Future”, we go beyond the usual conversations on digital education. What this podcast explores
The original vision behind device-led digital learning in government education
Why large-scale ICT implementations often fall short despite good intent
The systemic bias toward hardware-only procurement
The absence of content, tracking, analytics, and digital safety
The growing risks children face from unrestricted devices
Why teachers and parents hesitate to allow device usage
What it will take to build safe, learning-first environments on devices
How AI, when guided well, can make learning joyful - not distracting

In this podcast, Swarup Ji:
Shares the original intent behind integrating devices and LMS under ICT policy
Explains why policy ideas though politically acceptable and socially desirable often fail during implementation
Candidly reflects on why hardware procurement becomes the easiest (but weakest) part of digital education
Emphasizes that learning does not live inside the device by default
Highlights the need to track outcomes of public money spent on digital education
Advocates for governments to act as facilitators, not on-ground operators
Calls for showcasing and scaling states where real, meaningful work is happening
He also shares a deeply relatable personal anecdote—how a concept he struggled to understand in school became clear in just two minutes through a video, reinforcing his belief that technology, when used right, can make learning a happy proposition.

Key Takeaways from the podcast
✔ Hardware is the easiest part of digital education—but also the weakest if objectives are unclear
✔ Devices without content, analytics, and safety frameworks fail learners
✔ Children are deeply attached to devices—but need guidance, not isolation
✔ AI can strengthen fundamentals—but only with supervision

Watch till the end, If you are a:
Policymaker
Education leader
School administrator
CSR professional
Teacher or parent
EdTech or LMS stakeholder

This conversation will challenge how you think about devices in education.

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