When television was introduced in India in the 1960s, it was more of a luxury item than the necessary attachment as it is seen now. Until 1975, television transmission only covered seven cities. Today digital TV has made inroads into rural India as nothing else has. Next perhaps only to the mobile network, digital television has made possible a wide range of applications, from entertainment to education.
India is expected to emerge as the largest DTH market in the world touching 100 million subscribers by 2018. It is tempting therefore, to convert this network into one that facilitates information sharing on a large scale. Using TV for education has also been on the agenda of both public and private sector initiatives. Latest in the line of “infotainment” applications is coaching for entrance exams offered by digital TV manufacturers.
Bharti Airtel now offers coaching for entrance exams through their DTH network which they feel would be of great benefit to their rural subscribers who do not have easy access to coaching classes. For this purpose they have tie-ups with leading coaching centres such as T.I.M.E., Akash and Career Point for different subjects and packages. For a fee starting at Rs 45.00 a month, students can select from a schedule of tests and answer multiple-choice questions to help them train for specific exams.
Students can prepare for Classes VIII, IX and X, and competitive exams like JEE, Medical entrance exams, Bank PO and MBA with the help of iExam. Every module consists of a lesson, followed by some preparatory questions and a test at the end of it on a pre-scheduled date. This also heightens opportunities for group study as students can gather in front of the TV and take their lessons and tests.
Airtel iExam was awarded the NABARD Award for Rural Innovations 2012 towards promoting education in rural India.
