TOWARDS QUALITY ASSURANCE IN INDIAN E-LEARNING

Abstract

The proliferation of e-learning has fundamentally reshaped India's higher education landscape, a transformation massively accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and propelled by the ambitions of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. While this digital shift has democratized access to education, it has also created significant disparities in quality, making robust quality assurance (QA) an imperative for national development. This article examines the complex ecosystem of e-learning in India, identifying the multifaceted challenges that impede the consistent delivery of high-quality digital education. These challenges span infrastructural deficits, pedagogical limitations, faculty and institutional readiness, and the complexities of online assessment. The paper critically reviews the existing regulatory frameworks established by bodies like the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and evaluates their efficacy in the current dynamic environment. It further analyzes the visionary yet challenging roadmap set forth by NEP 2020. Synthesizing these analyses, this article argues that ensuring quality in Indian e-learning is not a singular objective but a continuous, iterative process requiring a multi-pronged framework. We propose a holistic model for QA integrating dynamic regulatory oversight, strengthened institutional mechanisms, a focus on learner-centric pedagogical innovation, and technological standardization. This framework is presented as a crucial step towards harnessing the full potential of e-learning to build an equitable, high-quality, and globally competitive educational future for India.