by sflc_admin    |    November 2, 2016

In 2014, the Ministry of Human Rights Development (MHRD) announced the development of SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds), a national MOOC platform. Taking after the globally acclaimed MOOCs platforms such as edX and Coursera that run on open source software, and combining it with the successful experience of domestic institutions in using open source technology for developing MOOCs, the SWAYAM platform was intended to be powered by similar open source software as well. However, it was recently announced on 17th June, 2016, that SWAYAM will be developed with the help of Microsoft at a cost of Rs. 38 crores. As a part of this contract, Microsoft will operate it for three years, at the end of which, it will be handed over to All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
As an ardent supporter of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS), and having endorsed India’s Open Source Policy of 2015, we are deeply disappointed that the MHRD chose to develop India’s MOOC platform via propreitary software. In this respect, we, along with other concerned individuals and organizations wrote to the Hon’ble Minister of Human Resource Development, Mr. Prakash Javedkar expressing our concerns, and requesting them to honour the Open Source Policy of the country and re-consider the decision of choosing Microsoft. The letter along with the signatories can be accessed here. If you wish to join the effort and be added to the list of signatories, and receive updates of this initiative, you can email us at