Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education, continued in-depth deliberations on strengthening inclusive education for Children with Special Needs (CwSN) on the second day of the Inclusive Education Summit 2026, being held from January 21–23, 2026, at The Lalit, New Delhi. The Summit is aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, with the objective of fostering equitable, accessible and learner-centric education systems.
Day 2 focused on “Inclusive Education Pathways”, highlighting national initiatives, digital innovations, teacher capacity-building frameworks and inter-sectoral collaboration. The proceedings were attended by Shri Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, DoSEL, Ms. A. Srija, Economic Advisor, DoSEL, senior officials of the Ministry of Education, and representatives from States, Union Territories and partner organisations.
The session commenced with an overview of PRASHAST 2.0, the revamped disability screening tool, underscoring its role in early identification, systematic screening and evidence-based planning for CwSN. A live demonstration showcased its integration with UDISE+ and its capabilities for efficient data capture, tracking and monitoring.
State-level presentations from Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal highlighted scalable and context-specific inclusive education models, including strengthened resource room systems and the establishment of Autism Support Centres. Discussions also covered reforms in special education, inclusive teacher education frameworks, open schooling initiatives and the integration of inclusive pedagogy.
The day concluded with deliberations on sports-based inclusion, assistive technologies and digital platforms, followed by an Open House with States and UTs. The discussions reinforced the need for coordinated policy action, institutional readiness and multi-sectoral collaboration to advance inclusive education pathways for children with special needs.
