PRASHAST

• Full form: Pre-Assessment Holistic Screening Tool.
• Developed by: National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), through its constituent unit, the Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET).
• Ministry: Ministry of Education, Government of India.
• Launched: 6 September 2022, during Shikshak Parv.
• Nature: A school-based digital disability screening tool designed to identify children who may require further assessment.

Key Features

• Coverage: Screens for indicators of the 21 disability conditions recognised under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016.
• Two-Part Checklist:
  • Part 1: Initial screening by regular teachers based on observable indicators.
  • Part 2: Further screening and validation by special educators, helping facilitate referral for professional assessment.
• Digital Platform: The mobile app supports screening and generates school-level reports.
• Purpose: Early identification, referral and support for children with special needs.
• Policy Linkages: National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Right to Education (RTE) Act 2009, RPwD Act 2016 and Samagra Shiksha.

Important Current Affairs Update

• 8 October 2026: The Department of School Education and Literacy organised nationwide screening of a 30-minute Inclusive Education Sensitisation and Orientation Module through the PRASHAST Portal.
• Participation: More than 60,000 schools participated, and over 72 lakh teachers had been sensitised through the dedicated module.
• Languages: The module is available in 12 Indian languages.

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. With reference to PRASHAST, consider the following statements:

1. It was developed by NCERT through CIET.
2. It screens for indicators of disability conditions recognised under the RPwD Act, 2016.
3. It provides a final medical diagnosis of disabilities.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only. PRASHAST is a preliminary screening and referral tool, not a diagnostic instrument.

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