When Apni Pathshala began Project Narayan, the question seemed simple: how could Eklavya AI be brought into Raichur schools?
The conversation with Iswar Kumar Kandoo, IAS, CEO of Raichur Zilla Panchayat, changed that question. Instead of starting with technology, it started with the child: What does a student actually need before an AI tutor can help them learn?
That question turned the plan towards Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN). A wider pool of 150 schools was identified for the pilot process, with three schools selected for the first implementation.
The Problem Was More Fundamental Than We Expected
Apni Pathshala already had experience building Eklavya for competitive examinations, CBSE, and curriculum-based learning. But the Raichur conversation revealed a different challenge.
Some children were reaching Classes 5 and 6 without strong foundations in reading, pronunciation, number recognition, counting, and simple arithmetic.
That meant the answer could not simply be more advanced academic content. The work had to begin with the foundations.
The Government of India’s NIPUN Bharat Mission identifies foundational literacy and numeracy as a national priority because these skills form the base for future learning.
What FLN Means for Project Narayan
Foundational Literacy and Numeracy is about the basic abilities needed to keep learning.
Can a child read and understand? Recognise numbers, count, and perform basic operations? Communicate what they understand?
The NCERT National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage places foundational language and mathematical development alongside play, language development, and experiential learning.
For Project Narayan, this created a clear direction. Eklavya could not simply be reduced and given to younger learners. It needed to be redesigned around their actual learning stage.
Eklavya Had to Become Something Different
The new requirement called for a Raichur-focused FLN version of Eklavya that is interactive, simple, playful, easy to understand, and aligned with measurable learning benchmarks.
The focus includes reading, pronunciation, word and number recognition, counting, and basic arithmetic. AI becomes an additional learning layer for future learning.
The Benchmarks Matter
Project Narayan is not being judged simply by how many children open the application or complete activities.
The real question is: Did the child learn?
The Ministry of Education’s Foundational Learning Study established benchmarks around foundational reading, comprehension, and numeracy. Project Narayan follows this outcome-focused approach.
The pilot needs to show measurable improvement, not merely digital engagement.
Raichur Adds Another Layer
Language adds complexity. Children in and around Raichur may encounter Kannada, Tamil, Hindi, and English in education and daily life.
For a child already struggling with foundational learning, the language used to explain a concept can make a significant difference.
So the learning experience has to consider not only what is taught, but how the child understands it.
This is why the Raichur version needs to be simple, interactive, and responsive to different learning levels.
Why 150 Schools, But Only Three Pilots?
There is a difference between identifying a large opportunity and testing a solution properly.
For Project Narayan, we identified a pool of 150 schools. From that pool, three schools have been selected for the initial implementation.
The purpose is simple: build carefully, learn from evidence, and scale responsibly.
A pilot gives the team a real environment to understand where students struggle, which activities work, what teachers observe, and whether progress can be measured.
From Three Schools Towards 100
If the model demonstrates meaningful results, the next planned stage is to take Project Narayan to 100 schools across Raichur. If that larger implementation works, the model can then be explored for other districts and states.
The larger ambition is to make Raichur a leading example of district-level AI adoption in education. That ambition must be earned through evidence.
The Role of Iswar Kandoo Ji
For Apni Pathshala, Iswar Kandoo ji’s contribution was important because he helped identify the right problem.
The conversation was not simply, “What technology can we bring?” It became, “What do these children actually need?”
The official Raichur District website lists Iswar Kumar Kandoo, IAS, as Chief Executive Officer of Raichur Zilla Panchayat.
His involvement helped move the discussion towards a specific learning challenge that could be tested.
Ranjita Helped Turn the Idea Into a Pilot
An education idea still needs coordination before it reaches a classroom.
Ranjita ji, the point of contact supporting the initiative from the CEO’s office, helped make that process smoother. From connecting with principals and schools to coordinating communication and implementation, her support made execution smoother.
That allowed the team to focus on building, testing, and improving the learning model.
Project Narayan Is About Learning What Works
This stage asks a different question:
Can this actually work for children who need foundational learning support?
Project Narayan is named in memory of Dr. Narayan Malpani, with a belief that education should reach every child. But reaching a child is only the first step; the real goal is learning.
If an AI tutor helps a child read better, understand numbers, practise mathematics, and become more confident, it has created meaningful value.
The Next Step Is Not Bigger. It Is Better.
Three schools are now testing the model from the wider pool of 150 identified schools. The next planned milestone is 100 schools across Raichur if results are meaningful.
Read our earlier Project Narayan story on AI-powered learning in Raichur for the first school collaborations, and Project Narayan: How One Raichur Meeting Changed the Direction of Eklavya AI for the FLN pivot.
You can also explore Eklavya AI to understand the platform being adapted for this challenge.
Project Narayan is asking one useful question: Can we build AI that starts where the child is and helps them take the next step?
Frequently Asked Questions
1: What is Project Narayan?
Ans. Project Narayan is Apni Pathshala’s initiative to bring AI-powered, curriculum-aligned learning to government schools in Raichur.
2: How is Project Narayan bringing AI into Raichur’s government schools?
Ans. It is piloting Eklavya AI as a curriculum-aligned learning tool in three schools, with the larger goal of expanding across Raichur.
3: Why is Foundational Literacy and Numeracy important?
Ans. FLN helps children build essential reading, writing, and basic mathematics skills needed for successful learning in later grades.
4: Who is the CEO of Raichur Zilla Panchayat?
Ans. Sri Iswar Kumar Kandoo, IAS is the Chief Executive Officer of Raichur Zilla Panchayat.
