In the XL plan, under NMEICT, there is a provision for providing 50 percent subsidy to colleges and universities for procuring computing devices like 'Aakash' as per their requirements. The colleges and universities could then issue these devices to financially weak students from the library on the pattern of the Book Bank Scheme. Thus, the individual subsidy to poor students like SC, ST and OBC for buying Aakash Tablets may not be needed.
These information's were given by Dr. D. Purandeshwari, the Minister of State for Human Resource, in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on November 25th, 2012.
The Tablet as an improved and more competent Aakash-2, world's most affordable tablet PC is said to be launched by February 2012 at the same price as its previous version. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Rajasthan has confirmed the improvements made in Aakash-1, which was launched on October 5th, 2011.
Regarding this, Kapil Sibal the HRD Minister said “Aakash has got an ample response internationally, when exhibited at a recent United Nations conference in Paris. Aakash has shown so much of interest among several international organizations and world leaders. Several Prime Ministers and Ministers have evidenced interests in Aakash who want it for their country in thousands”.
The Minister, who has been marketing Aakash since its launch also said, “There is a lot of global buzz about Aakash and we have to meet the global expectation”.