A Study on Digital Education in Rural India: Issues, Challenges, and the Role of Indian Knowledge Systems in Empowering Communities - A Case Study of Palghar City

Abstract: In India, digital education has completely changed access to education, especially in rural areas where traditional educational obstacles still exist. With an emphasis on the function of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) in augmenting digital learning, this study investigates the effects, difficulties, and prospects of digital education in rural PalgharP City, Maharashtra. This study uses a quantitative analysis of 120 respondents, including instructors and students, to identify the main obstacles to the adoption of digital education, including socioeconomic limitations, insufficient digital literacy, and poor internet connectivity. The results indicate that while digital education greatly enhances academic performance, its impact on socioeconomic advancement is still quite little. The study also shows how IKS can help make digital learning more engaging and culturally relevant for students in rural areas. The Chi-Square method of hypothesis testing verifies that IKS integration increases the efficacy of digital learning and that digital education has a beneficial impact on educational results. Nevertheless, it was discovered that issues with infrastructure did not statistically significantly hinder the uptake of digital schooling. In order to increase engagement and relevance, the study suggests focused initiatives to improve internet infrastructure, boost digital literacy, and include IKS into digital education frameworks. Policymakers and educators working to close the digital divide in rural India will find these insights to be helpful. Despite being restricted to Palghar City, the study’s conclusions add to a larger conversation about the digital transformation of rural education. The long-term socioeconomic impacts of digital education and the scalability of IKS-based learning strategies in various rural contexts require more investigation.