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Introduction University Grants Commission (UGC)
under the aegis of the Ministry of
The COVID-19 outbreak that brought
the world to a standstill resulted in a Human Resource Development (MHRD)
complete lockdown of India by mid- is the statutory body that is responsible
March 2020 so as to contain the spread for maintaining education standards
of the pandemic. Although no sector in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)
remained unaffected by this action of in the country. As per the All India
the Indian Government, the education Survey of Higher Education (AISHE)
sector probably was the worst hit, as report, absolute enrollment in all HEIs
shutdown on such a short notice halted (993 universities + 39931 colleges) in
the learning process. Considering the the period 2018-19 corresponded to
future of millions of students at stake, 3.73 crore students which were taught
in no time the academicians at all levels by 14.16 lakh faculty (AISHE report,
- be it at school or at higher education, 2019). Training such a large number of
embraced tech-led learning, i.e. online learners is a mammoth task for any HEI
learning or e-learning. Many definitions with its limited campus and resources.
exist for e-learning, the prominent Therefore, one would have expected that
being, a mode of training enabled with the advancement in information
electronically and empowered by the technology and rapid progress in online
use of digital technologies (such as CD- learning in the rest of the world, this
ROMs, internet, DVDs, intranet, etc), learning style would be adopted quickly
that is independent of time and place, by the Indian HEIs as well. However,
can be delivered as live (synchronous) in India, the e- learning culture is still
or as pre- recorded (asynchronous) not popular and higher education is
sessions (Fee, 2005; Abbad, Morris & delivered in a traditional face-to-face
de Nahlik, 2009; Algahtani, 2011). There (F2F) manner. Aversion towards online
are numerous well-accepted benefits of learning could be majorly due to the
e-learning such as better accessibility non-availability of infrastructure rather
to higher education , cost and time than reluctance on the part of educators
advantage and flexibility for students and students to change their existing
to pursue education at their pace along teaching-learning methodologies. A
with managing official work or home National Sample Survey carried out by
responsibilities (Oye et al., 2012; Pasha the Ministry of Statistics & Programme
& Gorya, 2019). Implementation, Government of
India, for the period of 2017-2018 on
India's higher education encompasses 'Key Indicators of Household Social
education pursued (a degree/diploma) Consumption on Education in India'
in any field of Science, Engineering, (Key indicators, 2018) revealed the
Arts, Commerce, Architecture, etc., after disparity that exists in the proportion
completion of 12 years of schooling. of rural and urban households that
Therefore, Graduation, Post-Graduation, have access to computers (4.4percent
M. Phil, MBA, Ph.D. as well as Certificate, versus 23.4percent) and internet facility
Diploma or PG Diploma are included (15percent as against 42percent). In
under higher education definition. fact, only 8percent of the population

150 Indian Journal of Educational Technology
Volume 3, Issue 2, July 2021