Modern education requires a tablet to aid the student in their studies. However, not every student can afford a tablet, especially since some good tablets cost more than a laptop. So, in this post, I will show you how to get free tablet for students in India.
The government understands the situation and is giving away free or cheap tablets to students. These tablets come with installed academic apps and tools students need to learn. Also, if more students have at least one tablet each, that creates a level playground for students who wouldn’t otherwise have access to digital activities. In this post, I am going to show you the top programs that are currently helping students get digital education.
How to Get Free Tablet for Students
It is not that difficult to get a free tablet. So far you are qualified, and the tablet will be yours to take home. That said, below are the places where you can get free tablet for students.
1. Namo tablet Yojana
The Prime Minister of India started the Namo Tablet Yojana, to digitalize the country and revolutionize the education world. Under this scheme, students in the state of Gujarat can purchase a branded tablet at a very cheap price of around ₹1000.
The tablet for students comes with a 7-inch HD display, a quad-core processor, 2 GB RAM, 16 GB internal storage (expandable up to 64 GB), a 3450 mAh battery, a 5 MP rear camera, a 2 MP front camera, and runs on Android 7.0 (Nougat).
To be eligible for this scheme, the annual income of the applicant’s household should not exceed ₹1 lakh, and the applicant must be a permanent resident of Gujarat, below the poverty line, and have passed the 12th standard and taken admission in a college for an undergraduate course.
2. NAMO E-TAB Scheme
The NAMO E-TAB Scheme is a similar program where the government of Gujarat provides Acer or Lenovo tablets to meritorious students taking admissions in the first year of college or polytechnic courses. The specifications of the tablets are the same as those provided under the NAMO Tablet Yojana. The budget for this scheme in 2024 is ₹252 crore, and it aims to provide tablets to 3 lakh students.
To be eligible for this scheme and get free tablet for students, you must be a permanent resident of Gujarat, have secured merit in the 12th class, and be taking admission in the first year of a college or polytechnic course.
3. DeSoto Independent School District
You can also qualify to get free tablet for students if you are a DeSoto Independent School student. In the DeSoto Independent School District, a program in collaboration with Public Wireless has been established to provide free tablets and internet access to qualifying students.
All students who attended the DeSoto ISD during the 2024-2025 school year are eligible to receive a 10.1-inch HD tablet with free internet service, a hard case cover, and a screen protector.
The included SIM cards provide 24/7 LTE Broadband Internet Service, eliminating the need for WIFI access. Parents, guardians, and students will not receive any billing statements for the tablet or internet service, as they are completely free and belong to the students forever.
There are no obligations or commitments, but the offer is limited to one tablet per household. The tablets will be mailed to the address provided. This initiative aligns with the district’s commitment to ensuring all students have the necessary tools to succeed in their academic and personal journeys.
4. Pakka Skills
In Uttar Pradesh, free tablets are distributed to students by Pakka Skills under the Swami Vivekananda Youth Empowerment Scheme.
This initiative empowers students with tech and is presided over by Ramesh Kothi, with Manjula Jhunjhunwala as the chief guest. The tablets are distributed on 29 May at the campus of Pakka Skills. You may qualify to get free tablet for students from Pakla Skills.
5. Enoch Pratt free Library
A program is offered by the Enoch Pratt free Library, where individuals with a Pratt Library card can borrow computer and internet devices like Chromebooks, tablets, and mobile hotspots to use at home.
This program is a great resource for those who may not have access to these devices at home, allowing them to stay connected and access a wide range of online resources.
Customers aged 13 and older can borrow a mobile hotspot and connect up to 15 devices to free Wi-Fi. They can also borrow a Chromebook, complete with a power adapter/cord and carrying case. Additionally, the Pratt Library is distributing 30,000 HP Chromebooks to eligible Baltimore City households. Local organizations can also borrow a collection of Chromebooks from Pratt for long-term lending.
6. Loren Legarda
Senator Loren Legarda has filed a bill known as the “One Tablet, One Student Act of 2022”. This bill aims to provide a free tablet for students enrolled in public schools and state universities and colleges. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the learning setup across the country, with most educational institutions opting for distance or online learning.
This proposed measure assists students by giving them tablets or similar learning devices to help them cope with the current challenges in line with the national government’s thrust to provide quality education for all Filipino students. The “One Tablet, One Student” program will provide each public elementary and secondary student, as well as students enrolled in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), with a tablet computer to enable them to effectively participate in online learning.
Students who already have their own tablets will be given educational assistance in the form of an internet allowance to cover the cost of connectivity.
The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) are tasked with determining which students are qualified under the program.
7. Tucson.com
Tucson, Arizona, middle schoolers at three Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) schools received a tablet along with a two-year data plan as part of the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools initiative. This initiative is a nationwide effort to close the digital divide that disadvantages underserved communities.
The initiative will change the digital divide and provide students with the technology in this 21st century. The grant covers extensive and ongoing professional development for teachers, and each school receives $1.8 million to support the program. The program has already seen academic achievement increase in schools that have participated, with growth in ELA scores and increased interest in STEM careers.
8. SASTRA
The leaders at SASTRA Deemed University in Thanjavur took a significant step to support the education of their non-teaching staff members’ children.
They distributed approximately 250 Acer tablets, each coming with a six-month internet plan from Airtel. The total cost of this generous initiative was Rs.35 lakhs.
The Vice-Chancellor of SASTRA, Dr. S. Vaidhyasubramaniam, personally handed over the tablets to the staff members. During the distribution, he took the opportunity to encourage the children to make the most of this facility.
He emphasized the importance of attending the online classes that schools are organizing, especially during these challenging times. Dr. Vaidhyasubramaniam also expressed his best wishes for the students, hoping that this support will contribute to their academic success.
Conclusion
So, these are the top places you can get a free tablet in India if you are a student. I also include the specific steps on how to get free tablet for students in each program. It is a good thing that India is giving students free tablets to help with learning. These tablets come with pre-installed apps. If you cannot afford a tablet to get the education try applying through these government and non-governmental initiatives.
Read also: Free Tablet for Students in Maharashtra 2024 Application
