'We feel that technically enabled open education, as not just an education agenda for the rest but in a central way to provide scaled access to quality education is most important for India now,' Vijay Kumar said.

The action plan aims at addressing five main issues in a fresh higher education model. This includes thrust on enhancing ICT infrastructure including education via TV and radio as well as internet, 'addressing legal constraints' for education content, 'interoperability' of educational content and creating and maintaining sound database and 'ensuring that there is flexible framework to identify quality open resources.'

In addition, the action plan also hopes to address qualms about certification of such learning programmes by developing an integrated credit bank system to which established institutions can map curriculum as well as pushing for a 'sound enabling national level policy'.

Pitroda noted the NKC was established to build capacity to develop knowledge, and it covered literacy, libraries, translation, affirmative action and knowledge networks in almost all areas, while Pillai held that 'enhancing the reach of education was the main aim.'

'The deliberations on OER will facilitate these aspects of open access in light of the NKC recommendations, which have also facilitated the initiation of the national mission of education through ICTs so far,' he said.