World Computer Literacy Day: Significance and history. Here are all you should know

December 2 is celebrated as World Computer Literacy Day. The custom of celebrating the world computer literacy day started in 2001 by the Indian company National Institute of Information Technology (NIIT). The company celebrated the day to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the institute. During an event in 2002, multiple members of the Parliament were given computer training in the presence of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to spread the message of digital literacy. It aims was to overcome the global digital divide affecting millions of people worldwide by improving the accessibility of computer knowledge.

What is the significance of World Computer Literacy day?
NIIT started this initiative to spread IT knowledge across India. The pandemic widened this gap, as many people was caught on wrong foot with the only option of online learning, and people without digital prowess had to suffer a lot. The initiative tries to fill the gap created due to this digital divide. NIIT has also signed partnership agreements with multiple schools in low-tier regions of India, which will help students to get proper computer education.


Through this computer literacy initiative, it wants to broadcast the digital literacy to the most backward regions by celebrating Computer Literacy day.

What type of education will students get through this initiative?
NIIT, along with its Digital Literacy Program, aims to teach the basics of computers to people who do not know using such devices. They are basics like how to write and send emails, how to search on the internet, and much more.

Is this program successful?
Although no official statistics show the results, according to experts, this program had a few downsides, like lack of acceptance initially. But over time, NIIT has been able to amass this initiative by helping rural Indians.