DIKSHA vs OpenStax
DIKSHA
diksha.gov.in
OpenStax
openstax.orgSide by side
| Figure | DIKSHA | OpenStax |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 3 |
| Spec score · Digital Textbook Platforms | 9.0 (#1) | 8.9 (#3) |
| Spec score · Open Educational Resource Platforms | 9.0 (#1) | 8.9 (#4) |
| Accessibility | DIKSHA provides audio books, Indian Sign Language videos, and a dictionary for children with special needs. | OpenStax works toward WCAG 2.1 Level AA and Section 508 compliance and uses Level Access for automated and manual accessibility reviews. |
| Audience | The platform offers curriculum-relevant learning material to teachers, students, and parents. | OpenStax provides free, openly licensed textbooks and affordable technology for introductory courses. |
| Founded | 2017 | 2012 |
| Integrations | Users can sign in with Google credentials or participating state systems, and teacher courses run through an LMS integrated into DIKSHA. | Assignable supports LTI 1.3 and major LMS platforms including Blackboard, Canvas, D2L Brightspace, and Moodle. |
| Notable news | NCERT launched DIKSHA 2.0 among ten digital-learning initiatives at its 65th foundation-day program in August 2025. | PRNewswire reported on August 17, 2026 that Fullglass Education joined the OpenStax Technology Partner Program to turn OpenStax content into interactive courseware with quizzes, analytics and LMS integration. |
| Self-hosting | The official open-source page provides a setup path for running a DIKSHA instance and points users to the Sunbird community. | OpenStax documents public repositories and APIs but does not publish a supported self-hosting deployment for its reader or Assignable service. |
| What it does | DIKSHA is India's national digital platform for school education, serving students, teachers and parents with curriculum-linked resources. | OpenStax is a Rice University nonprofit initiative publishing free peer-reviewed educational materials and learning tools. |
Plans
OpenStax
- OpenStax textbooksFree
- OpenStax Assignable$15, paid once
- OpenStax AssignablePriced on request
In their own words
DIKSHA
DIKSHA is a national school-education platform and an NCERT initiative under India’s Ministry of Education. It provides curriculum-related resources for teachers, students and parents, including textbooks, videos, interactive material and courses. Browse content by subject, education stage, board or grade, or use the mobile app to scan textbook QR codes and open linked lessons and resources. The platform supports 36 Indian languages and teacher-development programs, including NISHTHA courses. Accessibility resources include audio books, Indian Sign Language videos and a dictionary for children with special needs. DIKSHA is available on Android, iOS and the web, with Android 5.1 and above listed as the mobile requirement. Offline access and annotation tools are listed. The site says it is built with Sunbird, MIT-licensed open-source technology. Its privacy policy describes data storage on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure servers in India and says IP addresses are not retained after use to suggest a state and district. A Windows and Ubuntu desktop app for offline downloaded material is marked “COMING SOON!”.
OpenStax
OpenStax is a nonprofit education initiative of Rice University that publishes free, openly licensed textbooks and related materials for introductory courses. Subject matter experts write the textbooks, which are peer-reviewed for accuracy and updated regularly. Books can be read online on the web, Android or iOS, or downloaded as free PDFs; low-cost print editions are also offered. Most titles are accessible without an account, although a small number require sign-in. Students can highlight, take notes and create study guides, with a free student account required for some features. Educators with a free account can access test banks, PowerPoint slides, solutions manuals and customization tools. OpenStax Assignable lets instructors assign readings, assessments and supporting materials through an LMS, with automatic grading and gradebook synchronization. It supports LTI 1.3 and Blackboard, Canvas, D2L Brightspace and Moodle. Textbooks cost nothing. Assignable starts at $15, paid once, billed per student per semester; instructors use it free, and a two-week trial begins on the first day of access. Institutional pricing is by contact.