Combating the Pandemic With ICT-Based Learning Tools and Applications: A Case of Indian Higher Education Platforms.

With the limitations imposed by Covid-19 pandemic, educational regulatory bodies in India recommended a number of online education portals to support higher education. Present work undertakes a detailed study on these recommended platforms and presents a comparative analysis based on the relevant features. ‘SWAYAM’ a widely popular and emphasized Indian MOOC platform has been compared with the other popular e-learning platforms of the international market. The study revealed that e-learning platforms vary in terms of offerings such as: method of dissemination of knowledge, target audiences, fee, target audiences, etc. Also, in terms of user base, courses offered, and certificates offered, ‘SWAYAM’ has to work a lot to compete with the international peers. Finally, SWOC analysis was carried out to present the threats and opportunities associated with recommended e-learning portals. The work will be profoundly helpful to frame the comprehensive education policies to meet the stakeholder’s expectations and lead to the innovation of educational development.