edskExpress Turns One: Transforming Students into Storytellers and Change-Makers

Himachal Pradesh has marked a significant milestone in student-centric education with the statewide launch of edskExpress, India’s first digital news platform designed specifically for government school students. Launched at Peterhof, Shimla, in the presence of Hon’ble Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Education Minister Rohit Thakur, senior education officials, and key stakeholders, edskExpress is creating a platform where students can share their perspectives, document their communities, and tell stories that matter. In its first year, the platform has engaged 1,00,000+ students, onboarded 5,000+ schools, published 500+ student stories, and enabled 300+ student reporters through the Vidyarthi Patrakar Initiative. The initiative is helping students develop essential 21st-century skills, including communication, critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and civic participation.

Saurabh Tyagi, Chief Marketing Officer of Deepspatial, receiving a ceremonial memento from Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu during the statewide launch of edskExpress at Peterhof, Shimla

Rajesh Sharma, State Project Director, Samagra Shiksha, highlighted the platform’s role in giving students a stage to express their perspectives, document realities, and celebrate their communities, while Saurabh Tyagi, Chief Marketing Officer, Deepspatial Inc, described it as the beginning of a movement to empower students to become storytellers, chroniclers, and change-makers in their communities.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Saurabh Tyagi, Chief Marketing Officer of Deepspatial, and other education officials and guests pose on stage holding a framed edskExpress poster during the statewide launch in Shimla

An initiative by Deepspatial in collaboration with The Indian Express, edskExpress brings together technology, journalism, and education to create meaningful experiential learning opportunities for students and supports the vision of the National Education Policy 2020, with its emphasis on experiential learning, multilingual expression, critical thinking, and holistic development.

Collage featuring student reporters from Himachal Pradesh alongside edskExpress branding, highlighting youth journalism and student voices

With edskExpress, students are not just consuming news; they are creating it, observing their surroundings, asking questions, documenting local stories, and sharing community experiences. One year of edskExpress is one year of young voices, powerful stories, and a growing movement to nurture informed, confident, and engaged citizens.