The second iteration of low-cost Aakash tablet for students was announced earlier today at a press event by the Indian President. Dubbed as Aakash 2.0, tablet’s previous version never reached the students till now, but we hope things are different this time around. The tablet, which comes at a market price of INR 2,236, will be sold to students at a subsidised price of INR 1,132.

The tablet is manufactured by Canada-based Datawind.

The Indian government initially plans to distribute 100,000 of these tablets to students of engineering colleges and universities, followed by other students. About 220 million Indian students will get the device across the country in the next five-six years.

Aakash 2 features a 1GHz processor, Android 4.0, seven-inch capacitive display and will give four hours of battery backup.

Indian president Pranab Mukherjee unveiled the device at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi and the launch event was attended by hundreds of teachers across the country through online video conferencing.

There is still no clarity on how the tablet is going to be distributed to the students in the country. We are trying to find out and will update the post accordingly.

Update: According to Deccan Chronicle, Indian Government has chosen 244 engineering colleges in the country that will work as remote centres for “Aakash in Education” programme, coordinated by IIT-Mumbai under the National Mission on Education through ICT (NME-ICT). The programme will cover all engineering colleges in due course.

Aakash 2 key features:

  • 7-inch capacitive display
  • 512MB RAM
  • 1GHz Cortex A8 processor
  • 4GB storage
  • microSD card slot
  • USB port
  • 3,000 mAh battery

Few images of the Akash 2 tablet from VB, which got hands on the tablet recently:

Top Photo Credit: PTI

Gaurav Shukla is a journalist with over 12 years of experience covering the consumer technology space. He started his career with a self-published Android blog and has since worked with Microsoft's MSN.com,...

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138 Comments

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    1. sahi kaha sushrut….sab setting lagate hain…sale 2 sal se bol rahe hai aakash tablet is for students… our ek baar launch kiya to bolte hain saal bhar mein milega…aakash tablet is for students…are students gentelman banenge tab market mein laoge kya ???

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  5. I hope they are not claiming this as an indian made product. Because i have the same exact device but called NXG X10 🙂

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    1. Yes it has a Video Camera on the front and Skype installed by the looks of the pictures. I suggest you “side-load” gtalk and use that instead though.

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    1. you will never get it. you just type “ubislate delivery” in google you will know the situation.
      datawind is only doing advertisement. I have booked my ubislate in January 2012 and paid for it in March 2012 but still waiting for delivery. It is not only me how has not received it there are millions of customer and datawind also agree on it. so if they can not delivery to those who had booked 1 year back then if you book now then it will take approx 2-3 years (may be never). so spend little more dont be greedy.

      san

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  19. MY SUGGESTION TO YOU ALL. DONT DONT PRE-PAY (PAYMENT BEFORE DELIVERY) TO DATAWIND IN ANY CASE EVEN IF THEY SAY YOU WILL GET IT IN RS. 5-/ . YOU WILL LOSE YOU MONEY.
    there are millions of order with datawind (check datawind website). and if you book now it may take infinite days.

    san

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  24. how to buy Akash-2 Tablet ?
    when it will come in market and how students get it ? which shop is availble ?

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  26. weather these tablet give for NTTF students or not ???what are the steps to be followed for buying these when it is available in kerala market

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  30. so r v not ganna get dis stuff for this price???
    is it all fake??? i find it lyk day afta reading all dis comments…. wil v get dis at dis price??

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  31. hi please tell me how to order Low-cost Aakash 2 tablet debuts with 1GHz processor,
    i want to urgent .

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  41. My son studying ENGINERING in 2nd Year at Techno Group College . Ihereby request you
    how to get AKASH TAB 2 which launch on 11/11/12 by our President.
    Thanks.
    Jayanta Kr Mitra

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  45. I AM WAITING FOR AKASH TABLET. PLEASE, TELL ME HOW CAN I GET IT ? RIDHI
    CLASS 2, K.V. PATTOM.

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  46. DON’T TRUST UPON DATAWIND,THEY R PURE CHEATER,AFTER PRE-PAYMENT,THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE R WAITING FOR AA..KAASH ..SINCE THIS DATE.SINCE FEB.2012 .BEWARE…….

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  49. I have booked ‘ubislate7+’ in the month of Jan.2012. As required by the Datawind Company, I have paid Rs.2999/- in the month of Aprial 2012 which has acknowledged by the Datawind. I am kept on promice that I will get my ‘Ubislate7+’ firstly by the end of May2012, thereafter, company has e-mailed me that I will get the device by the end of June2012.Now, this is Nov 10th. I think ‘Datawind’ Company is palying fraud with the public money in collusion with the Govenment and some of the Ministers.

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  50. AAKASH-2 launched hahahahahaha guys what about AAKASH-1 has anybody seen it i think distribution of AAKASH-1 will satrt during launch of AAKASH-3
    anyways this is definition of INDIA new model launched while orignal one,still not distributed

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  52. I have booked ‘ubislate7+’ in the month of Jan.2012. As required by the Datawind Company, I have paid Rs.2999/- in the month of Aprial 2012 which has acknowledged by the Datawind. I am kept on promice that I will get my ‘Ubislate7+’ firstly by the end of May2012, thereafter, company has e-mailed me that I will get the device by the end of June2012.Now, this is Nov 10th. I think ‘Datawind’ Company is palying fraud with the public money in collusion with the Govenment and some of the Ministers.

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    2. Yes, Datawind is playing a fraud in india…
      It is to obvius , and it has kept maney of many persons like you.
      lock a case against Datawind and go for another tablet,
      the is also a reason not to go witk akash is that it will work or not,
      means if u get the tablet and it works , then the company has no resposibility against it,
      it comes without warrenty..

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  57. Frndz i think datawind is very cheap,fake and froud compony .Thus does’nt kept faith on that

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  58. say me the process by which i will buy the akash – 2 lablet which is distributed by our government of india for student

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  62. I am a student of engineering calloge and I want to akash tab 2.please you sent how I want

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  73. Sir,

    I am mohammed asif sir tell me how to purchase akash2.0 version
    recently announced by president.

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  78. sir, i have booked akash-1,but i have changed my location from jamshedpur to new delhi.so i want,my tablet could be given at my new address..
    c/o-kamlesh pathak,
    H.No-B-1248,sangam gali,new ashok nagar,new delhi,110096

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  79. Hello sir,
    I m the student of engineering
    sir, I want the information about how to book tab and after booking when I get tab in my hand and also about payment process

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    1. I am student i want to a purchase akash 2 tab please give me information how take it

      coll me 8873352613

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  82. sir,
    how can be buy akash tab from alwar….
    and how can be buy this tab on student base….
    +919782589715

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  86. i am a diploma student . i want buy this tab. please give me suggestion for buy this tab……..

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  87. Hello sir,
    I m the student
    sir, I want the information about how to book tab and after booking when I get tab in my hand and also about payment process….
    Address Khalari (mohan,nagar ) (Ranchi) mobile no. 9939105007

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  95. I AM AN ENGG STUDENT FROM HYDERABAD ,”I WANT TO BUY AKASH-2 HOW IS THE PROCEDURE FOR BOOKING THE TABLET”!!!!!!

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  96. Keep the lid on enthusiasm people. you are never going to get your hands on this tablet. Datawind and Government are fooling you all. There is going to be extreme shortage of it even if it is available. They plan to make it available in 5-6 years ? lol . what a joke. do you think this technology will even be viable after 5-6 years ? and i dont think it comes in 3g. how many schools are equipped with wi-fi ? what about warranty ? after sales service ? its all a big scam. BEWARE

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  100. Sir,
    iam noufal . iam a student iwant to buy akash 2 how?
    Please contact or reply me
    My no:+919809494396

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  109. am Bhanu BCOM student i like to buy a akash mobiles…….. can i know starting price of akash mobiles

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