The advanced version of the low cost tablet, Akaash, is all set to be a reality by January 2014. “The tenders for Akaash 4 have been floated with Directorate General for Supplies and Disposals (DGS&D) and would be finalised in January 2014,” said Kapil Sibal, communications and IT minister.

The minister said that a low cost device for digital knowledge access to every child has been his dream for a long time. A low cost computing device was envisaged by the HRD ministry under the national mission on education through information and communication technology (ICT). “Unfortunately my own government did not help me in realising this dream. However, that will change with Akaash 4,” he said.

Sibal was speaking at the launch of e-inclusion project at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi

J Satyanarayana, secretary, department of electronics and IT (DeitY) said that the rate contract with DGS&D would be finalised in January 2014. “Institutions would then be able to place orders for Akaash 4 through DGS&D,” he said.

The earlier versions of the low cost device had come under scathing criticism for its poor quality and features. Akaash 4 has been designed to undo all the criticism and provide a user friendly and affordable tablet for people.

The tablet will be available in Rs 2200-2500 price range.

Akaash 4 will have seven inch capacitive touchscreen, 1Gb RAM, 4Gb internal memory (or more integrated flash), USB port, WiFi, 3 hours battery backup and Bluetooth, among other features.