The government on Thursday launched a unique initiative under which graduate and undergraduate college and university students can perform their laboratory experiments online.

HRD Minister Kapil Sibal launched www.vlab.co.in, a collection of 91 virtual laboratories containing hundreds of experiments in nine disciplines of science and engineering.

Such labs would not only enable students practice and learn the science and engineering behind the experiments but also help those in rural areas perform tests that they would not otherwise be able to access, Sibal said.

"This is a big step as the virtual labs cover 60 to 80 per cent AICTE, UGC approved syllabi. As we go ahead with the national mission of education through information and communication technology, we can cover all institutes with this," he said, adding one could also access these labs through the low cost tablet PC Aakash.

These labs will also be useful for engineering college students who do not have access to good lab facilities, high-school students, whose inquisitiveness will be triggered, motivating them to take up higher-studies and researchers in different institutes who can collaborate and share equipment, he noted.

"With the launch of virtual labs, Indian students will have easy access to an encyclopedia of science and engineering knowledge presented in a way that is engaging, immersive, and enjoyable," said a statement issued by the HRD Ministry.

Virtual Labs will allow students to explore, discover, and learn wherever they are and at their convenience, the statement said.