New Delhi, May 31, 2025: In a country where 55% of primary school children struggle to read or do basic arithmetic at grade level, Delhi-based NGO NudgED is transforming how India tackles its foundational learning crisis — by putting parents at the center. Founded to support underserved communities, NudgED has developed Top Parent, a free, audio-based mobile app in Hindi and Marathi that guides parents of children aged 3 to 8 in facilitating learning at home. With over 1.5 million downloads, the app has become a critical educational tool in low-income households where access to quality early childhood education is limited or non-existent.
The app emerged as a solution during the pandemic, when traditional classroom learning collapsed. Top Parent was endorsed by the state governments of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh as a reliable educational support system for families during school closures. Since then, it has evolved into Top Parent 2.0, which includes videos, worksheets, quizzes, and progress tracking—tools that help parents teach core skills using everyday materials and interactions at home.
The app’s human-centric design gives parents the skills and strategies they need to foster language and math learning, aligned with national and global research standards. Backed by frameworks from NCERT, Harvard’s Centre on the Developing Child, and the EdTech Developer’s Guide, the app supports cognitive development, emotional health, and digital citizenship. Monthly challenges, rewards, and interactive content ensure sustained engagement. Parents earn points, win prizes, and most importantly, stay invested in their children’s progress.
For parents like Rina, a mother of a 6-year-old, Top Parent has been transformative. “It started as homework help. Now it’s my guide,” she shared. Using the app’s learn-through-play approach, Rina not only improved her son’s academic performance but also deepened their emotional connection — reflecting the app’s holistic value.
NudgED’s mission addresses a stark reality: 180 million children in India struggle with foundational literacy and numeracy. (Source) Post-pandemic losses have further widened the gap, with over 80% of children losing at least one key learning ability. (Source) Research has long shown that parental involvement is one of the strongest predictors of a child’s academic success. By equipping parents — often overlooked in the education ecosystem — NudgED aims to change this trajectory.
Looking ahead, the NGO plans to expand Top Parent’s content to Telugu, Kannada, and Gujarati and scale to 5 million families by 2027. A pilot B2G model is underway in Rajasthan, aiming to reach 10 million families through government school partnerships by 2026. The app integrates AI and ML for personalized learning experiences and sends real-time nudges through WhatsApp/Glific bots, bridging the last-mile education gap with technology.
At the SVP India Fast Pitch 2025, NudgED’s impactful work received national recognition, securing a ₹10 lakh grant for winning Bronze and raising an additional ₹7 lakh in donor support. NudgED is helping parents like Rina become active participants in their child’s education — shifting the paradigm from schooling to true learning at home.
