Patna, Jan. 23: Aakash is not too far from the reach of Patna University students now.

The varsity administration is already compiling the final list of students, teachers and employees interested in purchasing the prized tablet at a subsidised rate.

Different departments and colleges under Patna University were given the deadline till January 20 to submit their lists of interested candidates.

Patna University’s computer centre officer in-charge K.P. Singh said: “Around 5,000 students and 350 teachers have already applied for the Aakash tablet. The exact number of applicants will be known only after the final list is ready.”

The final list of applicants compiled by the university officials will be sent to the Union human resource development (HRD) ministry, which will then send it to the manufacturing unit.

The gadget will be supplied to the students on a priority basis. They will be able to purchase the tablet for a subsidised price of Rs 1,138. The market price of the device is between Rs 2,500 and Rs 3,000.

Union HRD minister Kapil Sibal launched the Aakash tablet in October last year. Patna University was among the varsities selected by the ministry where the high-end gadget would be available at the subsidised rate.

Patna University registrar Vibash Kumar Yadav said: “According to the information available with us, the improved version of the tablet, to be launched in February, will be supplied to our students.”

The students will be able to access for free the online content for undergraduate and postgraduate courses that is being developed under the HRD ministry.

K.P. Singh said: “The University Grants Commission is preparing the content for undergraduate and post-graduate course. It would be uploaded on the tablet.”

The varsity students are already showing a lot of interest in the tablet. In Magadh Mahila College, around 70 per cent students and more than 90 per cent teachers have submitted their names for purchasing the tablet. Priya Patel, a third-year history student, said: “We are getting the Aakash tablet at such a low price. We cannot afford to miss this opportunity of buying the prized tablet.”

Randhir Kumar Singh, a teacher at Patna College, said: “In our college, around 70 per cent students and teachers have applied for the tablet.”