The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has developed an e-learning portal - School Bhuvan ( www.bhuvan.nrsc.gov.in) - to help students learn geography through interactive activities.

The portal was launched under the ministry of human resource and development and made functional on August 12.

"Interactive map-based activities have been developed here , which will be helpful in enhancing critical thinking and analytical skills among students. The web portal will help students learn about natural resources," said D.T. Sudarshan Rao, the joint secretary of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

He added: "The National Remote Sensing Centre and Indian Scientific and Research Organisation (Isro) helped in the creation of Bhuvan."

Both the organisations used data provided by satellites to get the best possible images. Bhuvan is a geo-portal of Isro, which showcases satellite-imaging capabilities in multi-sensor, multi-platform and multi-temporal domain. The browser discovers the virtual earth in 2-dimensional boundaries.

In a circular issued by the CBSE on September 8, all affiliated schools have been asked to inform students about this.

Ajit Mishra, a geography teacher at St Karen's High School, said: "The only way to score well in this subject is to know the map of India. Learning from the hardcopy of a map seems dull. Students are friendlier and attracted to technology."

"For me, geography was always the most boring subject and I never put much effort to learn cropping and resource patterns through maps. But I find this site very innovative and easy," said Piyush Sharma, a Class IX student of St Michael's High School.

Like Piyush, other students found the portal fascinating too. A Class X student of Notre Dame Academy, Shreya Jain, said: "I am glad that NCERT has developed such an innovative website for students. I will appear for the board exams next year and the syllabus covers most of the map-related topics. The subject becomes fascinating."

Another student, Amit Kumar of Class IX of Loyola High School said: "The web portal is very easy to use and it not only increases knowledge about India but also about the world. I have been facing difficulties in understanding a few things but after accessing the portal, all concepts are getting clear."