ShikshaPal.

Getting started with ShikshaPal

An offline AI tutor for Class 6–12 students, aligned to the NCERT curriculum. Here's how to set it up on your phone, use it well, and fix problems if they come up.

Install & sign in

ShikshaPal runs on Android phones and iPhones. The app does the AI work right on the phone, which is why it needs a recent device with enough RAM. Tablets and laptops are not supported at the moment.

1. Install the app On Android, search for "ShikshaPal" on the Google Play Store. On iPhone, search for "ShikshaPal" on the App Store. Tap Install. The app itself is small (about 100–150 MB).
2. Open the app and create your account Sign up with the student's email and a password. If the student is under 18, the app will also ask for a parent or guardian email and send a consent message there. The account is activated only after the parent confirms.
3. Pick your class and language Choose the student's class (6 to 12) and preferred language of instruction. ShikshaPal will use this to recommend the right AI model and to set the right level of explanation.
4. Download an AI model The app will recommend a model based on your phone's RAM and chip. This is a one-time download of 1–4 GB. Use Wi-Fi if you can — mobile data will work but may be slow and use a lot of your data plan. Once downloaded, the model lives on your phone and works offline forever.
5. Allow notifications (optional) The app may ask for permission to send notifications. This is only used to remind you when a model download has finished, or when there's an important account message. It is not used for marketing.
6. Start asking questions Open a chapter, type a question, and the tutor will explain. Try things like "Explain Newton's third law with a real example" or "Help me factorise x² + 5x + 6 step by step". The first reply takes a few seconds because the model is loading; after that it's faster.

Phone requirements

ShikshaPal does all its AI work on your phone, so the device matters. You don't need a premium phone, but you do need a reasonably recent one with at least 4 GB of RAM.

Minimum (works, but slower)

• Android: Android 10 or newer, 4 GB RAM, 64-bit processor;
• iPhone: iOS 16 or newer, iPhone XS / SE (2nd gen) or newer;
• 5 GB free storage for the app plus one model;
• Internet connection — only needed for the first-time model download and for signing in.

Recommended

• 6 GB RAM or more, for smoother responses with larger models;
• 10 GB free storage if you want to keep multiple subject models installed;
• A phone with an NPU (Neural Processing Unit) — replies become noticeably faster and the battery lasts longer. Most phones from 2022 onwards have one, including:
  • iPhones with Apple A12 Bionic chip or newer (XS, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 series, SE 2nd/3rd gen);
  • Android phones with Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 / 8 Gen 1 or newer, MediaTek Dimensity 8000-series or newer, Google Tensor (Pixel 6 onwards), or Samsung Exynos 2200 or newer.

What ShikshaPal does not need

• A flagship phone — mid-range Android phones with 4–6 GB RAM are well supported;
• A SIM card or mobile data plan (Wi-Fi-only is fine);
• A Google or Apple account beyond what your phone already requires;
• Access to your photos, contacts, microphone, camera, or location.

Choosing the right tutor

ShikshaPal does not use one giant model for everything. Instead, it ships three specialist tutors — each picked for what it does well. The app recommends the right one based on your class and your phone's RAM, but you can switch any time.

Switching between tutors

If you ask the Math Tutor a chemistry question, it will politely tell you to switch to the Science Tutor. Tap the tutor name at the top of the chat screen to switch any time. You only download each model once — after that, switching is fast.

Asking better questions

The AI tutor works best when you treat it like a patient teacher rather than a search engine. Some tips:

• Mention your class — "I'm in Class 9, can you explain..." gets answers at the right level.
• Show your work — type your attempted solution and ask "where did I go wrong?" instead of just asking for the answer.
• Ask for examples — "give me three examples from daily life" makes abstract topics concrete.
• Ask for a different explanation — if the first answer doesn't click, just say "explain it more simply" or "give me an analogy".
• Keep your textbook handy — the tutor is a helper, not a replacement. Always cross-check against your NCERT textbook.

Troubleshooting

The model download keeps failing or is very slow

Models are 1–4 GB, so the first download takes time on slow networks. A few things to try:

• Switch to Wi-Fi if you are on mobile data;
• Keep the ShikshaPal screen open during the download — Android and iOS may pause large downloads if the app goes into the background for too long;
• Make sure your phone is charging or has plenty of battery — some power-saving modes throttle background downloads;
• If a download keeps failing midway, go to Settings → Storage in the app, delete the partial file, and start again. The app saves progress chunk-by-chunk so it usually picks up from where it stopped.

The tutor is replying very slowly

Slow replies usually mean the tutor is too big for your phone, or another app is hogging memory. Try:

• Open Settings → Tutor and switch to a smaller one — the Math Tutor runs well even on 4 GB phones;
• Close other apps in the background, especially browsers, games, and video apps;
• Restart the phone if it has been running for many days without a reboot;
• If your phone has an NPU but the app is not using it, tap Settings → Performance and confirm "NPU acceleration" is on.

The phone heats up or battery drains quickly while using the tutor

Running an AI model on a phone is real work for the chip — it's normal for the phone to get warm, especially during long sessions. To reduce this:

• Use a smaller tutor (the Math Tutor uses the least power);
• Take short breaks between questions;
• Avoid using the app while the phone is also charging in a hot environment;
• If your phone has an NPU, make sure NPU acceleration is on — it is far more efficient than running on the CPU.

If the phone gets uncomfortably hot or the battery drops alarmingly fast, close the app and let the device cool down.

I get an "out of memory" or "model failed to load" error

This means the tutor needs more RAM than your phone has free at that moment. Try:

• Closing other apps, especially browsers with many tabs and chat apps;
• Switching to a smaller tutor in Settings → Tutor;
• Restarting the phone to clear memory before opening ShikshaPal.

The app keeps closing or the tutor restarts mid-answer

Android and iOS sometimes close apps that use a lot of memory, especially when you switch to another app. Keep ShikshaPal in the foreground while you wait for an answer, and try a smaller tutor if the problem repeats. On Android, you can also turn off battery optimisation for ShikshaPal in your phone's Settings → Apps → ShikshaPal → Battery, so the system stops killing it in the background.

I forgot my password

On the sign-in screen, tap "Forgot password?". We'll send a reset link to the registered email. If the student is a minor, the link is sent to the parent's email so an adult is involved in the reset.

The parent consent email never arrived

Please check the spam or "Promotions" folder in the parent's inbox. The email comes from contact@shikshapal.com. If it is still missing after 30 minutes, write to us from the parent's email and we'll resend the consent link manually.

The tutor gave me a wrong answer

It happens — AI is not perfect. Cross-check against your NCERT textbook or ask a teacher. You can also tap the "Report" button below any reply to send the question and answer to us (no other personal data is included). Reports help us improve future versions.

Can I use ShikshaPal without signing in?

Not currently. We require sign-in so that we can provide parental consent for minor users, as required by Indian law. We are exploring a guest mode for older students in future versions.

How do I free up space if my phone is full?

Each tutor model is 1–4 GB. If you have downloaded multiple tutors and need space, go to Settings → Storage and tap "Remove" next to a tutor you don't use often. You can re-download it later. Your account, class, and language preferences will not be affected.

How do I delete my account?

Open the app and go to Settings → Account → Delete Account, or write to contact@shikshapal.com from the registered email address. We delete accounts within 30 days of receiving a valid request.

For parents

If you are a parent or guardian, here are the most common questions:

• Is my child's data safe? ShikshaPal collects only an email address, password (hashed), class, and language preference. The actual conversations stay on the phone and are never uploaded. See the Privacy Policy for full details.
• Are there ads? No. We will never show ads, and we will never sell or share your child's data.
• Will it use a lot of mobile data? Only the very first model download (1–4 GB). After that, the app works fully offline. We strongly recommend doing the first download on Wi-Fi.
• Will it replace school? No, and that is by design. ShikshaPal points students back to their NCERT textbook, encourages them to consult teachers, and is meant only as a homework helper and explainer.
• Can the AI go off-topic? The tutors are configured to stick to academic topics. If a student tries to chat about non-school things, the tutor will gently redirect them. No system is perfect, though, so we still recommend keeping screen time visible to parents.

When to ask a teacher instead

ShikshaPal is good for many things — explaining a concept differently, walking through a worked example, breaking down a definition. But it is not the right tool when:

• You need help understanding your school's specific syllabus, exam pattern, or marking scheme;
• You have a personal learning difficulty that needs an in-person diagnosis;
• You need someone to motivate you, listen to you, or notice when you are struggling — that is what teachers and family are for;
• You want feedback on a project, essay, or assignment that your school will grade;
• You need medical, mental-health, legal, or financial advice — the AI is not qualified for these and should not be asked.