Atthe launch in the Indian capital, Delhi, HumanResource Development MinisterKapil Sibalhanded out 500 Aakash (meaning sky) tablets tostudents who will trial them.
The education minister, Kapil Sibal, has promised an array of improvements, including universal primary education, partly provided for through private schooling.
It hasn't helped that the two marines were welcomed home by Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti, looking like "heroes", says former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal.