In ______, to fulfill the provisions for disabled children in the NPE (1986), the government of India launched the Project for Integrated Education for the Disabled (PIED).

Correct option is D

Explanation:

The correct answer is "1987." 

In 1987, the Government of India launched the Project for Integrated Education for the Disabled (PIED) in collaboration with the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF). This initiative was designed to implement the provisions for disabled children outlined in the National Policy on Education (NPE) of 1986.

The PIED project aimed to:

Promote inclusive education by integrating children with disabilities into regular schools.
Provide teacher training programs to support special education needs.
Encourage community participation in the education of disabled children.
Develop teaching aids and adaptive materials for differently-abled students.
This initiative laid the groundwork for future policies and acts, including the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 and the Right to Education Act, 2009.

Information Booster:

National Policy on Education (NPE), 1986

- Advocated for universal education and emphasized equal opportunities for marginalized groups, including children with disabilities.

- Recommended inclusive education as a priority approach.

- Recognized the need for special training for teachers to support children with special needs.

Project for Integrated Education for the Disabled (PIED), 1987

- A pilot project started in 10 districts across India.

- Aimed at providing infrastructure, training, and curriculum modifications for disabled children.

- Shifted focus from segregation to inclusion in regular schools.

- Later served as a model for the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Inclusive Education for Disabled (IEDSS) programs.

Impact of PIED

- Paved the way for policies like Inclusive Education for the Disabled at the Secondary Stage (IEDSS), 2009.

- Promoted barrier-free access to education for children with disabilities.

- Strengthened the foundation for India’s commitment to inclusive education under international agreements like the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).