.shiksha

Status:	Active
Registry Provider:	Afilias
Type:	Generic
Category:	Education
Priority #:	906 - Afilias
More information:

.shiksha is an active gTLD that was propsoed in ICANN's New gTLD Program. The Registry and manager of the TLD is Afilias. The proposed application succeeded and was delegated to the Root Zone on 18 January 2014.

GAC Early Warning

The application was issued a GAC Early Warning by the government of India. The warning system is noted as a strong recommendation on behalf of national governments to the ICANN Board that a given TLD application should be denied as it stands. Applicants are encouraged to work with objecting GAC members.

The Indian warning notes that the TLD translates to "education" from Hindi, and as such should be associated with officially and legitimate educational institutions in India as deemed appropriate by the government itself.

Application Details

The following is excerpted from the applicant's response to question #18:

"The mission of .SHIKSHA is to provide a common place for educational institutions, organizations of higher learning, schools, libraries and other centers for education and learning to achieve their Internet presence, on a worldwide basis, with a special emphasis on the Indian subcontinent region.

Shiksha is a versatile word which means education, learning, school, study, training, or teaching. For example, teaching or training a group or a class always uses the word Shiksha. Originally from the classical language Sanskrit, Shiksha has become a commonly used word in the Hindi language, spoken by over 490 million people, primarily in the Indian subcontinent.

While the .EDU TLD today provides a trusted place for the educational community in the USA, .SHIKSHA’s purpose is to establish an easily identifiable place where educational institutions as well as other centers for learning and training can establish their identity on the Internet. ..

.SHIKSHA will be an open TLD, generally available to self-selected registrants (except in the Sunrise period). The domains can be used for any legitimate purpose, including for educational use, for personal use and by organizations. There are no content or use restrictions for this TLD, as long as applicable laws are respected.

Afilias, the .SHIKSHA Registry Operator, will position, market and manage the .SHIKSHA TLD to become a well-known Internet resource both for entities wishing to serve this market and for schools, institutes, training centers, organizations of higher learning, teachers and businesses looking to promote their services more efficiently. Marketing will include channel support to registrars as well as targeted messaging activities, sponsorships, and other means of establishing the identity on a global basis."

Contract Signed

On 14 November 2013, Afilias received a Registry Agreement signed by ICANN for .shiksha after passing all the required processes needed to become a Registry Operator for the string.

Delegation and Availability

.shiksha was delegated to the Root Zone of the DNS on January 18, 2014, completing the successful application for the string.

Top-Level Domain

Governmental Advisory Committee. Considers and provides advice on the activities of ICANN as they relate to concerns of governments, particularly matters where there may be an interaction between ICANN's policies and various laws and international agreements or where they may affect public policy issues (ICANN Bylaws).