History of the TLD

.shiksha is a generic top level domain created as part of ICANN’s new gTLD program. It was delegated and became active in early 2014. The name “shiksha” comes from several South Asian languages where it means education, making it relevant to academic uses.

Main Use and Industry Position

This TLD is mainly used for educational purposes. It is positioned as a domain for schools, colleges, training providers, e‑learning platforms, and other education focused sites. Its specific meaning helps signal educational intent to users and is particularly relevant for Indian and South Asian markets.

Comparison to Other TLDs

Compared to general TLDs like .com or .net it carries specific semantic meaning tied to education. It is less saturated than those broad extensions and can make names more descriptive. Unlike some restricted TLDs it has open registration which makes it closer to generic extensions but still niche compared to broader education extensions like .education.

Pros and Cons of the TLD

Pros

• Clear educational meaning that can help branding

• Less crowded than mainstream TLDs

• Open registration without special requirements

Cons

• Less globally recognised than .com or .org

• May have limited SEO strength compared to older extensions

• Perception may be regional rather than universal
  
  

Registration Criteria

Anyone can register a .shiksha domain without eligibility restrictions. There are no special requirements tied to educational institutions.

Summary

The .shiksha domain extension is a generic education focused TLD managed by Identity Digital. It offers a descriptive and niche namespace for education related websites and brands looking to target learners and educators globally. Its registration is open, and while it is less recognised than general extensions, it provides clear semantic value for education centred content.