New Delhi: India is planning to roll out the world's cheapest laptop computer that could cost as low as Rs 400 (US $10), a top official said here on Tuesday.

The Minister of State for Human Resource Development D Purandeswari said research was being conducted to develop the laptop, especially for students, which will cost Rs 400.

"Research in this direction is being already carried out at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras," she told the e-India annual summit on information and communication technologies.

She added that the laptop, when developed, will prove to be a breakthrough that could solve the problems of low computer literacy and e-learning not only in India, but also the world over.

Earlier this year, India's Tata Group had unveiled the "Nano" that was touted as the world's cheapest car costing Rs one lakh (US $2,500) and the announcement had grabbed global headlines, reports IANS.

The cheapest laptop available today is at least 10 times costlier. The "Xo" sold by the Massachusetts-based non-government organisation 'One Laptop Per Child Foundation' sells for Rs 7,500 (US $188).

The foundation, started by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) alumnus Nicholas Negroponte, aims to supply the low cost machines to the governments of developing countries so that they can provide it to school children.

But the Indian government rejected the offer in 2006, calling it an experimental model.

"India must not allow itself to be used for experimentation with children in this area," the Human Resource Ministry had stated then.

However, the project was taken up by the Reliance Anil Dhirubahi Group to be implemented as a pilot in Maharashtra's Khairat village.

Under this initiative, Reliance Communications will provide net connectivity, backbone, logistics and support to the OLPC initiative. The initiative aims at covering over 25,000 towns and six lakh villages in the country by 2008.