Lok Sabha Question No. 2021 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-14
Subject: EdTech firms in Education
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Midhun Reddy, Kuruva Gorantla Madhav, T.N. Prathapan, Sisir Kumar Adhikari, S. Jothimani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2021 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2022

## EdTech firms in Education

2021.  SHRI P.V. MIDHUN REDDY: MS. S. JOTHIMANI: SHRI T.N. PRATHAPAN: SHRI KURUVA GORANTLA MADHAV: SHRI SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government is aware that 4,530 EdTech start-ups were operating in India as on April 2021, out of which 453 came up during the last two years and if so, the steps taken by the Government to maintain a central database for monitoring the fees and payment options;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  malpractices,  false  promise  and  misleading  fee loans/scholarships to lure students for their courses by EdTech companies;
- (c)  if  so,  whether  the  Government  is  contemplating  to  create  a  common  policy  for  regulation  of EdTech companies;
- (d)  if so, the details thereof along with the timeline for release of such policy and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e)  whether the Government is working with other Ministries to ensure a comprehensive policy that addresses concerns of predatory marketing, data security, consumer protection etc.; and
- (f)    if  so,  the  details  of  the  Ministries/Departments  being  consulted  in  this  regard  and  if  not,  the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUBHAS SARKAR)

(a) Ministry of Education has initiated National Educational Alliance for Technology (NEAT) as a Public-Private  Partnership  model  to  bring  the  popular  educational  technological  Products  on  a single platform for the convenience of learners. Any student of economically & socially weaker sections across the country can benefit from NEAT as 25% of the coupons are provisioned for them free of cost. 48 Ed-Tech Companies are listed on Portal, providing 79 products.  Around 2 lakhs Students are registered on the Portal.

Data on EdTech start-ups is not being maintained by Ministry of Education.

(b)  to  (f)  UGC  has  notified  regulations  -  UGC  (Open  and  Distance  Learning  Programmes  and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020 - for offering full-fledged online programme by the Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs). These regulations, inter-alia, include eligibility conditions, recognition process for offering online programmes, maintenance of infrastructural, academic and other  quality  standards  by  HEIs.  It  prohibits  franchise  arrangement  with  private  sector  and  the ownership of offering online programmes shall be that of HEIs only. The details may be seen at https://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/221580.pdf.

However, considering grievances against Ed-tech platforms, UGC and AICTE have issued public notices  on  16 th January,  2022  advising  the  students  to  check  recognition/entitlement  status  of programme  on  official  website  before  enrolling  any  course.  The  notice  may  be  seen  at https://deb.ugc.ac.in/pdf/UGC\_Public\_Notice\_16-01-2022.pdf.

In  order  to  safeguard  against  the  exploitative  practices  of  ed-tech  companies,  the  Ministry  of Education has issued advisory on 23 rd  December, 2021 which includes do's and don'ts for the stakeholders. It has also reiterated legal provisions for e-commerce firms (which were notified by the MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (Department of Consumer Affairs)) for information to citizens who are consumers of ed-tech services. The details may be seen at https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1784582.

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