Lok Sabha Question No. 40 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-03
Subject: Registered Ed-Tech Companies
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Khalilur Rahaman

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 40 ANSWERED ON 03.02.2025

## Registered Ed-Tech Companies

## 40. SHRI KHALILUR RAHAMAN:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the revenue generated from registered Ed-Tech companies in the country from 2019 onwards till date;
- (b) whether the Government intends to introduce a specialized policy framework for the regulation of the Ed-Tech sector in the country;
- (c) if so, the details thereof including the estimated timeline for the release of this policy and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether co-ordination is also being done with other Ministries to ensure a comprehensive policy that addresses concerns of predatory marketing, data security, consumer protection etc.; and (e) if so, the details of the Ministries/Departments being consulted and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)

(a) to (e) Ed-tech companies in the country are not registered with Ministry of Education.

The Ministry  of  Consumer  Affairs,  Food  and  Public  Distribution  notified  Consumer  Protection  (ECommerce) Rules, 2020 to protect the interest of  the consumer  and regulate  e-commerce entity including  EdTech  companies.  These  rules  aims  to  prevent  untoward  liability  and  establish  a dedicated mechanism  to  check  for compliance  of the law. The  details  may  be  seen  at https://consumeraffairs.nic.in/sites/default/files/E%20commerce%20rules.pdf

To ensure safeguard the interest of learners/students, Ministry of Education has also issued detail advisory for all stakeholders including students with respect to online content being offered by host of EdTech companies. The advisory reiterated that EdTech companies, which may be considered ecommerce  entities,  have  to  comply  with  Consumer  Protection  (E-Commerce)  Rules,  2020.  The advisory  further  details  many  safeguards  including  do's  and  don'ts  for  various  stakeholders  in education  ecosystem  when  opting  for  products  or  services  from  EdTech  companies.  The  details may be seen at https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1784582.

University Grants Commission (UGC) has further notified regulations 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 vests the authority of offering online programmes solely in HEIs. The details may be seen at https://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/221580.pdf.

In addition, UGC has also issued two public notices on 16th January 2022 and 12th December 2023 advising  the  students  to  check  recognition/entitlement  status  of  programme  on  official  website before enrolling any course..

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