Government to introduce policy to regulate edtech companies in India

The central government is working on a policy to regulate edtech players operating in the country. The aim of the proposed policy is to curb monopoly, and prevent the exploitation of students by some edtech platforms through lofty promises or unfair practices.

The Union Education Ministry is in talks with the Ministry of Law, and Ministry of Electronics and Information and Technology (MeitY) to work out a common policy for the sector, which has been witnessing an upswell in the past two years.

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on January 3 said he respects edtech firms and is not against their business growth. "But there cannot be a monopoly you cannot exploit students," the minister noted. He said the government's role is that of a guardian for youngsters and his ministry has observed that some edtech firms are exploiting students in the name of loan-based courses.

"We are in talks with the Ministry of Law and MeitY about how we can have a common policy on edtech platforms," Pradhan said during an event organised by All Indian Council for Technical Education (AICTE).