Edtech startups like Byju's, Vedantu look to draw up a code of conduct

In a letter to the Union Ministry of Education, India's largest edtech startups, including Byju's, Unacademy, upGrad, and Vedantu, have grouped together to adopt a self-regulatory code and will adhere to a "common code of conduct."

India's largest EdTech startups including Byju's, Unacademy, upGrad and Vedantu have grouped together to adopt a self-regulatory code and will adhere to a "common code of conduct," they said in a letter to the union ministry of education sent on Monday.

This initiative by a group of fifteen companies which have formed an autonomous body called the "India EdTech Consortium" under the aegis of the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) comes at a time when the threat of regulatory oversight looms large over the fast-growing sector. Dharmendra Pradhan, the union education minister, said last week that his office is in discussions with the ministry of law and ministry electronics and information technology to develop a regulatory policy for the EdTech sector.

In its missive to the government, the industry grouping said it would also establish "a two-tier grievance redressal mechanism to ensure that business is conducted with high transparency and with customer interest in mind."

Other EdTech firms that have joined the IEC include Careers 360, Harappa Education, Times EdTech & Events Ltd, Simplilearn, Doubtnut, Classplus and Toppr, with more companies expected to "come on board," sources told adding that the managing committee for the grouping will be finalised this week.

A first move by Indian EdTech companies, comes amid a growing chorus for regulation of the sector , which has benefited from a strong tailwind since the start of Covid-19 in India, with students enrolling in large numbers for online courses.