The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) announced on Wednesday that major players in the education technology sector have come together to form the India EdTech Consortium (IEC), committing to a shared “code of conduct.” Notable companies and startups such as Byju’s, Careers 360, Great Learning, Harappa, Times Edutech & Events Ltd, Scalar, Simplilearn, Toppr, Unacademy, upGrad, Vedantu, and WhiteHat Jr have already joined the consortium.

In line with recent government advisories, the IEC aims to ensure that every learner has access to quality and affordable education, enhancing both academic performance and future readiness, as stated by IAMAI. EdTech firms have also formally communicated their formation of the consortium to the Ministry of Education. In their letter, these firms highlighted the establishment of a two-tier grievance redressal mechanism, in addition to the common code of conduct, to promote transparent business practices.

Acknowledging the scale and significance of the edtech ecosystem, the consortium emphasized the need for a framework that safeguards the rights of learners and companies. This framework will encompass ethical sales practices, marketing communication, loans and refunds, a transparent grievance redressal mechanism, and the creation of an independent grievance review board, as outlined in the letter.

Edtech companies have faced scrutiny and criticism from the government, particularly regarding allegations of enrolling children from lower-income families in costly classes through deceptive practices. Responding to these concerns, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stated on January 3 that while the government supports the growth of these companies, it cannot occur at the expense of exploiting students and guardians. He also mentioned ongoing discussions with the Law and IT ministries to establish a common policy for edtech firms.