Gudiya, a 12-year-old from a remote Rajasthan village, once faced barriers to quality education. Today, with platforms like BYJU’s and Physics Wallah, she is excelling in Math and Science, demonstrating how EdTech bridges educational gaps across geographies. Her journey reflects how technology has redefined education accessibility in India.
As we commemorate the International Day of Education 2025, themed “AI and Education: Preserving Human Agency in a World of Automation,” the transformative role of EdTech in India deserves celebration.
The Rise of India’s EdTech Industry
India’s EdTech sector is valued at $7.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $29 billion by 2030, according to the report Impact Study of EdTech in India: Driving Innovation & Creating Opportunities. Contributing significantly to economic growth, its share of GDP is set to rise from 0.1% in 2020 to 0.4% by 2029. Key factors driving this growth include improved digital infrastructure, the cultural shift to online learning, and increasing student aspirations.
AI as the Catalyst in Learning
Artificial intelligence has transformed education by personalizing learning experiences. Platforms like BYJU’s use AI to identify student needs, offering tailored lessons to boost retention. Unacademy integrates AI to streamline exam preparation, ensuring efficiency and success.
Leading EdTech Platforms in India
Here’s how some top platforms are reshaping education:
- BYJU’S (Founded: 2011):
Pioneering AI-powered learning, BYJU’s serves K-12 students and competitive exam aspirants, engaging 150 million global users through adaptive modules. - Physics Wallah (Founded: 2020):
Renowned for affordable, high-quality content, it aids classes 6–12 students and competitive exams, with 7 million YouTube subscribers and 10 million app downloads. - upGrad (Founded: 2015):
Focused on higher education, it offers data science, AI, and management programs, enrolling 3 million learners worldwide. - Unacademy (Founded: 2015):
With a network of over 50,000 educators, it delivers live, interactive courses for competitive exams to 60 million students. - Scaler (Founded: 2019):
Specializing in skill development for software engineering, it connects 30,000+ graduates to jobs at top firms. - Klassroom Edutech (Founded: 2018):
A hybrid model bridging offline and online education for competitive exams, it provides personalized learning solutions. - Zell Education (Founded: 2015):
Focused on finance and accounting certifications, it has upskilled 25,000 students globally, ensuring industry readiness. - Simplilearn (Founded: 2010):
Known for hands-on training in digital skills, it collaborates with leading universities to educate 3 million professionals. - Great Learning (Founded: 2013):
Offering analytics and AI programs, it has trained 6.5 million learners, emphasizing experiential learning. - Vedantu (Founded: 2014):
A leader in live online tutoring, it engages 35 million users through real-time interactive sessions.
Challenges Hindering Growth
Despite rapid advancements, India’s EdTech sector faces challenges, including the digital divide. Limited internet access in rural areas and lack of devices remain significant hurdles. Government initiatives, including subsidized internet and public-private partnerships, aim to mitigate these gaps.
Future Prospects
Emerging technologies like Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) promise to redefine education. From virtual lab experiments to immersive historical recreations, the possibilities are endless.
Alakh Pandey, founder of Physics Wallah, aptly summarizes, “Technology is not a substitute for teachers but a tool to enhance their impact. Together, we can create a future where every child has access to world-class education.”
This International Day of Education, let’s celebrate how India’s EdTech platforms are shaping the future, making quality education accessible to all.
