Commodification of Knowledge: Technology, Marketisation, and the Right to Education in India

Right to Education has been a tool of social transformation, operationalising multiple other freedoms such as civil, political, and socio-economic rights. One cannot be expected to express their discontent with their government as a matter of civic right. Therefore, a right that secures every citizen the basic knowledge of their entitlement and its corresponding civic duties is a necessity of every democracy. Simultaneously, digitalisation is another important factor that drives massive economic growth and transparent governance. It also connects rural and urban citizens to basic necessities, including access to education through the rise of EdTech platforms. However, such platforms are not neutral agencies but operate with Market-driven agendas. This research argues that digitalisation introduces new forms of secondary exclusion that threaten the constitutional promise of Article 21A. By analysing the impact of technology on teaching, learning, and assessment, the paper demonstrates how the commercialisation of education risks holistic learning to standardised, profit-oriented outcomes. The paper concludes that corporate influences risk undermining the social and democratic function of education.