ITC Classmate turns notebooks into a digital-learning gateway

ITC’s Classmate is pairing QR-enabled notebooks and eduGAMES content with ClassmateShop.com distribution, seeking to retain relevance as Indian learning shifts toward screens and digital engagement.

— FiledWed, 29 Jul, 2026, 06:18 IST·First seen Wed, 29 Jul, 2026, 06:17 IST·Source Financial Express · BrandWagon

What happened

ITC Classmate · ITC’s Classmate is expanding its stationery-to-digital learning proposition through QR-enabled notebooks, eduGAMES and omnichannel distribution.

Key facts

  • Classmate launched in 2003
  • Indian paper-based stationery market valued at Rs 16,500 crore
  • ITC FMCG FY25 revenue stated as Rs 219,81 crore
  • Classmate consumer spends exceeded Rs 1,000 crore
  • QR codes offer 11 interactive challenges

Why this matters

Classmate’s digital-learning layer could make it a more attractive partner for edtech, children’s content and school-distribution players seeking offline access and brand trust.

What to watch

  • Frequency of QR scans, repeat-user rates and time spent in eduGAMES content.
  • Whether ClassmateShop.com introduces personalized replenishment, subscriptions, school packs or QR-linked promotions.
  • New school, publisher, teacher-influencer or edtech partnerships.
  • Price premium and retail shelf allocation for QR-enabled versus standard notebooks.
  • Evidence of regional-language content expansion and curriculum-aligned learning modules.
  • Privacy disclosures, parental-consent design and any scrutiny around child data collection.
  • Refresh eduGAMES content by grade, curriculum moment and language to create repeat scans rather than one-time activation.
  • Use QR journeys to collect consented parent preferences and connect notebook usage to ClassmateShop.com replenishment, bundle and loyalty offers.
  • Pilot school partnerships that give teachers printable activities, dashboards or class challenges tied to Classmate products.
  • Expand the proposition from games into homework support, handwriting practice, exam preparation and creator-led microlearning.
  • Create affordable offline-to-online bundles for tier-2 and tier-3 markets, where stationery distribution is strong but paid edtech adoption is uneven.