Chetana Education reported a revenue of ₹109 crore for the financial year 2026, with a PAT of ₹13.5 crore. The company, a 48-year-old K-12 publisher, has expanded its operations into EdTech following 2022. It operates across 18 states with 19 branches and 18 brands, printing over 1,000 titles and more than 90 lakh books in FY26. The firm also maintains a presence in the UAE and Sri Lanka.

The financial performance was impacted by a margin decline attributed to an approximately ₹55 lakh loss in the Dijaa Education subsidiary and a ₹55 lakh gratuity provision due to labour law changes. Despite these challenges, the company posted an EBITDA of ₹21.4 crore and an EPS of ₹6.6 for the year.

Financial Highlights

Business Strategy and Operations

Chetana Education’s ecosystem includes QR-enabled books, an OTT platform, AI teacher tools, the Smart School Project, and stationery. The QR-enabled books provide access to over 35,000 educational videos. The Dot Star SaaS platform enables schools to operate their own branded educational OTT channels. Additionally, the 'Books and Beyond' tool uses AI to generate presentations, quizzes, and teaching notes rapidly.

The Smart School Project, which provides IFP panels to schools in exchange for long-term adoption of Chetana books, stationery, and OTT subscriptions, has secured approximately 50 school sign-ups. The company employs an asset-light model, delivering technology platforms through SaaS partnerships to limit future capital expenditure.

Growth Drivers and Outlook

Management has identified South India, particularly Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, as the next major growth market. The company does not view EdTech platforms as direct competitors, considering its digital offerings as complementary to textbooks. It expects the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and subsequent syllabus revisions to benefit organised publishers while reducing the second-hand market.

The firm is repositioning itself from a traditional publisher into an integrated education solutions provider. Key growth drivers include NEP-led syllabus changes, expansion in South India, and increased technology adoption. Recurring digital engagement, teacher productivity tools, and school partnerships are expected to strengthen customer retention.

Chetana Education Limited has submitted the written transcript of its earnings conference call for H2 and FY26, held on May 26, 2026, to the National Stock Exchange of India Limited. The filing, made in compliance with Regulation 30 read with Regulation 46(2)(oa) of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, provides detailed insights into the company's financial performance and strategic outlook. The transcript is now available on the company's website under the Investors Relations section.

Financial Performance Overview

For the fiscal year 2025-26, Chetana Education reported a Total Income of INR 109.4 Crs, an increase from INR 102 Crs in the previous year. The company achieved an EBITDA of INR 21.4 Crs and a Profit After Tax (PAT) of INR 13.5 Crs. The Return on Equity (ROE) stood at 15.70%, while the Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) was recorded at 18.38%. Management noted that while the top line grew by 6.5%, the PAT margin remained relatively flat due to a government provision for gratuity and initial losses incurred by its subsidiary, Dijaa, which operates an OTT channel platform.

Strategic Initiatives and Guidance

Management outlined several key initiatives aimed at transforming the company into a comprehensive education solutions provider. These include the Smart School Project (SSP), a paper stationery division, and a teacher's portal called Books and Beyond. The company is also focusing on digital content through its OTT platform, DOTTSTAR, which generated approximately INR 1 Cr in revenue in FY26. Looking ahead, the company expects double-digit growth in the top line and anticipates a PAT growth of 15% to 20% year-on-year for the upcoming financial years.

Operational Metrics

The conference call highlighted the company's expanding digital footprint. The QR-enabled product line now contributes around 15% to the total revenue, up from 3% previously. The OTT platform is currently active in 75 to 80 schools, with a target to onboard at least 300 schools in the coming year. Additionally, the company has strengthened its sales team and discontinued operations in underperforming regions like Kerala and Hyderabad to focus on high-potential markets such as Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Accessing the Transcript

Stakeholders can access the audio recording and the written transcript of the investor meet through the following channels:

The management representatives participating in the call included Mr. Rakesh Rambhia, Whole-time Director, and Mr. Saurabh Shah, Chief Financial Officer. The discussion was based on publicly available information, with no unpublished price-sensitive information (UPSI) shared during the session.

Source: https://lodr-files.dhan.co/lodr-inputs/Company/INE0U1T01012/62b2a8bb7bd14982.pdf