Overview
The Maharashtra government released a draft legislation on 22 August 2026 titled the Maharashtra Private Coaching Centres (Registration and Regulation) Bill, 2026. The move follows the NEET‑UG paper‑leak scandal that implicated owners of reputed coaching institutes.
Key Developments
- Mandatory registration for any tuition class with a minimum of 25 students; registration valid for three years.
- Prohibition of school‑coaching integration and operation from basements.
- Strict safety standards: 1 sq m per student, fire certificates, CCTV with one‑month retention, clean drinking water, separate toilets, and a complaint box.
- Fee controls – no mid‑course hikes; refunds within 10 days on withdrawal.
- Operational limits – maximum five teaching hours per day, weekly off, no tests the day after a holiday, and no batch segregation based on merit.
- Appointment of Inquiry Officers and Appellate Authorities with powers of a Civil Court for summons, fines and suspension.
- Penalties ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹50 lakh depending on the severity and recurrence of violations.
Important Facts
The draft excludes government schools and non‑academic activities such as sports, dance, art, yoga, and counselling. Tutors must hold at least a graduation degree, and students younger than 13 years cannot be enrolled. Coaching centres must provide career counselling beyond engineering and medicine, and must maintain a weekly off day.
Stakeholders estimate that about 50,000 private tuition classes, serving 5‑6 lakhs students, operate in the state. The coaching union has labelled the draft “oppressive” and “unrealistic”, especially objecting to fines of ₹1‑5 lakhs for minor infractions and the lack of clarity on what constitutes a minor violation.
Exam Relevance
Understanding this bill helps aspirants in GS2 (Polity) – it illustrates how state governments can regulate private education, a sector that influences social equity and public policy. The safety and fee‑control provisions tie into GS3 (Economy) by addressing consumer protection and market regulation. The involvement of private coaching centres also reflects the broader debate on commercialization of education, a recurring theme in the Ethics paper (GS4).
Way Forward
The draft is open for public comments until 4 September 2026. After incorporating feedback, the state legislature will debate and, if passed, enforce the law. Aspirants should monitor the final version for any changes in registration thresholds, penalty structures, or exemptions for home‑based tuition, as these will affect the legal landscape of private education in Maharashtra and may set precedents for other states.