Private tutoring institutes in Maharashtra are set to face stringent oversight as authorities finalize a comprehensive legislative draft. The proposed Maharashtra Private Coaching Centers (Registration and Regulation) Bill, 2026, emerged precisely three months after a major NEET-UG examination paper leak scandal shook the academic sector. Out of the 13 individuals arrested during the investigation, nine were natives of Maharashtra, placing prominent educational hubs like Latur and Pune directly at the epicenter of the security probe.
Public Feedback Invited on the Draft
The Devendra Fadnavis administration intends to establish absolute regulatory control over commercial coaching institutions through this upcoming legislation. Consequently, the School Education and Sports Department officially released the draft bill to the public, welcoming responses, suggestions, and objections from citizens, parents, and stakeholders. The deadline for submitting feedback has been firmly set for September 4 at 6 PM.
Key Provisions Outlined in the New Bill
The proposed regulatory framework introduces a series of mandatory limitations and safety compliance protocols for tuition centers operating across the region. The draft explicitly bans the controversial dummy school model and integrated coaching programs. Furthermore, running coaching classes inside underground basements is strictly prohibited. Institutes are barred from employing anyone who has been accused of a cognizable offense.
To ensure student safety and institutional accountability, coaching centers must securely preserve CCTV footage for a minimum duration of one month. Possessing valid fire safety and building safety certificates is made compulsory. These rigorous regulations apply universally to any coaching facility accommodating more than 25 students. Institutional registration will remain valid for a period of three years, after which mandatory renewal is required. To prevent academic burnout, a mandatory weekly holiday must be provided for both students and instructors, and examinations are strictly prohibited on the day immediately following this weekly break. Additionally, formal classroom instruction is capped at a maximum of five hours per day.
Strict Fee Regulations and Heavy Penalties
To curb exploitative commercial practices, the legislation imposes strict boundaries on fee structures. Coaching centers are prohibited from charging fees exceeding government-prescribed limits, and they cannot arbitrarily alter tuition fees or course curricula once an academic batch has commenced. Violations of the law can attract severe financial penalties scaling up to 50 lakh rupees. In cases involving complaints of sexual harassment, management is legally bound to initiate formal action within 24 hours.
Operating an institute without official registration, publishing misleading advertisements, and admitting underage children under improper circumstances are classified as severe regulatory breaches, carrying penalties ranging between 10 lakh and 50 lakh rupees. Furthermore, non-compliant coaching centers face immediate suspension, forced closure, or permanent cancellation of their registration.
Comparison with Central Guidelines
Following overarching guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Education in January 2024, states like Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Assam, and Haryana previously introduced specialized legislation for the coaching sector. However, Maharashtra's proposed legal framework is significantly more comprehensive and severe than those adopted elsewhere. While several other states primarily introduced standard operating guidelines, Maharashtra's draft establishes much stricter definitions, expanded operational scopes, rigid instructor qualifications, and far heavier punitive measures.
