Maharashtra’s coaching class operators have opposed provisions of the proposed Coaching Class Act 2026 and asked the state government to relax the rules. The State Consortium of Coaching Classes has also warned that it may approach the court if its concerns and suggestions are not considered.
The consortium said the proposed rules could be difficult for coaching centres to follow. As per a report by HT, the private coaching institute union has described the proposed legislation as “oppressive” and “unrealistic” and suggested their own demands.
Draft Rule | What the Consortium Wants |
Coaching centres with 25 above students must register with the government and renew their certificates every three years. | Registration should only be mandatory for centres with more than 100 students and should be completed only once, without three-year renewals. |
Students below 13 years would not be allowed to attend coaching classes. | Students below 13 should be allowed to attend with parental consent. |
The draft regulates private coaching centres across the state under a common framework. | Coaching centres should be divided into small, medium and large categories, with rules based on student strength and income instead of one set of rules for all. |
Tutors must hold a degree. | Experienced teachers should be exempt from the degree requirement, with experience and expertise also considered. |
Centres must provide 1 square metre of space per student. | The requirement should be reduced to 0.5 square metres per student. |
Centres must have parking facilities. | The consortium wants flexible parking arrangements. |
Coaching centres must maintain records for 10 years. | The record-keeping period should be reduced to three years. |
Government officials can inspect coaching centres to check compliance. | Coaching class directors should receive prior notice before inspections. |
Violations would attract penalties under the proposed Act. | A graded penalty system: warning for the first violation, up to INR 5,000 for the second and up to INR 10,000 for the third. |
The draft Coaching Class Act 2026 also proposes several rules for the daily functioning and safety of private coaching centres. Centres would have to provide one weekly holiday and could not conduct tests on the day immediately after a holiday. Teaching would be limited to five hours a day.
The proposed law seeks to prevent schools and private coaching centres from operating in coordination with each other. It also requires coaching centres to follow rules related to fees, student safety, complaints and penalties. Centres would not be allowed to increase fees once a course has started.The draft does not cover government schools. It also excludes activities such as sports, dance, art, yoga and counselling. Private coaching centres would have to complete the required registration and certificate renewal procedures.
Safety requirements under the draft include fire and building safety certificates, first-aid facilities and clean drinking water. Centres would also need CCTV cameras and would have to retain footage for one month. Separate and accessible toilets, a complaint box and facilities for students with disabilities would also be required.The draft also proposes that coaching centres provide career guidance in fields beyond engineering and medicine. It would prohibit merit-based segregation of students into batches and require centres to provide access to a counsellor.
The consortium has sought changes to some of these requirements. The consortium has called for uniform school hours and examination schedules for Classes 5 to 10 across Maharashtra. The consortium has also raised concerns over the proposed requirements for fee refunds, record-keeping and toilet facilities. It has sought more flexible arrangements.Beyond the draft's specific provisions, the consortium has made several demands related to the representation of coaching professionals. It wants experienced coaching class directors to be included in the state board of studies committees. It has also asked that experienced teachers be considered for ideal teacher awards. And the government-registered coaching class directors shall be given voting rights in their constituencies.
The government has opened the draft regulations for public feedback as it considers the proposed framework for private coaching classes. The consortium has said its members will continue to raise their objections and suggestions during the consultation process.