Pre-primary educational institutions to soon be regulated by the state

A draft legislation has been prepared by the BJP-Mahayuti government in Maharashtra to regulate playschools, nurseries, and kindergartens across the state. For the first time, an attempt is being made at the state level to bring early childhood education within a legislative framework.

The proposed law, to be titled the Maharashtra Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Act, 2025, has been designed to establish a structured regulatory system for pre-primary schools and early learning centres. The legislation is being positioned as a step towards ensuring that children below the age of six are provided with safe and high-quality early education.

The draft provisions are being framed in accordance with Article 45 of the Constitution, which directs the state to provide early childhood care and education to children up to six years of age. It has also been aligned with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and supports the mandate under Section 11 of the Right to Education Act, 2009.

Under the proposed framework, all existing pre-primary schools and learning centres will be required to register with designated authorities within six months from the date the law comes into force. Fresh institutions will not be permitted to begin operations unless approval and registration are obtained in advance. Centres functioning under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme will remain outside the purview of these provisions.

It has been specified in the draft that the act will apply universally, regardless of the language of instruction or whether institutions are attached to primary schools. Applications for registration will be open to a range of entities, including registered trusts, societies, cooperative firms, partnership firms, and individuals.

The registration process has been described in detail. Applications will undergo scrutiny by the authorities, after which public notifications will be issued through newspapers as well as the education department’s official portal. Upon verification, successful applicants will be granted registration certificates. Provisions for closure or penalties have been included for institutions that fail to register or do not maintain required standards.

Officials in the education department have emphasised that the law is intended to create standardisation across the pre-primary education sector. Greater accountability and uniformity are expected to be introduced, which, according to them, are critical for ensuring the holistic development of children during their formative years. Through this step, early childhood education in Maharashtra is set to be placed under a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework for the first time, with a strong focus on safety, quality, and equitable access.