Maharashtra Proposes Law to Regulate Private Coaching Centres and Cap Daily Hours
MUMBAI — The Maharashtra government has proposed new legislation to regulate private coaching centres across the state, making registration mandatory, capping classes at five hours a day, and prescribing strict rules on fees, infrastructure, student safety, and mental wellbeing.
The draft Maharashtra Private Coaching Centers (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2026, published by the school education and sports department, seeks to bar coaching institutes from enrolling children below 13 years of age. It also prohibits centres from making misleading promises regarding ranks or exam marks. Officials stated that the draft is currently open to objections and suggestions before it is considered by the state government in September.
Under the proposed law, coaching centres will be required to obtain and periodically renew their registration. All tutors must be graduates, and centres will not be allowed to hire individuals with registered cognisable offences. The bill also seeks to separate coaching centres from formal academic institutions by prohibiting them from operating on the premises of recognised schools or junior colleges, hiring teachers employed at recognised institutions, or entering into formal tie-ups with schools.
To curb academic stress, daily coaching sessions must not exceed five hours and cannot be scheduled too early in the morning or late into the evening. Institutes will have to provide a mandatory weekly day off for both students and tutors, and they must avoid conducting examinations on the day following the weekly break. Furthermore, sorting students into batches based on academic performance will be banned to prevent unnecessary pressure.
The draft also establishes infrastructure and safety standards, requiring at least one square metre of space per student, fire safety clearances, and building safety certificates. Coaching centres will be barred from running classes out of basements. They will also be mandated to install CCTV cameras across their premises and retain all recorded footage for a minimum of one month.
In addition, coaching centres must clearly communicate the difficulty of competitive exams prior to admission and state that enrolment does not guarantee success. Institutes must also implement a formal grievance redressal mechanism, with complaints regarding offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act or workplace harassment laws requiring action within 24 hours.
Penalties for non-compliance include fines between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 5 lakh for minor offences, and Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh for major violations. Authorities will also have powers to order temporary suspension, cancellation of registration, or closure.
