No Classes Beyond 5 Hours? Maharashtra Drafts Law To Regulate Private Coaching Centres; Public Feedback Invited Till Sept 4
The Maharashtra government has proposed the Maharashtra Private Coaching Centers (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2026, aimed at bringing private coaching centres across the state under a formal regulatory framework. The proposed law focuses on registration, fees, student safety, mental wellbeing, counselling, working conditions and grievance redressal. The proposed Act would apply to coaching…
Maharashtra has introduced a draft law, the Maharashtra Private Coaching Centers (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2026, to regulate private coaching centers across the state. The proposed legislation aims to bring all private coaching centers under a formal regulatory framework, focusing on aspects such as registration, fees, student safety, mental wellbeing, and grievance redressal. The Act applies to coaching centers that enroll more than 25 students.
Key provisions of the proposed Act include mandatory registration for all private coaching centers, with existing centers having six months to complete registration. Registration is valid for three years and requires renewal at least three months before expiration. Each branch of a coaching center will be treated as a separate entity for registration purposes.
The law prohibits coaching centers from enrolling students below 13 years of age and requires them to cease misleading advertisements regarding coaching quality, facilities, or results. Coaching hours will be capped at five hours per day, with restrictions on scheduling and mandatory weekly days off for students and tutors. Special leave arrangements will be offered during important regional festivals.
Student mental health is a significant focus of the draft law, with coaching centers required to develop counseling systems and provide information about available mental health resources. Batches will be formed based on students' entry order, and the proposed Act bans segregating students by academic performance.
Fee transparency is ensured through requirements such as providing receipts upon payment, declaring the fee for each course, and preventing additional charges beyond the declared course fee. Students who leave the course midway will be entitled to a pro-rata refund within 10 days.
Safety regulations for coaching centers include prohibiting basement operations, ensuring sufficient space per student, adhering to fire and building safety standards, maintaining updated safety certificates, and providing first-aid kits and primary medical assistance. Additional safety measures include displaying contact information for hospitals, doctors, police, fire services, and women's helplines, providing safe drinking water, and installing CCTV cameras for monitoring.
Written by urgent.news from Free Press Journal's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
