The Maharashtra government has proposed a comprehensive law to regulate private coaching centres across the state, introducing mandatory registration, stricter student safety measures and significant financial penalties for violations. The proposed Maharashtra Private Coaching Centers Registration and Regulation Act, 2026, has been released by the School Education and Sports Department for public objections and suggestions. Officials have indicated that the draft is expected to be considered by the government in September.
Under the proposed framework, coaching centres with more than 25 students would have to register with the authorities. The threshold would make the proposed Maharashtra legislation applicable to a large number of private coaching centres, including relatively small institutions that operate outside the formal regulatory structure in some other states.
One of the most significant provisions is the proposed prohibition of the dummy school model. Under this arrangement, students may be formally enrolled in a recognised school but spend most of their academic time attending coaching classes instead of regular school. The Maharashtra draft seeks to prohibit such integration between coaching centres and recognised schools. If a school is found to be actively participating in such arrangements, authorities could recommend cancellation of its recognition.
The draft also proposes an outright ban on operating coaching classes from basements. Centres would have to meet specified infrastructure and safety requirements, including adequate space, fire safety and building safety certificates. CCTV cameras would be required, with recordings preserved for at least one month under the proposed rules.
Student welfare is another major focus of the legislation. Coaching centres would be required to provide a weekly day off to students and teachers. Tests or examinations would not be permitted on the day immediately following the weekly holiday. Teaching would also be limited to a maximum of five hours a day.
The proposed framework places particular emphasis on mental health and academic pressure. Coaching centres would be expected to provide counselling and aptitude assessment and inform students about the difficulty and intensity of competitive examinations before admission. Institutes would also have to make it clear that enrolment does not guarantee success in an examination or admission to a professional course.
The draft would also prohibit coaching centres from separating students into batches solely on the basis of academic performance. The government has cited concerns that such segregation could increase pressure on students and negatively affect their mental wellbeing.
Fee regulation forms another important part of the proposed law. Coaching centres would not be allowed to charge more than the fee declared for a particular course or increase fees after the course has begun. Students leaving a course would be entitled to a refund of the unused portion under the proposed provisions, including applicable hostel and mess charges, within the prescribed period.
Transparency requirements would also be introduced. Coaching centres would have to publish information including teachers' qualifications, course fees and refund policies on their websites. This would allow students and parents to compare centres more easily before enrolling.
The draft proposes restrictions on staff recruitment as well. A coaching centre would not be permitted to employ a person against whom a cognisable offence has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita or the earlier Indian Penal Code. This provision is stricter than comparable rules in some other states.
The proposed penalties are among the most stringent aspects of the legislation. Minor violations could attract fines between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 5 lakh, while repeated minor violations could lead to fines of up to Rs 10 lakh. Major violations, including operating without registration, false or misleading advertising and enrolling children below the permitted age, could attract penalties ranging from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh. Authorities could also suspend or cancel registration and order the closure of a coaching centre.
The draft also proposes that coaching centres take immediate action when complaints involve offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act or workplace sexual harassment laws. Relevant material, including CCTV footage, would have to be provided to authorities within the specified timeframe. Suspected criminal offences would also have to be reported to the police.
The proposed legislation comes after heightened scrutiny of Maharashtra's coaching sector following the NEET UG 2026 paper leak investigation. According to The Indian Express, nine of the 13 people arrested in connection with the case were from Maharashtra, while Latur and Pune emerged as key locations in the investigation.
The move also follows the Union Education Ministry's 2024 guidelines for regulating coaching centres. The central guidelines cover registration, fees, infrastructure, student safety, mental wellbeing, grievance mechanisms and other safeguards, but states are responsible for developing appropriate legal frameworks for implementation.
The Maharashtra draft therefore represents an attempt to convert broad regulatory principles into a detailed state-level legal framework. If enacted in its current form, the law would regulate not only examinations and coaching practices but also the daily academic environment, fee structures, advertising, infrastructure, staffing and student welfare.
The proposals are still at the draft stage and are not yet a law. The government has invited objections and suggestions before considering the legislation. Therefore, individual provisions, penalties, age limits and implementation procedures could change before a final law is approved.
For students and parents, the proposed rules could provide greater transparency and stronger safeguards if implemented effectively. For coaching centres, however, the legislation would introduce significant compliance requirements and financial risks for violations.
The final impact will depend on how the government incorporates public feedback and how the regulations are enforced across Maharashtra. For now, the draft signals a major shift towards tighter oversight of the state's private coaching industry.