MUMBAI: Maharashtra government may soon cap coaching classes at five hours a day, bar centres from enrolling children below 13 and impose stricter rules on fees, safety and student counselling under a proposed state law.The proposed Maharashtra Private Coaching Centers (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2026, seeks to bring coaching institutes with more than 25 students under a formal regulatory framework, with compulsory registration, defined operating standards and a grievance redressal mechanism.The draft, published by the School Education and Sports Department, is open to objections and suggestions and is expected to be “considered by the government in September”, officials said.The move comes in the wake of concerns surrounding the NEET paper leak and the alleged role of coaching centres, PTI reported.Under the proposed law, existing coaching centres would have six months from the commencement of the Act to register. Registration would be valid for three years, with each branch requiring a separate registration.Centres would not be allowed to enrol children below 13 years or make misleading claims or guarantees about ranks and marks.Tutors would have to be graduates, while centres would be barred from employing anyone against whom a cognisable offence has been registered.Coaching centres would also have to put detailed information about their tutors, courses, fees, class timings, facilities, admission capacity and refund policies on their websites. A counselling system would also be mandatory.The draft seeks to prevent coaching centres from merging their operations with formal educational institutions.They would not be allowed to function from the premises of recognised schools or colleges, employ teachers working in recognised schools or junior colleges, or enter into any form of integration with recognised schools.The draft proposes that students receive receipts for all payments and says centres cannot charge anything beyond the fee declared for a course.The fee could not be increased once the course has begun. Students leaving midway would be entitled to a pro-rata refund for the uncompleted period within 10 days. The same principle would apply to hostel and mess charges.In an attempt to reduce academic pressure, coaching classes would be limited to five hours a day. The draft also says classes should not be scheduled excessively early in the morning or late in the evening.Students and tutors would have to be given one day off every week. Centres would also be barred from conducting tests or examinations on the day immediately following the weekly holiday.The proposed law lays down minimum infrastructure requirements, including at least one square metre of space per student, fire and building safety certificates, adequate ventilation and lighting, drinking water, separate toilets for boys and girls, first-aid facilities and parking.Coaching centres would not be permitted to operate from basements. CCTV cameras covering the premises would be mandatory, with recordings to be preserved for at least one month.The draft puts considerable emphasis on students’ mental wellbeing. Centres would have to provide counselling, promote life skills and wellness, and establish arrangements to provide immediate help to students experiencing distress or stressful situations.Trained counsellors could be appointed or hired, while information about psychologists and counsellors would have to be made available to students and parents.Before admission, students would have to be informed about the difficulty and intensity of the examinations they were preparing for.Centres would also have to clearly state that enrolment does not guarantee success in a competitive examination or admission to a professional course.The draft proposes aptitude tests to understand students’ capabilities and interests and encourages discussion of alternative career options instead of focusing solely on engineering and medical courses.It also seeks to prohibit segregation of batches on the basis of academic performance, noting that such practices could increase pressure on students and affect their mental health.A formal grievance redressal mechanism has also been proposed.Complaints involving offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act or the law relating to sexual harassment at the workplace would require action within 24 hours.Coaching centre management would have to immediately provide relevant material, including CCTV footage, to the government.Suspected offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita would have to be reported to the local police.Inquiry officers and appellate authorities would have the power to inspect coaching centres, call for records and CCTV footage and, in specified cases, search premises and seize documents or electronic devices.The draft proposes fines of Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for minor violations and Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh for major offences. Repeated minor violations could attract a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh.Authorities would also be empowered to temporarily suspend or permanently cancel a centre’s registration and order its closure.The proposed law would apply across Maharashtra and come into force on a date to be notified separately by the state government.(With agency inputs)
