Indore: District administration on Sunday issued a prohibitory order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 to end the monopolistic practices of private schools.
“Effective from April 12 to June 11, 2026, the directive prohibits schools from forcing parents to buy uniforms, books, or stationery from specific vendors,” the order issued by district magistrate Shivam Verma reads.
To ensure transparency, schools must upload mandatory book lists on their websites and display them publicly before exam results are announced. They are also required to list at least three different vendors two months before the session starts. Under the new rules, vendors cannot compel parents to purchase full sets of books, allowing them to buy only what was needed.
Schools must also prioritize NCERT or MP Text Book Corporation materials over private publishers for core subjects, the order reads.
The order also regulates uniforms, limiting them to two types and banning changes for three years. Additionally, schools are prohibited from printing their names on notebooks or covers. Non-compliance will result in strict legal action against principals and management boards under Section 223 of BNS.
