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 or tuition centres providing coaching to more than 25 students, while also proposing a ban on integrated coaching or the “dummy school” model, prohibiting coaching classes from operating in basements and restricting the hiring of people against whom a cognizable offence has been registered.

Direct Link To Check Notice

The School Education and Sports Department has invited suggestions and objections from the public until 6 pm on September 4, 2026, before the draft is finalised.

Mandatory Registration For Coaching Centres

Under the proposed Act, all private coaching centres covered under the law will have to register and renew their registration within the prescribed period. Existing coaching centres will have six months from the date the Act comes into force to complete registration through a state online portal.

Registration will be valid for three years, and centres will have to apply for renewal at least three months before expiry. Each branch of a coaching centre will be treated as a separate centre for registration purposes, requiring a separate registration application.

No Coaching For Children Below 13

The proposed law states that coaching centres cannot enrol students below 13 years of age. Centres will also not be allowed to make misleading promises or guarantee ranks or good marks to students and parents. 

Misleading advertisements about the quality of coaching, facilities or results will also be prohibited. The draft also requires coaching centres to publish information such as tutors' educational qualifications and experience, courses offered, coaching hours, fees, facilities and refund policies on their official websites.

Interestingly, The Indian Express has reported that the proposed minimum age of 13 years is lower than the minimum age of 16 prescribed under the Centre's 2024 coaching guidelines.

Coaching Hours Capped At Five Hours A Day

One of the major provisions focuses on reducing academic pressure. Coaching centres will have to ensure that classes do not exceed five hours a day. Coaching hours should also not be scheduled too early in the morning or too late in the evening.

Students and tutors must also get a weekly day off, and coaching centres cannot conduct an assessment test or examination on the day immediately after the weekly off.

The proposed rules also call for special leave arrangements during important and popular regional festivals so students can spend time with their families and get emotional support.

Mental Health And Counselling To Become A Key Focus

The proposed Act places considerable emphasis on students' mental wellbeing. Coaching centres will have to develop counselling systems and provide students and parents with information about available counsellors or psychologists. Centres will also be expected to intervene when students are facing distress or excessive academic pressure.

The draft also says coaching centres should not segregate students into batches based on academic performance, as this could increase pressure on students. Instead, batches should be formed according to the order of students' entry or admission, and the batch should not be changed until completion of the course.

The centres will also be required to conduct aptitude tests to assess students' capabilities and interests and may communicate realistic expectations to parents.

Fees Cannot Be Increased Mid-Course

The proposed law also seeks to bring transparency to coaching fees. Centres will have to provide receipts immediately upon payment or part-payment of fees and clearly declare the fee for each course. The declared course fee will include the prospectus, notes, study material, internal examinations and other related items.

Centres cannot charge additional amounts under separate heads beyond the declared course fee. Once a course begins, the fee cannot be increased during the continuation of that course.

Students who have paid the full course fee but leave the course midway will be entitled to a pro-rata refund for the remaining period within 10 days. Similar refunds would apply to hostel and mess fees where applicable.

New Safety Rules For Coaching Centres

Coaching centres will have to meet several infrastructure and safety requirements.

These include:

No coaching centre can operate in a basement.

At least one square metre of space per student must be available in a class or batch.

Buildings must comply with fire and building safety standards.

Centres must obtain and maintain updated Fire and Building Safety Certificates.

Centres must have a first-aid kit and primary medical assistance facilities.

Information on hospitals, doctors, police, fire services and women’s helplines must be displayed for students.

Safe and potable drinking water must be provided.

CCTV cameras must provide visibility across all areas, with footage maintained for at least one month.

Separate toilets for boys and girls must be provided and kept clean and hygienic.

The toilets and surrounding premises must be CWSN friendly.

No Integrated Coaching Or 'Dummy Schools'

One of the biggest changes proposed under the Act is a ban on integration between coaching centres and recognised schools, targeting the integrated coaching or “dummy-school” model.

Under the proposed definition, “integration” includes any formal or informal, direct or indirect arrangement that creates an operational, administrative, academic, financial or managerial connection between a recognised school and a coaching centre.

The draft also prohibits coaching centres from operating from the premises of any government-approved or recognised school or college.

If a recognised school is found to be actively involved in a violation or continuation of a violation of the proposed Act or its rules, action can also be taken against the school, including a recommendation to the state government for derecognition.

Before such a recommendation is made, the school must be given a reasonable opportunity to respond.

Who Can Teach At Coaching Centres?

The draft proposes strict restrictions on coaching-centre staff. A coaching centre would not be permitted to appoint or hire a teacher or other person against whom a cognizable offence has been registered under the Indian Penal Code or Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The draft also prohibits coaching centres from appointing or employing a person who is currently working as a teacher in a government-approved or recognised school or junior college. Additionally, tutors must have at least graduation-level qualifications.

Coaching Centres To Maintain Student Records For 10 Years

The proposed law also requires coaching centres to maintain detailed records of students enrolled in their courses. These records would include information about students' educational progress, aptitude and learning abilities.

The records will have to be maintained in digital format from the commencement of the Act, with coaching centres required to preserve them for at least 10 years.

Strict Action for Violations

The proposed law gives inquiry officers and appellate authorities powers to investigate violations, inspect premises and call for documents, records, books of accounts and CCTV footage.

Authorities can also enter coaching-centre premises for inquiries. In certain circumstances, they can search the premises and seize documents, electronic devices, CCTV recordings or other material relevant to an investigation.

The draft divides violations into minor and major categories. For minor violations, fines can range from ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh. In case of repeated minor violations, the fine can go up to ₹10 lakh.

For major violations, fines can range from ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh. Authorities may also order temporary suspension, permanent cancellation of registration or closure of the coaching centre.

Major violations listed in the draft include provisions relating to registration, misleading advertisements, enrolling students below 13 years of age, certain infrastructure and safety requirements, fees, grievance redressal and other specified provisions.

The Indian Express has reported that the proposed penalties would be among the steepest compared with dedicated coaching laws enacted in Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Assam and Haryana. The report also states that the draft is among the strictest and widest-reaching state laws regulating the coaching sector.

24-Hour Action On POCSO And Sexual-Harassment Complaints

The draft requires coaching centres to initiate appropriate action within 24 hours of an incident where a complaint relates to provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013, or certain other acts or omissions by tutors, non-teaching staff or persons representing the coaching centre.

What Students And Parents Should Know

The proposed Act could significantly change how private coaching centres operate in Maharashtra. From registration and fee transparency to class timings, refunds, safety standards, counselling and student welfare, the proposed framework puts greater emphasis on protecting students. However, the provisions are currently part of a draft law and are not yet in force.

Public Feedback Invited Till September 4

The government has invited suggestions and objections on the draft before finalising the legislation. Only suggestions and objections received in writing by 6 pm on September 4, 2026 will be considered.

Suggestions and objections can be submitted in writing to the Commissioner of Education, Maharashtra State, Central Building, Dr Annie Besant Road, Pune – 411001 (Email: educom-mah@mah.gov.in) or the Director of Education (Secondary and Higher Secondary), Maharashtra State, Dr Annie Besant Road, Pune – 411001 (Email: doesecondary1@gmail.com).

Published on: Sunday, August 23, 2026, 11:00 AM IST