New Delhi: Facing a raging student suicide crisis, the Rajasthan government Wednesday introduced the Rajasthan Coaching Centres (Control and Regulation) Bill, aimed at regulating the unchecked growth of coaching centres and curbing the commercialisation of education.
If it’s passed, Rajasthan will become the first Indian state to implement a comprehensive legislation regulating coaching centres.
The bill mandates that coaching centres with over 50 students must register and meet specific standards to qualify for registration, in a bid to ensure greater accountability. It also calls for banning class segregation based on performance, introduces fee regulation with a refund provision and imposes penalties of up to Rs 5 lakh for non-compliance.
Home to prominent coaching hubs such as Kota, Rajasthan has long struggled with student suicides. Each year, lakhs of students enroll in the mushrooming coaching centres across the state, with Kota alone estimated to attract over 2 lakh students annually.
“These centres often operate in a largely unregulated environment, luring lakhs of students every year with promises of guaranteed success in competitive examinations such as NEET, IIT-JEE, IIM entrance tests, and CLAT. The false claims and high-pressure environment fostered by many of these institutes result in widespread disillusionment and despair among students when outcomes do not match expectations. Tragically, this often leads to heightened stress levels and, in several instances, even suicides,” the bill states.
At least six students are reported to have died by suicide in Kota alone since the start of this year.
The bill was formulated in response to central government guidelines issued in January last year for the registration and regulation of coaching centres. These guidelines were circulated to all state governments and union territories to support the development of a robust legal framework.
The proposed Rajasthan law, however, does not specify the age criteria recommended by the central government guidelines, which state that coaching centres should not enroll students below the age of 16. The draft of the bill released last October did mention an age limit.
Keshav Agarwal, President of the Coaching Federation of India, welcomed the regulation but emphasised the need for balanced implementation. “We urge the government to collaborate with coaching stakeholders to refine this bill so that while we protect students, we also safeguard the institutions that guide them,” he told ThePrint.
Agarwal also expressed concerns about the bill’s stringent measures. “As a representative of the coaching federation, I must highlight our worries. The bill imposes heavy fines, strict controls, and unrealistic infrastructure demands. Smaller centres, often operating with limited resources, may struggle to survive under these conditions,” he said.
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Mandatory registration, strict standards
No coaching centre will operate without a valid registration certificate after the law comes into effect.
Existing centres have to apply for registration within three months of commencement of the legislation by submitting the prescribed form, registration fee, and supporting documents to the district committee. Coaching centres with multiple branches have to apply separately for each branch.
The district committee will then conduct an enquiry and decide on registration within three months, providing written reasons for any refusal after giving the applicant a fair hearing. Registration certificates would be valid for three years, with renewal applications required two months before expiry. A web portal will be established for faceless, minimal human-interface registration, according to the bill.
To obtain and maintain registration, coaching centres must meet specific criteria: tutors must have at least a graduate qualification; centres cannot make misleading claims about student performance; each student must have a minimum of one square meter of space; and no staff member convicted of moral turpitude shall be employed.
Infrastructure standards include fire and safety compliance, first-aid access, proper ventilation, electrification, safe drinking water, and CCTV security where necessary. Proprietors must commit to not scheduling classes during school hours and provide audited financial statements with renewal applications.
Regulatory body to overlook implementation
Once the law comes into effect, a Rajasthan Coaching Centres (Control and Regulation) Authority will be established by the state government through official notification, and district committees will be formed to ensure effective implementation.
The authority will oversee coaching centres statewide and comprise key officials, including the secretaries of higher education, school education, technical education, medical education, Director General of Police, commissioner of college education, a government-nominated psychiatrist, a finance officer, and representatives from coaching centres and parent-student societies.
The authority will have powers similar to a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, enabling it to summon witnesses, enforce attendance, require document production, requisition public records, receive evidence on affidavits, and issue inspection commissions. It will also handle appeals against district committee decisions and ensure compliance with the legislation and related rules.
Stress-free environment, no segregation of students
The bill aims to ensure the holistic development and mental well-being of students by setting comprehensive guidelines for coaching centres. It mandates that coaching centres complete classes within the stipulated time as mentioned in the prospectus and provide remedial support for students requiring additional academic assistance.
To prevent undue pressure, it says that coaching centres must design timetables that allow students to relax and recuperate, ensure a weekly off for both students and tutors, and avoid conducting assessment tests or exams on the day following the weekly break.
It emphasises that daily coaching hours must not exceed five hours, and centres are encouraged to organise regular co-curricular activities and counselling sessions to support students’ mental health and life skills development.
The bill also emphasises on transparency and confidentiality in coaching practices. Students should be offered an aptitude test option before enrolment to make informed career decisions, and centres must raise awareness about mental pressure caused by excessive ambitions.
Assessment results must remain confidential and used solely for performance analysis; students showing academic decline must receive counselling.
Importantly, the bill strictly prohibits batch segregation based on student performance, promoting an inclusive learning environment where all students receive equal support and opportunities.
Fee regulation, provision of refund
The bill mandates that tuition fees for different courses must be fair and reasonable, with receipts provided for all payments. Coaching centres are required to issue a detailed prospectus outlining course details, duration, number of classes, lectures, tutorials, hostel facilities, mess services, fees, easy exit policies and fee refund provisions.
These details must also be displayed prominently within the coaching centre premises. Additionally, the bill specifies that all study material, including the prospectus and notes, must be provided to enrolled students free of charge.
To ensure financial transparency and protection for students, it states that if a student pays the full course fee but leaves the course midway, they are entitled to a pro-rata refund of the unused fees within 10 days. This refund policy also applies to hostel and mess fees, if applicable. Importantly, the bill strictly prohibits any increase in fees for the duration of an ongoing course, ensuring that students and parents are not burdened with unexpected financial demands once enrollment is complete.
Counselling and psychological support
The bill proposes that coaching centres establish immediate support systems for students facing distress. District committees will ensure centres provide accessible counselling services, with details of psychologists and counsellors clearly communicated.
The bill mandates the involvement of experienced psychologists to reduce student depression and requires career counsellors to guide students and parents in making informed career choices.
It also stresses mental well-being by mandating regular workshops for students, parents, and teachers on mental health, stress prevention, nutrition, hygiene, disaster response, and the risks of alcohol, tobacco and drugs. Positive parenting will be promoted in sessions for parents.
Tutors must also receive mental health training to address students’ improvement areas sensitively. Additionally, centres must organise peer interactions.
Strict penalties for non-compliance
The bill introduces a complaint and penalty system to ensure coaching centre accountability. Students, parents or employees can file complaints with the district committee, which must investigate and issue an order within 30 days, ensuring the centre has an opportunity for a hearing before penalties are imposed.
Penalties for violations are strict: Rs 2 lakh for the first offence, Rs 5 lakh for the second, and registration cancellation for further breaches. If the coaching centre fails to pay the amount of penalty, the amount may be recovered from the proprietor of the coaching centre as arrears of land revenue.
Aggrieved parties can appeal against district committee decisions with the Rajasthan Coaching Centres (Control and Regulation) Authority within 30 days, with late appeals accepted for valid reasons. The authority must resolve appeals within 30 days.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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