Student Life • Maharashtra

New Coaching Class Regulations in Maharashtra: What Students Need to Know

If you attend a coaching class alongside school or college, big changes may be coming to how that class operates. Maharashtra has released a draft law to regulate private coaching centres, prompted by the scrutiny coaching institutes came under after the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. Here's what the draft actually proposes, and what it could mean for you.

Why This Law Is Being Introduced

Following the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, coaching centres across the state came under close examination. In response, the Maharashtra government has proposed a dedicated law to regulate coaching and tuition centres with more than 25 students, notably the lowest threshold among states that have introduced similar laws. The draft was opened for public suggestions and objections, with the window closing on September 4.

What Would Change for Coaching Centres

• Mandatory registration: Every private coaching centre would need to register, with existing centres given 6 months to comply. Registration would stay valid for 3 years.
• Fees, staffing, and safety regulated: Centres would need to meet defined standards around fee structures, staff qualifications, and student safety.
• CCTV and safety compliance: Centres would need to maintain at least 1 month of CCTV footage, along with fire and building safety certificates.
• Background checks on hiring: Centres would be barred from hiring anyone facing a cognizable offence under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita or the earlier Indian Penal Code.

No Dummy Schools, No Basement Classes

The draft specifically targets the "dummy school" model, where students are enrolled in a school on paper while effectively studying full-time at a coaching centre. Integration between coaching centres and recognised schools would be explicitly banned, and a school found actively involved could face a recommendation for derecognition. Coaching classes run out of basements would also be prohibited entirely.

What This Means for Your Own Schedule

If you're balancing school or college with coaching for CA Foundation, CPT, or similar exams, a few proposed rules directly affect your routine:

Centres would also be required to publish tutors' qualifications, fees, and refund policies on their websites, making it easier to compare and verify centres before enrolling.

Fee Protection and Refund Rules

A coaching centre would not be allowed to charge more than its declared course fee, or increase it partway through the course. If a student leaves midway, the centre would be required to refund the unused portion of the fee, including applicable hostel and mess charges, within 10 days. The draft also aims to curb misleading or false advertising by coaching centres.

Enforcement and Safety Provisions

Inquiry officers would have the authority to enter centres, search and seize records or CCTV footage, and seal premises where necessary. Centres would also be required to act within 24 hours on any complaints raised under POCSO or workplace sexual-harassment laws.

One provision is notably less strict than the Centre's 2024 guidelines: Maharashtra's draft bars enrolment of children below 13, compared to the Centre's minimum age of 16.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Major violations would include operating without registration, false advertising, and enrolling an underage child. Centres found in violation could also face suspension, closure, or deregistration.

Conclusion

This is currently a draft, not yet a finalised law, but it signals a significant shift in how coaching centres across Maharashtra may need to operate. If you're attending or planning to join a coaching class alongside your board exam or CA/CPT preparation, it's worth keeping an eye on how this develops, since it could directly affect your schedule, fees, and the centre's accountability toward you.