Maharashtra drafts laws to regulate pre-primary schools and coaching classes
Synopsis
Maharashtra is moving to legally regulate two of its most oversight-free education segments — pre-primary centres and private coaching institutes — through dedicated state laws. With 13,000 early-childhood centres already registered and district collectors monitoring coaching classes under Supreme Court orders, the legislative framework is catching up to ground realities.
Key Takeaways
Maharashtra School Education Minister Dada Bhuse told the Legislative Council on Tuesday that draft bills are being prepared to regulate pre-primary and private coaching institutions.
All private early-childhood centres serving children aged 3 to 6 must register on the state portal; approximately 13,000 centres have registered since the 24 April 2025 circular.
District inspection committees chaired by District Collectors are monitoring coaching classes under Supreme Court directives pending a dedicated state law.
Nearly 4 lakh teachers will receive free digital training in partnership with Google ; over 35 lakh students were enrolled on 15 June during 'Shala Praveshotsav'.
Top-performing districts will receive cash rewards of ₹5 crore , ₹3 crore , and ₹1 crore under a new education quality incentive scheme.
MPSC recruitment will shift to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format for greater speed and transparency.
Maharashtra School Education Minister Dada Bhuse on Tuesday told the Legislative Council that the state government is preparing dedicated draft legislation to regulate pre-primary education centres and private coaching classes across Maharashtra. The announcement signals a sweeping push to bring institutional accountability to two of the most unregulated segments of the state's education ecosystem.
Key Developments
Under a government circular issued on 24 April 2025, all private centres offering early childhood education to children aged 3 to 6 are now required to register on the School Education Department's portal. Approximately 13,000 centres have already complied. A dedicated independent law is being formulated to ensure that young children receive safe, play-based, and child-centric education, Minister Bhuse said.
On the coaching class front, the state plans to introduce an independent law after thoroughly analysing the Central Government's guidelines and existing regulatory models in other states. In the interim, district inspection committees — chaired by respective District Collectors — are actively monitoring these institutions in compliance with Supreme Court directives.
Infrastructure, Teachers, and Digital Training
The state celebrated 'Shala Praveshotsav' (School Admission Festival) on 15 June this year, welcoming over 35 lakh students. Nearly 4 lakh teachers are set to receive free digital training in collaboration with Google. The department also plans to organise educational trips, parent-teacher meets, and skill-based development activities for students.
Minister Bhuse confirmed that the first instalment of funds for school uniforms has been distributed, with the remaining amount to be released once additional funds are available. He warned of strict action against anyone found procuring sub-standard uniforms.
Reward Scheme and MPSC Reform
To drive competitive excellence, the government has introduced a district reward scheme: top-performing districts that demonstrably improve education quality will receive cash prizes of ₹5 crore, ₹3 crore, and ₹1 crore respectively.
Separately, Minister Ashish Shekar announced that Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) recruitment will henceforth be conducted through a Computer-Based Test (CBT), aimed at making the process faster, more transparent, and modern.
NEP Alignment and Curriculum Overhaul
The state curriculum is being revised in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP). New textbooks for Grades 2, 3, 4, and 6 have already been introduced from this academic year. Curriculum updates for higher classes, up to Grades 10 and 12, will follow in subsequent phases. The government has also prioritised ensuring functional toilets, clean drinking water, and structurally safe school buildings across every institution in the state.
Taken together, the measures represent the most comprehensive education policy push Maharashtra has announced in recent years, with implementation timelines and legislative drafts expected to be tabled in the coming months.
Point of View
000 early-childhood centres is a meaningful first step, but the real test will be enforcement: portal registration without inspection capacity is paperwork, not regulation. The coaching class law faces a harder road; the Central Government's own guidelines have struggled to find traction, and state-level implementation will depend on whether district collectors — already overburdened — can meaningfully audit thousands of institutes. The NEP curriculum rollout and Google teacher-training tie-up are directionally sound, but Maharashtra's education challenges are structural: teacher vacancies, learning outcome deficits, and urban-rural infrastructure gaps that cash prizes for districts will not resolve on their own.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What laws is Maharashtra planning for pre-primary education?
Maharashtra is drafting a dedicated independent law to regulate private centres providing early childhood education to children aged 3 to 6. In the interim, all such centres are required to register on the School Education Department's portal, with around 13,000 having done so since the April 2025 circular.
How will Maharashtra regulate private coaching classes?
The state plans to introduce an independent law for private coaching classes after studying Central Government guidelines and models in other states. Until the law is enacted, district inspection committees chaired by District Collectors are monitoring coaching institutes under Supreme Court directives.
What is 'Shala Praveshotsav' and how many students enrolled?
'Shala Praveshotsav', or School Admission Festival, is an annual initiative to drive school enrolment. On 15 June this year, the event welcomed over 35 lakh students across Maharashtra.
How is Maharashtra aligning its curriculum with the NEP?
The state is revising its curriculum in line with the National Education Policy. New textbooks for Grades 2, 3, 4, and 6 have been introduced from the current academic year, with updates for Grades 10 and 12 planned in subsequent phases.
What is the district reward scheme announced by the Maharashtra government?
The government has introduced a cash incentive scheme for districts that demonstrably improve education quality. The top three performing districts will receive ₹5 crore, ₹3 crore, and ₹1 crore respectively.
