Delhi Govt Tables Bill To Regulate Private School Fees

The Delhi government has taken a significant step to address the long-standing issue of arbitrary fee hikes in private schools. On the first day of the Monsoon session, Education Minister Ashish Sood tabled the Delhi School Education Transparency Bill in the Assembly, vowing to bring transparency and accountability to school fee structures.

Sood revealed that the bill was brought forward despite alleged threats and pressure from vested interests, including what he referred to as the “education mafia.” The bill proposes the formation of committees at three levels—school, district, and state—to regulate fee hikes in private unaided schools. These committees will assess and approve any changes to fee structures, and their decisions will remain binding for three academic years.

The bill outlines stringent penalties for violations. Schools found increasing fees without approval can face fines between ₹1 lakh to ₹10 lakh, depending on the severity and recurrence of the offense. It mandates that all private unaided schools, including those offering Indian and international curricula and minority institutions on concessional land, form a School-Level Fee Regulation Committee by July 15 every year.

Opposition leader Atishi demanded that the bill be sent to a Select Committee before it is passed and urged that private school fees be frozen at 2024–25 levels to prevent immediate hikes.

If passed, this bill could bring major relief to lakhs of parents who struggle with yearly fee hikes and inconsistent charges by private institutions. It reflects a broader effort by the government to promote equitable and transparent education policies.