Parliament Question: Regulation of Private Coaching Centres in Tamil Nadu

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2459 ANSWERED ON 03.08.2026 Regulation of Private Coaching Centres in Tamil Nadu 2459. Shri Mani A: Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has undertaken any assessment of the functioning and regulation of private competitive examination coaching centres in Tamil Nadu, if so, the details thereof, including the measures proposed to ensure transparency in fee structures, quality of teaching, student safety and accountability; (b) whether the Government proposes to strengthen access to affordable and high-quality coaching support for students from rural and educationally backward districts of Tamil Nadu, including Dharmapuri, through digital learning platforms, school-based mentoring and Government-supported coaching initiatives, if so, the details thereof; (c) whether the Government has received complaints regarding excessive academic pressure, misleading advertisements, unfair practices, inadequate student welfare measures or other irregularities in coaching centres operating in Tamil Nadu during the last three years, if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon; and (d) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure equitable access to quality coaching and career guidance for students belonging to Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and other disadvantaged communities in Tamil Nadu? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR) (a): Keeping in view the growth in number of unregulated private coaching centres; instances of such centers charging exorbitant fees from students; loss of precious lives due to fire and other accidents; significance of mental well-being; and many malpractices being adopted by these centres, Ministry has circulated Guidelines for Regulation of Coaching Center to States/UTs on 16.01.2024 for taking further action by way of appropriate legal framework. The guidelines for regulation of coaching centres are accessible at https://www.dohe-education.gov.in/documents/acts-and-policies/guidelines-for- regulation-of-coaching-center-ADNyE DOtQWa?pageTitle=Guidelines-for-Regulation-of-Coaching- CenterThe Guidelines encompass several key aspects, including specifying conditions and necessary documents for registration, issues related to fees, outlining infrastructure prerequisites for establishing coaching centers, establishing a code of conduct for coaching centers; lay emphasis on significance of mental well-being, no batch segregation, maintenance of records, grievance/complaint redressal mechanism etc. The guidelines inter-alia provide for coaching center to have a website with updated details of the qualification of tutors, details and duration of courses/curriculum, the fees being charged, easy exit policy, fee refund policy, number of students undertaken coaching from the center and number of students finally succeeded in getting admission in Higher Education Institutions etc. Several States/UTs have brought out guidelines / regulations / legislations to regulate the Private Coaching and tuition classes in their respective States/UTs. State Government of Tamil Nadu has also released Guidelines for Registration and Regulation of Coaching Centres, 2026, which provide a comprehensive framework to ensure transparency, quality, student safety, and accountability in the functioning of coaching centres. The guidelines mandate transparent disclosure of fee structures, refund and exit policies, and other key information through websites and prospectuses. Guidelines also prescribe minimum educational qualifications for teachers, prohibit misleading claims, require counselling support and mental health sensitisation of teachers, mandatory structural and fire safety certifications, adequate sanitation, CCTV surveillance, first-aid facilities, emergency preparedness, and grievance redressal mechanisms. Further, the Guidelines strengthen accountability by requiring compulsory registration, periodic inspections, maintenance of records, annual reporting, and penalties, including cancellation of registration, for non-compliance. (b): Education is subject of concurrent list and both Central and State government work collaboratively to provide equitable access to education. Centre, various State and UT governments are providing remedial classes to students for competitive exams. SATHEE is one such initiative of Central government, launched in November, 2023, to provide free of cost high-quality content for the competitive examinations like JEE and NEET, along with providing an online assessment module for students. It leverages Web Platform, Mobile Application, YouTube live sessions & DTH channels for delivery. More than 15,000 + multilingual video lectures of curated learning content are available across topics and subjects for the learners. As of now, more than 21.5 lakh students are registered and 400 mentors (from IITs, AIIMS etc.) are available on the platform out of which more than 89 thousand students are from Tamil Nadu. The platform provides facilities such as “Solve with Me”, Assessment platform with more than 60,000 questions, NCERT video solutions, live Classes and NCERT based learning etc. AI based tools (chatbot) have been integrated to offer valuable insights into effective exam preparation strategies. Feedback mechanism is supported with AI integration. The content related to JEE, NEET, SSC etc. is also broadcasted on the DTH Platform. The student can access content through web portal and mobile application. (c): Complaints and grievances regarding alleged malpractices and irregularities in the functioning of coaching centres are received in the Ministry from time to time. Such complaints are forwarded to the concerned State Governments for taking appropriate action. Complaints relating to misleading advertisements, unfair trade practices or matters falling within the jurisdiction of the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) are also forwarded to the CCPA for appropriate action.(d): In order to provide equity in access for disadvantaged groups, the Central Government implements various scholarship and financial assistance schemes to support students belonging to marginalised sections. Department of Higher Education (DHE) implements the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Yojana under which students pursuing higher education in India, including SC, ST, OBC and minority students get scholarships as per Scheme guidelines. In addition, the Government of India has launched the PM-Vidyalaxmi, a new central sector scheme in November 2024 to facilitate access to collateral-free and guarantor-free education loans for meritorious students pursuing higher education. Ministry of Tribal Affairs is also implementing two Central Sector Schemes- National Fellowship for Higher Education for ST students and National Scholarship for Higher Education for ST students (Top Class). The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment administers the Post Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Caste students (PMS-SC) a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented by the State/UT govt aimed at educational empowerment of Scheduled Caste students. PMS-SC Scheme is an open-ended and Demand Driven Scheme. The State/UT govt. being the implementing agency invite application, verify and disburse through their designated scholarship portals. The Government has launched the Career Guide Book containing 500 Career Cards and the My Career Advisor App to support informed career planning among students. These resources provide comprehensive information on a wide range of career options, including eligibility, required qualifications, career pathways, and employment opportunities, enabling students to make informed academic and career choices. The Ministry has launched the My Career Advisor App to provide AI-enabled career guidance to students. The App facilitates informed career planning through aptitude, interest and values assessments, provides information on over 1,500 career options and job roles, and offers personalised career recommendations. The Career Guide Book comprising 500 Career Cards complements the App by providing concise information on diverse career pathways, eligibility, required qualifications and future opportunities. ***