GUIDELINES FOR REGULATION

OF COACHING CENTER

January 2024

Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education

Government of India
Background

1. The issues related to the private coaching centers more so in the context of rising student
suicides cases, fire incidents, lack of facilities as well as methodologies of teaching have been
engaging the attention of the Government from time to time.
2. The number of unregulated private coaching centers in the country continues to grow in the
absence of any laid down policy or regulation. Instances of such centers charging exorbitant
fees from students, undue stress on students resulting in students committing suicides, loss of
precious lives due to fire and other accidents, and many other malpractices being adopted by
these centres are widely reported in the media.
3. These issues have also been raised many times through debates, discussions, and questions in
the Parliament.
4. Considering that regulation of +2 level education is the responsibility of State / UT
Governments, hence these institutions are best regulated by the State / UT governments.
5. PIL in WP No. 456 of 2013 in the matter of Student Federation of India Vs UOI and others
was filed in the Hon’ble Supreme Court in which Ministry of Education was one of the
respondents. The PIL was disposed-off vide Order dated 03.02.2017 inter-alia with direction
that issue raised in the petition, though important, is basically a policy matter. It will be open
to the petitioners to raise the issue before the concerned authorities who may consider the
same in accordance with law.
6. In the context of the issue of regulation of the private coaching having subject of elaborate
discussion both in the Parliament and in the Ashok Mishra Committee Report, vide letter no.
32-6/2017-TS I dated 04.04.2017 Deptt. of Higher Education had requested States / UTs to
take action for regulation and strict penalty system for deviant institutions. In this letter
States / UTs were requested to take into consideration 12 measures suggested by Justice
Roopanwal Commission of Enquiry to address the student suicide.
7. Vide letter no. 32-6/2017-TS.I dated 14.08.2019, in the context of regulation of coaching
centers, States and UTs were requested to take necessary action for regulation of the coaching
centers in their jurisdiction through appropriate legal framework, as many of these coaching
centers operate at school level and hence are under the direct purview of State / UT
government.
8. Again, vide letter no. 32-18/2020-TS I dated 24.12.2020, drawing reference to letters dated
04.04.2017 and 14.08.2019, States / UTs were requested to regulate these coaching centers
through appropriate legal framework, to ensure safety and security of students and avoid
unnecessary exploitation.
9. National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) has been announced on 29.07.2020 after detailed
consultation with stakeholders. One of the fundamental principles of NEP 2020 is ‘focus on
regular formative assessment for learning rather than the summative assessment that
encourages today’s ‘coaching culture’.
10. NEP 2020 in its Para 4.36 recognizes the current nature of secondary school exams, including
Board exams and entrance exams, the resulting coaching culture of today and its harmful
impact.
11. Para 4.37 of NEP 2020 suggests reform in the existing system of Board and entrance
examinations to eliminate the need for undertaking coaching classes.
12. Para 4.38 inter alia suggests introducing greater flexibility, student choice, and best-of-two
attempts, assessments that primarily test core capacities and develop further viable models
of Board Exams that reduce pressure and the coaching culture.
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13. Para 4.42 of NEP 2020 states that ‘the principles for university entrance exams will be similar.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) will work to offer a high-quality common aptitude test,
as well as specialized common subject exams in the sciences, humanities, languages, arts,
and vocational subjects, at least twice every year. These exams shall test conceptual
understanding and the ability to apply knowledge and shall aim to eliminate the need for
taking coaching for these exams. Students will be able to choose the subjects for taking the
test, and each university will be able to see each student’s individual subject portfolio and
admit students into their programmes based on individual interests and talents’.
14. The issue related to strategy for elimination of the coaching culture has also been discussed in
detail in the recently issued National Curriculum Framework.
15. Govt. has taken initiatives in line with NEP, 2020 to address the issues like Common
University Entrance Test (CUET), conducting entrance examination in 13 regional languages,
substantial expansion of the number of seats in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and
setting up of more and more high-quality Higher Education Institutions. National
Curriculum Framework (NCF) is taking clear steps to address the curricular matters in
schools and matters pertaining to Board examinations that contribute to the current
undesirable situation.
16. In order to help the students to practice well for NEET (UG) and JEE (Main) entrance
examinations, National Testing Agency (NTA), has launched a Mobile App ‘National Test
Abhyas’ to facilitate candidates’ access to high quality mock tests online free of cost.
17. The matter has also been taken up with the Deptt. of Consumer Affairs for taking necessary
action under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 against the Coaching
Centers / Private Higher Education Institutions who publish mis-leading advertisements.
18. Education is in the concurrent list, the State and UT Government also need to take proactive
action on the matter.
19. A number of States / UTs have taken initiatives by way of appropriate legal framework to
regulate the Private Coaching and tuition classes in their respective jurisdiction such as Bihar
Coaching Institute (Control & Regulation) Act, 2010 [Bihar Act 17, 2010], Goa Coaching
Classes (Regulation) Act, 2001 ( Goa Act 27 of 2001), Uttar Pradesh Regulation of Coaching
Act, 2002 [UP Act no. 5 of 2002], the Karnataka Tutorial Institutions (Registration and
Regulation) Rules, 2001 [framed in exercise of powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section
145 of the Karnataka Education Act, 1983 (Karnataka Act 1 of 1995)], Manipur Coaching
Institute (Control and Regulation) Act, 2017 (Act no. 8 of 2017) etc. Rajasthan Coaching
Institutes (Control and Regulation) Bill, 2023 is also in the public domain and recently
guidelines for reducing Stress and improving Mental Health of Students enrolled in coaching
Institutes has been issued by Govt. of Rajasthan on 27.09.2023.
20. While significant steps have been taken to address the issues related to Private Coaching, the
number of unregulated private coaching centers necessitates the need for framing a model
guidelines / policy which States / UTs can adopt for implementation by way of appropriate
legal framework.
21. The Central Government proposes to address the issues related to private coaching center
and frame model guidelines / policy for adoption by States / UTs by way of appropriate
legal framework.
1. Title
Guidelines for Registration and Regulation of Coaching Center 2024.

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 2. Objective of the Guidelines
To provide guidelines for the regulation of coaching center for better guidance and assistance to
the students in any study programme, competitive examinations, or academic support.
3. Need for the Guidelines
(i) To provide framework for registration and regulation of coaching centers.
(ii) To suggest minimum standard requirements to run a coaching center.
(iii) To safeguard the interest of students enrolled in coaching centers.
(iv) To advise coaching centers’ focus on co-curricular activities as well for holistic
development of students
(v) To provide career guidance and psychological counseling for mental well-being of the
students.
4. Definition
(i) ‘appellate authority’ means an officer notified by the appropriate Government;
(ii) ‘coaching’ means tuition, instructions or guidance in any branch of learning imparted to
more than 50 students but does not include counselling, sports, dance, theatre and other
creative activities;
(iii) ‘coaching center’ includes a center, established, run, or administered by any person to
provide coaching for any study programme or competitive examinations or academic
support to students at school, college, and university level, for more than 50 students
(iv) ‘competent authority’ means an officer notified by the appropriate government;
(v) ‘government’ means central government, State / UT Government having appropriate
jurisdiction;
(vi) ‘institution’ means school or any other educational institution recognized or controlled
by, or affiliated to a Board, or controlled or recognized by State / UT Government, an
affiliated college, and associated college, a constituted college, a university or educational
institution established under the act of central government or State / UT government;
(vii) ‘person’ means an individual and includes a group of persons or a body corporate, or a
trust, firm or society or an institution;
(viii) ‘proprietor’ means an owner of a coaching center seeking registration or registered and
includes joint owner;
(ix) ‘tutor’ means a person who guides or trains students in any coaching center and includes
tutor giving specialized tuitions.
(x) ‘University’ means a university established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a
Provincial Act or a State Act, and includes any such institution as may, in consultation
with the University concerned, be recognized by the UGC in accordance with the
regulations made in this behalf under UGC Act.

5. Registration of the Coaching Center

(i) a person shall impart coaching or establish, run, manage or maintain a coaching center, only
with prior registration of such coaching center as per the provisions of this Guidelines.
(ii) coaching center existing on the date of implementation of the guidelines, shall apply for
registration within a period of three months from the date of implementation of guidelines.

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(iii) Application for the registration of coaching center shall be made to the competent authority
within whose local jurisdiction such coaching center is situated, in such form, with such fees and
documents as may be specified by the appropriate government.
(iv) In case of coaching center having multiple branches, each of such branch shall be treated as
separate coaching center and it shall be necessary to submit a separate application for registration
of each branch.
(v) The competent authority shall, within three months from the date of receipt of the application
for registration of coaching center, either grant the registration certificate in the prescribed form,
or shall communicate to the applicant his order of refusal to grant such registration after
recording reasons in writing, for such refusal.
Provided that no order refusing the registration shall be passed except after giving to the person
concerned a reasonable opportunity of hearing.
(vi) The period of validity of the registration certificate shall be decided by the appropriate
government, unless cancelled earlier for any reason.
(vii) Every registered coaching center shall apply for renewal of registration certificate to the
competent authority two months prior to the date of expiry of such registration, in such form,
with such fees and documents as may be specified by the appropriate government.
(viii) The competent authority may, on receipt of an application for renewal of registration in the
prescribed form and on payment of the prescribed fees, shall decide on the application for
renewal of registration number before the expiry of the registration period and may renew the
certificate or may communicate the refusal thereof to the applicant before the expiry of the
registration period, after recording the reasons for such refusal in writing.
Provided that no order refusing the registration shall be passed except after giving to the person
concerned a reasonable opportunity of hearing.
(ix) Appropriate Government shall create a web-portal/online mechanism to facilitate the
registration of Coaching Center in faceless manner with minimum human interface.
6 . Conditions for Registration
(i) No coaching center shall -
(a) engage tutors having qualification less than graduation.
(b) make misleading promises or guarantee of rank or good marks to parents/students
for enrolling them in the coaching center.
(c) enroll student below 16 years of age or the student enrolment should be only after
secondary school examination.
(d) publish or cause to be published or take part in the publication of any misleading
advertisement relating to any claim, directly or indirectly, of quality of coaching or the
facilities offered therein or the result procured by such coaching center or the student who
attended such class.
(e) be registered, if it has less than minimum space requirement per student.
(f) hire the services of any tutor or person who has been convicted for any offence
involving moral turpitude.
(g) be registered unless it has counselling system as per the requirement of this
guidelines.
(ii) coaching center shall have a website with updated details of the qualification of tutors,
courses/curriculum, duration of completion, hostel facilities (if any), and the fees being charged,

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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.
(iii) coaching center shall adhere to the various laws, rules, regulations etc. including separate
registration as applicable in the local jurisdiction.
7. Documents to be accompanied with the application for registration

(i) Every application for registration of a coaching center shall be accompanied by an undertaking
by the proprietor stating that –

(a) he shall use only the word ‘registered coaching center’ and shall not use the words
‘recognized’ or ‘approved’ on any sign board or any prospectus or correspondence or
communication of whatever nature or at any place;

(b) coaching classes for those students who are also studying in institutions / schools
shall not be conducted during their institutions / schools’ hours.

(c) the necessary information regarding the qualification of the tutors, time table of the
coaching class, the fee charged and general information, as specified, regarding the
coaching class shall be displayed on the website and notice board at prominent place in
the premises of the coaching center;

(d) he / she or any tutor or person employed, in any manner in the coaching center has
not been convicted for any offence involving moral turpitude and that any change in
employment of tutor shall be immediately intimated to the competent authority;

(e) he / she shall abide by the condition regarding the specified number of students to be
admitted in the coaching class;

(f) he / she shall abide by the other terms and conditions of this guidelines;
(ii) the application for renewal of the registration shall be accompanied by a copy of the
statement of accounts audited by Chartered Accountant.

8. Fees
(i) The tuition fees for different courses/curriculum being charged shall be fair and reasonable
and receipts for the fee charged must be made available.
(ii) The coaching center must issue a prospectus mentioning the different courses/curriculum,
their duration of completion, number of classes, lectures, tutorials, hostel facilities (if any), and
the fees being charged, easy exit policy, fee refund etc. These details shall also be displayed at
prominent and accessible place in the premises of the building.
(iii) The prospectus, notes and other material shall be supplied by the coaching center to their
enrolled students without any separate fees thereof.
(iv) If the student has paid for the course in full and is leaving the course in the middle of the
prescribed period, student will be refunded from out of the fees deposited earlier for the
remaining period, on pro-rata basis within 10 days. If the student is staying in the hostel of the
coaching center, then the hostel fees and mess fee etc. will also be refunded.
(v) Under no circumstances, the fee on the basis of which enrolment has been made for a
particular course and duration shall be increased during the currency of the course.

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9. Infrastructure Requirements
(i) Within the basic structure of the coaching center, a minimum one square meter area may be
allocated for each student during a class / batch. There shall be sufficient infrastructure in
proportion to the number of students enrolled.
(ii) The coaching center building shall adhere to fire safety codes, building safety codes and other
standards and shall obtain a Fire and Building Safety Certificate from the appropriate authorities
as decided by appropriate government.
(iii) For the assistance of the students, coaching center shall have first aid kit and medical
assistance/treatment facility. List of referral services like hospitals, doctors for emergency
services, police helpline details, fire service helpline, women helpline etc. shall be displayed and
the students shall be informed about them.
(iv) The coaching center building shall be fully electrified, well ventilated, and sufficient lighting
arrangements shall be made in each classroom of the building.
(v) Safe and potable drinking water shall be available for all students and staffs of the Center.
(vi) The coaching center may be suitably fitted with CCTV cameras wherever required and
security shall be well maintained.
(vii) A complaint box or register may be placed at the coaching center for the students to raise a
complaint. Coaching center shall have committee for redressal of complaints / grievances of
students.
(viii) Provision of separate toilets for males and females shall be made within the coaching center
building premises.
10. Curriculum
10.1 Classes
(i) coaching center shall make efforts to complete the classes in the stipulated time as mentioned
in the prospectus.
(ii) coaching classes for those students who are also studying in institutions / schools shall not be
conducted during their institutions / schools’ hours, so that their regular attendance in such
institutions / schools remains unaffected and also to avoid dummy schools.
(iii) Remedial or support classes may be provided to student who require additional support in
their academics.
(iv) The curriculum/class timetable may be suitably spaced out to allow the students to relax and
recuperate and thus, not build additional pressure on them.
(v) coaching center shall ensure weekly off for students as well as tutors.
(vi) There shall be no assessment-test / exam on the day after weekly off.
(vii) During the important and popular festivals in the respective region, coaching center shall
customize leave in such a manner that the students are able to connect with their family and get
emotional boosting.
(viii) coaching centers shall conduct coaching classes in a way that it is not excessive for a student
and it should not be more than 5 hours in a day and the coaching hours should neither be too
early in the morning nor too late in the evening.
(ix) coaching centers shall organize classes for co-curricular activities for holistic development
and enhancing cognitive abilities of students. The coaching centers, while teaching core subjects
should also organize counselling sessions for tutor, employee and all students on development
of Life Skills, scientific temper & evidence-based thinking; creativity & innovativeness; fitness,

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wellness, emotional bonding & mental wellbeing, age-appropriate challenges, motivation;
collaboration and teamwork; problem solving and logical reasoning; ethical and moral reasoning;
knowledge and practice of human and Constitutional values; personal safety (gender
sensitization & abuse prevention); Fundamental Duties; citizenship skills and values; knowledge
of India; environmental awareness, sanitation and hygiene etc.
10.2 Code of Conduct by the Coaching Center
(i) The number of students to be enrolled in each class/ batch may be clearly defined in the
prospectus and published on website. In no case such enrolment shall be increased in class/batch
during the currency of the course.
(ii) The number of students admitted may be in line with the requirements of maintaining a
healthy teacher-student ratio in each class and for creating more opportunities for building
relationship with tutor and counsellors. It should be ensured that students are able to connect
with the tutor and the student has easy access and visibility to the screen / blackboards.
(iii) The coaching center shall not enroll student below 16 years of age or the student enrolment
should be only after secondary school examination.
(iv) The students shall be well apprised about the difficulty of exams, syllabus, level of intensity
of preparation and efforts required from the student before enrolling into the curriculum.
(v) The students shall be made aware about the educational environment, cultural living,
realities, and difference between preparation of school level examinations and competitive
examination.
(vi) Apart from options for admission in engineering and medical institutes, information about
other career options may be provided to the students, so that they do not get stressed about their
future and can choose a new option of alternative careers.
(vii) An admission or mock test to assess the capability of the student may be conducted. Based
on the capability and interest of student, the coaching center may convey the realistic expectation
of student’s capability to parents and suggest the way forward.
(viii) The students and parents shall be made aware that admission in the coaching center is no
way guarantee of success for admission in institutions like medical, engineering, management,
law etc. or in the competitive examination.
(ix) Coaching center should conduct periodic workshops and sensitization sessions regarding
students’ mental health in collaboration with mental health professionals.
(x) Coaching center should create awareness amongst students and parents regarding the
pedagogy, the timeline of the course, and the facilities available in the coaching center. They may
be counselled about negative impacts of unnecessary mental pressure and burden of expectation
on their children.
(xi) Coaching center shall not make public the result of assessment test conducted by it. Keeping
the assessment test confidential, it should be used for regular analysis of performance of students
and the student whose education performance is deteriorating, should be provided counselling
as per the provisions of this guidelines.
11. Counselors and Psychologists Support
(i) Due to high competition and academic pressure on students, coaching centers should take
steps for mental wellbeing of the students and may conduct classes without putting undue
pressure on its students. Also, they should establish the mechanism for immediate intervention
to provide targeted and sustained assistance to students in distress and stressful situation.
(ii) The competent authority may take steps to ensure that a counseling system be developed by
the coaching center and is easily available for the students and parents. Information about the

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names of psychologists, counselors, and the time they render services may be given to all
students and parents. Trained counsellors could be appointed in the coaching center to facilitate
effective guidance and counselling for students and parents.
(iii) Coaching centers are encouraged to involve counselors and experienced psychologists to
counsel and provide psychotherapeutic service to students for the resolution of mental stress and
depression.
(iv) Career counselors may be onboarded to assess the student's interest, aptitude and capability,
and accordingly guide and counsel the students and their parents with realistic expectations to
choose the best career option.
(v) Regular workshops and awareness weeks may be arranged for parents, students and teachers
on mental health and prevention of stress by the coaching center. It should also focus on basic
training in health, good nutrition, personal and public hygiene, disaster response and first-aid as
well as scientific explanations of the detrimental and damaging effects of alcohol, tobacco, and
other drugs. The matter of positive parenting should also be stressed upon in the interaction
session organized for parents by the center in the context of students’ mental health, resilience
and responsible self-care
(vi) Tutors may undergo training in mental health issues to convey information effectively and
sensitively to students about their areas of improvement.
(vii) As part of counselling the coaching center should establish peer group interaction. Coaching
center may organize group-based curricular exercises in discussions, competitions and projects.
(viii) The doubts of student shall be resolved by those tutors who have taught in the class so that
student feel satisfied.
(ix) The coaching center shall follow framework for promotion of mental health in the institution
as per the following:
Framework for Mental Health Promotion
Level of Problems Stakeholders to be involved Level of Intervention
Mental Wellbeing Entire Institutional Mental Wellbeing Integrated
Community in Institutional Curriculum
Mental Health Knowledge All Students and Tutors Mental Wellbeing – Part of
Attitudes & Behavior General Health Curriculum
Psychosocial Problems Counsellors, Tutors, Peer Extending Additional Help to
Mentors, Wardens and Students in Need
Citizens
Severe Problems/Disorders Counsellors, Institutional Professional Management
Doctors and Other Experts

12. Inclusivity and Accessibility

(i) The coaching center shall not discriminate against any applicant / student on the basis of
religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth, descent etc. during the admission and teaching process.
(ii) Special provisions may be made by the coaching center to encourage greater representation of
students from vulnerable communities such as female students, students with disabilities, and
students from marginalized groups.
(iii) The coaching center building, and the surrounding premises shall be Divyang-friendly and
in compliance with the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

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(iv) Tutors may be sensitized regarding learning disabilities and make students with learning
disabilities feel comfortable.
(v) Divyang-friendly provisions such as braille, e-readers, and toilets etc. may be made wherever
possible.
(vi) Support classes may be provided to students with disabilities who require additional support
in their academics.
(vii) Batch segregation on academic performance ground shall not be done, as it leads to
excessive pressure on the students affecting their mental health. Batches should be formed in the
order of entry / admission of students and the batch shall not be changed till completion of the
course.
13. Maintenance of Records
(i) The coaching center should maintain and produce such records, accounts, registers, or other
documents, as may be prescribed by the appropriate government.
(ii) The coaching center may submit the annual report to the competent authority for the record.
14. Restriction on shifting of Coaching center

Coaching center shall be conducting coaching only at the place indicated in the registration
certificate and shall not be shifted to any other place than its registered place, without the prior
written approval of the Competent Authority in that behalf.

15. Enquiry of activities of the coaching center

The competent authority, or any other officer authorized by the appropriate government shall
conduct continuous monitoring of the activities of the coaching center and enquire any coaching
center regarding the fulfillment of required eligibility of registration and satisfactory activities of
the coaching center.

16. Disposal of complaints

(i) A complaint may be filed before the competent authority against the coaching centers by the
student, parent or tutor / employee of the coaching center and against the students / parents by
the coaching centers. The complaints shall be disposed of within thirty days by the competent
authority or by an inquiry committee constituted for the purpose by appropriate government.

(ii) After giving opportunity of hearing on the report of the competent authority or the inquiry
committee as the case may be, the competent authority shall impose penalty or take action for
cancellation of registration.

17. Penalties

(1) The competent authority shall have power of the civil courts. The competent authority shall
have such power which is vested in the courts under civil procedure code 1908 (Central Act no. 5
of 1908) for consideration of any suit namely:-

(i) to accept evidence with proof through affidavit;

(ii) to summon and to enforce attendance of any person, and his examination on oath;

(iii) to enforce production of records; and

(iv) to award cost,

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(2) In case of violation of any of the terms and conditions of registration or general conditions, the
coaching center shall be liable for penalties as follows:

(i) Rs 25,000/- for first offence

(ii) Rs. 1,00,000/- for the second offence

(iii) revocation of registration for subsequent offence

18. Cancellation of registration

The certificate of registration granted to the coaching center, without prejudice to any other penal
action that may be taken for violation of relevant law, at any time be cancelled, if the concerned
competent authority is satisfied that the coaching center has contravened any of the provisions of
the guidelines or violated any of the terms and conditions subject to which the registration was
granted:

Provided that, no such order shall be passed by the competent authority without giving the
holder of such certificate a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the proposed order.

19. Procedure for Appeal

Any Person aggrieved by the order of refusal to register a coaching center or its renewal or
cancellation of registration, may, within thirty days from the date of receipt of such order, appeal
to the appellate authority in the manner as may be specified by the appropriate government.

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