Governor Santosh Gangwar clears coaching centre regulation law in Jharkhand

Ranchi, January 20: Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar has given assent to the Jharkhand Coaching Centre (Control and Regulation) Act, 2025, passed by the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly. The new law aims to regulate coaching centres across the state by introducing mandatory registration, minimum standards, and safeguards for students.

The Act seeks to bring oversight to the rapidly growing coaching industry, which has largely operated without regulation. It focuses on student safety, transparency in operations, and accountability of coaching centre managements.

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Why the New Law Was Introduced

Jharkhand has seen a sharp rise in private coaching centres preparing students for board and competitive examinations. Many centres have been accused of charging high fees, operating from unsafe buildings, lacking qualified teachers, and creating stressful environments.

The new legislation is intended to curb such practices and provide students and parents with a formal mechanism to address grievances.

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Mandatory Registration for Coaching Centres

Under the Act, any coaching centre enrolling more than 50 students at the school, college, or university level must register with the designated authority.

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• Registration is open to individuals, groups, trusts, societies, companies, and LLPs
• Each branch of a coaching chain will require separate registration
• In franchise models, both franchisor and franchisee will be equally responsible for compliance

Registrations will be valid for five years, and renewal applications must be submitted six months before expiry.

Infrastructure and Safety Requirements

The Act lays down strict infrastructure and safety standards:

• Minimum classroom space of one square metre per student
• Compliance with the National Building Code (2016) and Jharkhand Building Bylaws (2016)
• Mandatory fire and building safety clearance
• Disability-friendly infrastructure

These provisions aim to end overcrowded classrooms and unsafe facilities.

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Measures to Protect Students

The law places strong emphasis on student welfare:

• Tutors must be graduates and have no criminal convictions
• One certified counsellor must be appointed for every 1,000 students
• All students must be registered on a government portal
• Written parental consent is mandatory for students below 16 years or without a secondary certificate
• Coaching centres must clearly declare fee structures, refund rules, and transfer policies
• Centres planning closure must give three months’ notice and refund fees as per policy

Complaint Redressal Mechanism

A two-tier grievance system has been introduced:

• District-level committees will investigate complaints and resolve them within 90 days
• A state authority will hear appeals and decide within 120 days
• The state authority will be headed by a retired judge, along with senior retired officials

Penalties for Violations

The Act introduces strict penalties for non-compliance:

• Fine up to ₹5 lakh for the first offence
• Fine up to ₹10 lakh for the second offence
• Cancellation of registration and possible blacklisting for repeated violations

In franchise operations, both parties will be held equally liable.

Exemptions Under the Act

Regular schools, colleges, and universities conducting coaching or remedial classes within their campuses are exempt. Government-run coaching programmes at the state or central level are also excluded from the law’s purview.

Towards a Regulated Coaching Ecosystem

The Act is expected to improve safety, transparency, and accountability in the coaching sector. For the first time, students and parents in Jharkhand will have legal backing to challenge unfair practices, marking a significant step towards regulating education-related services in the state.

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