Parliamentary panel to review surge in coaching centres, student stress and impact of tech in education

The Ministry of Education had earlier this year set up a nine-member panel to examine issues relating to coaching and the emergence of "dummy schools" besides the effectiveness and fairness of entrance examinations.

There have been cases of students enrolled in coaching institutes ending their lives in recent years due to study pressure (Representative Image/AI Generated)

A parliamentary committee has initiated a review of the rapid expansion of coaching centres across the country. Citing growing concerns over student stress and rising suicides linked to competitive exam pressure, the move aims to assess the scale of these institutions, the legal framework governing them, and the broader social implications of their increasing presence.

The Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth, and Sports will also study the influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies on teaching and learning processes. According to a recent Lok Sabha bulletin, the committee will additionally evaluate the implementation and progress of the PM Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) scheme during 2025–26.

The panel will review the proliferation of coaching centres to support students in competitive examinations, social issues arising from it and existing legislation on the matter, the bulletin said.

There have been cases of students enrolled in coaching institutes ending their lives in recent years due to study pressure, with several cases reported in Rajasthan’s Kota city alone, which is known as the “coaching capital of India”.

The Ministry of Education had earlier this year set up a nine-member panel to examine issues relating to coaching and the emergence of “dummy schools” besides the effectiveness and fairness of entrance examinations.

The panel is studying the effectiveness and fairness of competitive entrance examinations in the context of the school education system and their influence on the growth of the coaching industry.

During the year, the parliamentary panel will also examine the “current practices and policies” regarding school closure.

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According to the Lok Sabha Secretariat, the committee will also review the functioning and performance of the

National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) as also efforts to promote education of linguistic and religious minorities.

The panel will also seek details on the Education Ministry’s “efforts” to create a Higher Education Council of India (HECI).

A bill to set up a higher education regulator, which will replace bodies such as the UGC, is listed for introduction in the Winter session of Parliament, set to commence on December 1.

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The HECI which was proposed in the new National Education Policy, looks to replace the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).

While the UGC oversees non-technical higher education, the AICTE oversees technical education, and the NCTE is the regulatory body for teachers’ education.

The parliamentary panel will also review study of Indological academic traditions and its impact on current education system.