Rajasthan’s new Bill for coaching centres softens penalties, but some concerns flagged by MLAs remain

Apart from this change and softer penalties, there are no other changes in the amended Bill, which skirts several other issues raised by both BJP and Congress MLAs.

The earlier version of the Rajasthan Coaching Centres (Control and Regulation) Bill, 2025, had proposed a penalty of Rs 2 lakh for a first violation by coaching centres and Rs 5 lakh for a second violation. Any subsequent violation was punishable by cancellation of the coaching centre’s registration.

Now, the Bill states that in case of violation of any of the terms and conditions of registration or general conditions, a coaching centre will be liable for a penalty of Rs 50,000 for the first violation and Rs 2 lakh for the second violation, followed by cancellation of its registration for subsequent violations.

First tabled in March, the Bill essentially makes it mandatory for all coaching centres to get registered, lists a minimum riteria for their operation, and has provisions for setting up state- and district-level authorities to enforce the law. However, following intense opposition, it was sent to the Select Committee.

Five-hour debate in March

The debate on the Bill in March, which lasted about five hours and witnessed close to 30 speakers, had mainly centred around the tabled Bill ignoring some of the Centre’s 2024 guidelines, including keeping 16 years as the minimum age for enrolment in coaching centres.

Other criticisms were that it did not adequately address student suicides; that it will promote red-tapism, inspector raj and overburden the Collector; that there is no time limit on approving registrations of coaching centres; that the Bill puts no onus on parents who should also be counselled; and that the Bill may force coaching centres to move out of the state and adversely affect Kota and the state’s economy.

Outside the Assembly, the Bill was opposed by parents’ associations and some coaching centres, too. Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully had said at the time, “I see a conspiracy — big coaching centres got this Bill drafted. They want the government to earn praise for tabling it, but they also want it not to be passed.”

Echoing several others on sidestepping some of Centre’s guidelines, BJP’s Kalicharan Saraf had heavily criticised the Bill and said that if passed, it would have long-lasting effects and that the Rs 60,000-crore coaching business would move out of Rajasthan. BJP’s Anita Bhadel had said that coaching centres in the state provided employment to 10 lakh people directly and indirectly, and that approximately 50 lakh students were studying in the coaching centres in the state.

However, the amended Bill does not address many of the issues raised by MLAs across party lines.

LoP Jully told The Indian Express, “The government is surrounded by the coaching mafia. They don’t want to bring the Bill, but are bound by court directions. As they are in a majority, they can get the Bill passed, but there is no justification for this amended Bill either.”

“There has been a spate of suicides in the last year, but despite that, the government only wants to benefit the coaching centres and doesn’t care about the students or their parents,” Jully said.

The fresh Bill is expected to come up for debate in the ongoing Assembly session this week.