Delhi Government Approves Draft Bill to Regulate School Fees

Earlier on April 15, 2025, CM Gupta had issued a stern warning to schools harassing parents over fee hikes, directing officials to investigate and take strict action against violators.

In a move to address long-standing concerns over arbitrary school fee hikes, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced today that the Delhi cabinet has approved a draft bill aimed at regulating fees across all schools in the capital.

The draft bill is expected to be tabled in the Delhi Assembly in the coming weeks, where it will undergo further deliberation before being passed into law.

The announcement, made during a press conference at the Government of Delhi headquarters addresses a major concern that has persisted since the Delhi School Education Act of 1973 was enacted.

Speaking to the media, CM Rekha Gupta described the decision as both "historic" and "bold," emphasizing that no previous government had comprehensively tackled the issue of school fee regulation in Delhi. "Today, the Delhi government has taken a historic and courageous decision. The cabinet has approved a draft bill that will establish clear guidelines for school fees, applicable to all schools in Delhi," Gupta stated, as per a post shared by the official CMO Delhi handle on X (@CMODelhi).

She further highlighted the government's commitment to protecting the rights of students and parents, ensuring that education remains accessible and affordable for all.

The draft bill comes in the wake of growing outrage among parents over unapproved fee hikes by private schools, a problem that has sparked protests across the city in recent weeks. According to a survey cited by Frontline, 44% of parents across India reported a 50 to 80% increase in school fees over the past three years, with 8% noting hikes exceeding 80%.

The new bill aims to address these issues by establishing a robust framework for fee regulation. While specific details of the draft are yet to be made public, it is expected to apply to all 1,677 recognized schools in Delhi, including aided, non-aided, and private institutions. This move builds on earlier efforts by the Delhi government to curb exploitative practices in the education sector. For context, in 2015, the Delhi government tabled the Delhi School (Verification of Accounts and Refund of Excess Fee) Bill, which sought to regulate fees through a committee headed by a retired judge or senior official. The 2015 bill also mandated schools to submit audited financial returns and proposed penalties for non-compliance, such as fines or imprisonment, as reported by the Hindustan Times.

On April 15, 2025, CM Gupta had issued a stern warning to schools harassing parents over fee hikes, directing officials to investigate and take strict action against violators. "We have adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of injustice, exploitation, or irregularities—no laxity will be tolerated," she stated.

Read more:

• Boeing BUILD 2024-25: 7 Winning Teams from Over 2,700 Participants; IITs Bombay, Delhi, Madras, IISc Participates
• AICTE, INAE Launch Centre of Engineering Education Excellence with ₹38.35 Crore Infosys Funding