The Punjab government has introduced a proposed regulatory framework for private coaching centres, aiming to ensure student safety and strengthen mental health support. The draft regulations, titled ‘Regulations on Registration and Students Protection Norms for Private Coaching Centres in Punjab, 2026’, apply to centres with over 50 students.
Registration Requirements
No person will be allowed to establish or run a coaching centre without registration. Existing centres must apply within three months of the rules coming into force. Registration certificates are valid for three years, with renewal applications due at least two months before expiry. A dedicated web portal will facilitate registration.
Qualification and Standards for Tutors
Tutors must be graduates. Coaching centres are barred from making misleading claims or guaranteeing ranks and marks. They cannot enrol students below 16 or before they complete secondary school examinations. Centres must maintain a website detailing tutors' qualifications, courses, fees, refund policies, and student outcomes. Online coaching platforms must also register and comply with data privacy laws.
Operational Norms
Centres must use only the term "registered coaching centre" and cannot claim "recognised" or "approved" status. Classes for school-going children during school hours are prohibited. Fees must be reasonable, with receipts issued. Students leaving midway are entitled to a pro-rata refund within 10 days, including hostel and mess charges. Fees cannot be increased during a course.
Infrastructure and Safety
Minimum area of one square metre per student during classes is required. Centres must comply with fire and building safety norms, provide first-aid facilities, safe drinking water, adequate ventilation and lighting, separate toilets for male and female students, and appropriate security. Residential centres must install tamper-proof ceiling fans and restrict access to rooftops and balconies to prevent self-harm.
Complaints and Mental Health
Every coaching centre must constitute an internal complaints committee to handle harassment, bullying, and discrimination complaints confidentially within 15 days. To reduce academic pressure, coaching hours are capped at five hours daily with weekly offs for students and tutors. Pedagogy should align with the National Education Policy, 2020, focusing on conceptual understanding.
Centres must engage counsellors and psychologists, establish mechanisms to identify distressed students, and tie up with local mental health professionals or government hospitals. Mental health and suicide prevention helpline numbers must be prominently displayed. Discrimination based on religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth is barred, with special measures for vulnerable and marginalised communities, including students with disabilities.
Monitoring and Penalties
Monthly mental health reports must be submitted to district-level monitoring committees, detailing wellness interventions, referrals, and training. Violations attract a penalty of Rs 25,000 for the first offence and Rs 1 lakh for the second. Repeated violations may lead to cancellation of registration after the centre is given an opportunity to present its case.
