In a landmark move to bring relief to thousands of parents and students, the Delhi Cabinet on April 29 approved a draft bill aimed at regulating school fees across all private, government-aided, and unaided schools in the National Capital. The bill, which is being hailed as a historic decision by the Delhi Government, sets comprehensive guidelines and procedures for determining fees in all 1,677 schools operating in the city.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced the decision following the Cabinet meeting, calling it a “historic and brave” step taken in the interest of Delhi’s citizens. “I feel overjoyed to tell you that the Delhi Government has made a historic and brave decision, and the draft Bill has been passed by the Cabinet today,” CM Gupta stated. “For the first time in history, such a foolproof Bill is being drafted by the Delhi Government to regulate school fees in a transparent and equitable manner.”
The proposed legislation outlines a structured framework that will apply to all types of educational institutions—private, government-aided, and unaided—ensuring uniformity and fairness in fee determination. It includes a detailed procedure for setting and reviewing fees and aims to prevent arbitrary hikes that have long burdened families in the capital.
Education Minister Ashish Sood elaborated on the key features of the bill, stating, “The bill will be presented and passed soon. Parents, teachers, and management will be involved in regulating the fees. We will be reviewing it on 18 provisions and implementing it accordingly. Under this bill, fee hikes will be permitted only once every three years. Strict penalties, including government takeover of schools, will be imposed on institutions that violate the guidelines.”
The draft bill is expected to be tabled in the Delhi Legislative Assembly in the coming weeks after receiving feedback across stakeholder groups. The initiative has sparked significant public interest, with many parents welcoming the move as a long-overdue measure to curb exploitative practices in the education sector.
If passed, this bill could set a precedent for other states to follow in regulating school fees and ensuring access to affordable education.
With allegations of excessive fee hikes to the tone of 25-40%, protests at various schools by parents became louder and the issue assumed political connotations after former Chief Minister and AAP leader Atishi Marlena accused the new BJP government of giving a free hand to private schools to increase their fees. She accused private schools of “looting” parents, alleging that the new administration under the BJP allowed indiscriminate fee hikes. Atishi challenged the BJP to freeze fee hikes and conduct audits of all schools by CAG-empaneled auditors.
What added fuel to the fire is the case of Delhi Public Society (DPS) owned school in Dwarka subjecting defaulter students to discrimination/ indignity within the school premises, as a device or means to recover any outstanding fees. An inspection committee led by the District Magistrate (South-West) found that students had been isolated since March 20, 2025, closely monitored by guards, and restricted from using the canteen or washrooms freely. Such treatment obviously caused an outrage across the spectrum from officials to community of parents and even schools.
