Rajasthan Coaching Regulation Bill Stalled Amid Uproar Over Diluted Provisions and Student Safety:

The much-anticipated Rajasthan Coaching Centres (Control and Regulation) Bill-2025, designed to regulate the coaching industry and address the growing student suicide crisis in Kota, has been sent to a Select Committee for reconsideration. Despite its urgency and wide public support, the bill’s progress has stalled following strong opposition from both ruling and opposition MLAs in the state assembly.

Addressing a Deepening Crisis in Kota

The bill aimed to bring accountability and transparency to an industry worth over ₹60,000 crore, particularly in Kota, where nearly 40 students have died by suicide in just two years. Critics have long flagged the pressure-driven environment, unregulated fees, and lack of mental health support in coaching centres.

Key issues the bill sought to address included:

Mandatory registration of coaching centres

Standardized qualifications for faculty

Regulation of working hours and test schedules

Mandatory counselling and mental health support

Quality control in infrastructure and teaching materials

Dilution of Key Clauses Sparks Controversy

However, critical provisions were dropped in the final draft:

The age limit of 16 years for coaching enrolment, once mandated by central guidelines, was removed.

The mandatory aptitude test for students was made optional.

A clause requiring centres to notify parents if students missed two consecutive days was excluded.

These omissions led to backlash. BJP leaders Kalicharan Saraf and Gopal Sharma joined the chorus of criticism, warning that the bill in its current form would harm the education ecosystem and allow bureaucratic overreach. Saraf warned it could drive coaching institutions out of Rajasthan, threatening thousands of jobs.

Opposition Alleges Influence from Coaching Industry

Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully accused the government of drafting a deliberately ineffective bill under pressure from large coaching institutes. He claimed these centres worked behind the scenes to protect their interests while allowing the government to claim credit for addressing the issue.

Meanwhile, stakeholders like hostel operators and caterers also voiced concerns about the bill’s economic implications for the larger Kota ecosystem.

No Provisions to Regulate Coaching Fees

While the bill introduces welcome reforms such as daily time limits and mid-course refund options, it fails to address the core issue of fee regulation. Without limits on how much coaching centres can charge, financial pressure remains a major trigger for student stress and suicides.

Sociologists argue that superficial rule changes cannot fix the deeply entrenched, competitive coaching culture. Without meaningful reform, the toxic environment that pushes students to emotional extremes will persist.