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Education
Karnataka Draft Rules: Ban on Coaching for Under-15s, Fee Caps Proposed
✍️ Hindustan Times
🗓 29 Oct 2026, 02:45 PM
👁 2
Karnataka has proposed draft rules to ban coaching classes for children under 15, limit daily sessions to five hours, and mandate fee refunds, with violations attracting penalties up to ₹5 lakh.
The Karnataka government has introduced draft rules aimed at regulating the private coaching industry, with a specific focus on protecting young students. The proposed regulations explicitly ban coaching classes for children under the age of 15, seeking to ensure that early childhood is not burdened by excessive academic pressure.
Under the new guidelines, the duration of coaching sessions for eligible students will be restricted to a maximum of five hours per day. This measure is intended to balance academic preparation with adequate rest and leisure time for students.
The draft rules also address financial transparency and consumer rights within the coaching sector. Institutions will be required to offer fee instalment options and provide refunds in specific circumstances, ensuring that students and parents are not financially trapped in unsatisfactory arrangements.
Strict penalties have been outlined to enforce compliance with these regulations. Any coaching institute found violating the proposed rules, including the ban on under-15s or exceeding daily hour limits, could face financial penalties of up to ₹5 lakh. The draft is currently under consideration to formalize these protective measures.
Under the new guidelines, the duration of coaching sessions for eligible students will be restricted to a maximum of five hours per day. This measure is intended to balance academic preparation with adequate rest and leisure time for students.
The draft rules also address financial transparency and consumer rights within the coaching sector. Institutions will be required to offer fee instalment options and provide refunds in specific circumstances, ensuring that students and parents are not financially trapped in unsatisfactory arrangements.
Strict penalties have been outlined to enforce compliance with these regulations. Any coaching institute found violating the proposed rules, including the ban on under-15s or exceeding daily hour limits, could face financial penalties of up to ₹5 lakh. The draft is currently under consideration to formalize these protective measures.