In a landmark move this August, the Delhi government announced that all private schools in the city are now covered under a revised fee regulation law. As shared by Education Minister Ashish Sood during a parents' town hall in Janakpuri, this new legislation closes a loophole from a 1973 law that previously regulated only about 300 schools. Now, all 1,700-plus private institutions will be subject to transparent fee determination and oversight.

What does this mean for parents? For starters, they now have a seat at the table specifically in committees overseeing fee-setting at school, district, and state levels. These committees will include representatives of parents, teachers, school management and government officials.

Strict fine will be imposed on schools that increase fees arbitrarily without approval, which can range from ₹ 1 lakh to ₹ 10 lakh, and the fine will be doubled if the refund is delayed. Persistent violation could even lead to disqualification of management personnel, or cancellation of a school’s recognition.

Moreover, the new law lays down clear deadlines: school-level committees must decide on proposed fees by July 15, district-level decisions by July 30, and final approvals by September. If no decision is reached within 45 days, the issue automatically goes to an appellate committee.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta hailed the reform as a “revolution in Delhi’s education sector,” promising that children will not be kept from quality education due to financial burden.

In essence, the purpose of this new law is to restore balance and fairness, so that education is seen as a public service rather than a means of earning profit. Now that parents are playing an active role, Delhi is taking a big step towards inclusive and transparent school education.