What happened (Rajya Sabha written reply and key clarifications)?
The Minister of State for Education, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, gave a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on regulation of fees in private schools under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 and CBSE rules. The reply emphasized that fee matters and enforcement against violating schools are mainly under State/UT jurisdiction, while the RTE Act imposes nationwide student-protection requirements.
Background and earlier position: where school fee regulation sits in India’s federal structure
Education is in the Concurrent List of the Constitution (meaning both the Centre and States can legislate on education). The reply stated that schools other than those established, owned or controlled by the Central Government fall under the jurisdiction of the respective State Governments and Union Territory (UT) Administrations. Therefore, the administration of such schools—including rules and instructions on fee-related safeguards for students and parents and action against violations—rests with State/UT authorities.
RTE Act safeguards relevant to fees and admissions in private unaided schools
The RTE Act, 2009 creates national obligations for children’s schooling rights, including obligations for private unaided schools at the entry level and restrictions on charges.
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