Maharashtra plans strict law to regulate private preschools; mandatory registration, quality norms proposed

Maharashtra is preparing to bring private preschools under a formal regulatory framework, with the state government proposing legislation that would make registration mandatory and introduce quality standards for early childhood education institutions, according to a PTI report.

School Education Minister Dada Bhuse informed the state assembly on Friday that the move is aimed at ensuring greater accountability and uniform standards in the rapidly expanding preschool sector, as reported by PTI.

The government has already begun laying the groundwork through an administrative push. Bhuse said a circular issued on April 24, 2025, made it compulsory for all private institutions offering pre-primary education to register on the Preschool Registration Portal, and thousands of centres have responded to the directive.

Registration exercise gathers momentum

According to the minister, 12,733 private pre-primary education centres across Maharashtra have registered on the portal so far. The government has appealed to remaining institutions to complete the process at the earliest to ensure their inclusion in the regulatory framework.

Officials believe the registration drive will help the state build a comprehensive database of preschools, many of which currently operate without consistent oversight.

Proposed legislation to bring regulatory oversight

Bhuse told the House that the government is working on a law specifically designed to regulate private preschools. The proposed legislation is expected to focus on mandatory registration, institutional regulation and quality assurance.

Under the proposed framework, the state plans to appoint a competent authority tasked with registering and regulating such institutions. All preschools would be required to register through the online portal, with their registration subject to renewal every three years, he said.

Focus on quality and child-friendly learning

A group of guidelines that should enhance the quality of preschool education are also under investigation by the government.

Some of the suggestions being considered include a student-to-teacher ratio of 20: 1, a child-based curriculum, and availability of toys and learning tools that will enable early learning. Such norms as child-friendly infrastructure are also under consideration by authorities so that the preschool setting would be safe and developmentally suitable.

No young children admission exams

Bhuse also explained that a pre-primary level pre-school could not administer a written or oral entrance examination to gain admission. Instead, a comprehensive evaluation of the development of a child would be possible in accordance with the proposed regulatory framework.

Proposal sent for legal vetting

The minister said the draft proposal has already received inputs from the Women and Child Development Department and has been forwarded to the Law and Judiciary Department for legal scrutiny.

The state government aims to finalise the legislation and bring it into effect before the upcoming academic year, a move expected to introduce clearer rules and accountability in Maharashtra’s private preschool ecosystem.

(With inputs from PTI)
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