Chandigarh, August 1, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Punjab Government will table the Punjab Regulation of Fee of Un-aided Educational Institutions (Amendment) Bill, 2026 during the Monsoon Session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, seeking permanent legal backing for the ordinance currently regulating private school fees in the state.
The proposed legislation aims to prevent arbitrary fee hikes by private schools and provide relief to more than 32 lakh students studying in over 7,800 private schools across Punjab.
Under the Bill, private schools will not be permitted to increase fees by more than 5 per cent annually on their own. Any hike beyond this limit will require prior written approval from the District Regulatory Body after examination of the school’s financial records.
The proposed law also includes provisions for mandatory refunds if a school’s cumulative fee increase over the past three years exceeds 15 per cent. All compulsory charges will be considered while calculating the fee cap to ensure schools do not bypass the limit by introducing separate fee categories.
The legislation seeks to curb profiteering and prohibit capitation fees in any form. District Regulatory Bodies headed by Deputy Commissioners have been constituted to monitor compliance and address complaints from parents and students.
Private schools will have to upload their fee records of the previous four years on the Education Department’s online portal. The regulatory authorities will have powers to order forensic audits of school accounts either on their own or on the basis of complaints.
The Bill proposes strict penalties for violations, including a fine of Rs 50,000 for the first offence and Rs 1 lakh for the second violation. Repeated violations may lead to cancellation of recognition or affiliation besides further legal action.
School Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said the state has introduced one of the country’s strictest private school fee regulation frameworks, with provisions for fee caps, mandatory refunds and forensic audits.
He said the ordinance has already been in force since July 13, 2026, making schools liable to follow the 5 per cent fee hike limit and refund provisions. According to the government, more than 6,500 schools have submitted their fee records, which are currently under scrutiny.
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