The Punjab government has introduced the Punjab Regulation of Fees of Unaided Educational Institutions (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, providing relief to more than 32 lakh students and their families. This ordinance restricts annual fee hikes to five percent, requires refunds for fee increases exceeding 15 percent in the last three years, considers all charges as part of tuition fees, and imposes penalties, including derecognition, for violations.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced that regulatory committees led by Deputy Commissioners will monitor fee hikes, and private schools must disclose their fee records from the past four years on a designated portal within ten days. The Ordinance, effective from Monday, aims to prevent excessive fees collection by private educational institutions, as highlighted by the Chief Minister’s reference to Supreme Court guidelines prohibiting profit-making under the guise of education.
The government plans to conduct forensic audits to verify fees collected by institutions through any means and ensure compliance with the Ordinance. Stringent penalties are in place, with fines of Rs 50,000 for the first violation, Rs 1 lakh for the second, and potential school affiliation cancellation for repeated violations, emphasizing the protection of students’ interests.
