The new academic year has kicked off with financial strain for many families across India, as private schools in major cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad implement steep fee hikes—some reaching up to 50%.
Rising Costs Trigger Protests and Government Scrutiny
In Delhi, ongoing protests by parents have drawn attention to the growing unaffordability of private education. Despite interventions from the Directorate of Education (DoE), schools continue to increase fees under various classifications, often with little oversight.
This surge follows a 2023 interim order by the Delhi High Court allowing schools to revise fees after submitting a fee statement under Section 17(3) of the Delhi School Education Act (DSEAR), 1973. The ruling has effectively weakened the DoE’s ability to regulate excessive fee hikes, sparking concern among thousands of parents.
The situation is no better in Bengaluru and Hyderabad, where similar patterns have emerged. In response, the Karnataka Department of School Education recently issued a circular requiring schools to publicly disclose reservation policies and detailed fee structures. A complaint redressal mechanism has also been mandated to improve transparency and accountability.
Survey Reveals Sharp Increases Across Income Tiers
A comprehensive nationwide study conducted by community platform LocalCircles sheds more light on the issue. The survey, which gathered responses from over 18,000 parents across 301 districts, highlights that 81% of families with children in private schools have experienced a fee hike of more than 10% for the academic year 2025–26.
Here’s a breakdown of the fee hike data:
| Fee Increase (2025–26 vs. 2024–25) | Percentage of Respondents |
|---|---|
| Over 30% | 22% |
| 20–30% | 28% |
| 10–20% | 31% |
| 5–10% | 3% |
| No Change | 5% |
| Fee Not Announced | 3% |
| No Clear Answer | 8% |
Notably, 50% of parents surveyed reported a jump of over 20% in school fees—highlighting a significant upward trend that spans various educational boards such as CBSE, ICSE, IGCSE, and IB.
The Financial Toll on Households
With inflation already impacting household expenses, the additional burden of rising school and coaching fees is stretching family budgets thin. For high school students preparing for competitive exams, the combined costs of school and private tuition are increasingly unsustainable. Some parents are even resorting to loans to bridge the financial gap.
This trend underscores a growing inequality in access to quality education. As private institutions dominate the landscape, affordability is fast becoming a barrier for many middle-class families seeking better educational outcomes for their children.
As education continues to evolve, close monitoring of market trends in the education sector—including fee structures, regulatory changes, and demand patterns—will be key to understanding where this shift is headed.