7 in 10 parents whose children go to private school and surveyed say the school has increased fees by 30-80% in last 3 years; Call their State Government & District Administration ineffective in limiting fee increases

April 29, 2026, New Delhi: A telling social media comment on school admission fee states “Was looking at the fee structure of Shiv Nadar School in Noida. No way a person who doesn’t earn by illegal means can admit his/ her child here. Admission fee ₹2.1 lakhs”… Over the past one to two years, private school fee (whether admission or regular fee) hikes in India have become a major flashpoint, reflecting a widening gap between regulatory intent and ground realities.

Despite court directives and new legislative frameworks, many schools have continued to increase fees significantly, triggering widespread protests by parents across the country.

In March and April, coinciding with the new academic year, several protests by parents against private school fee hikes were reported across India. In Delhi, parents of students from Delhi Public School branches gathered at Jantar Mantar, demanding rollback of steep fee increases and greater transparency. In Noida, protests erupted outside DAV Public School over a reported 15% hike.

Similar incidents have been reported from other towns across the country. For instance, in Dhanbad, parents staged demonstrations alleging arbitrary charges. Many protests highlighted concerns over non-compliance with fee regulation norms and alleged pressure tactics by school administrations.

The anger of parents of school going children is over the fact that in the last one year (2025–26 academic session), fee hikes in several private schools have ranged between 10% and 15% annually, with some states attempting to cap increases. For instance, regulations in Maharashtra allow up to a 15% hike every two years under certain conditions. However, reports indicate that many schools have exceeded or bypassed these limits through additional charges and unapproved revisions. In some cases, fee hikes were implemented without prior approval from authorities, undermining regulatory mechanisms.

The situation appears even more pronounced when viewed over a two-year period. In cities like Delhi, parents have alleged cumulative fee increases of up to 50–100% in certain schools between 2024 and 2026, effectively doubling the financial burden. Such steep hikes have often been justified by schools citing rising operational costs, staff salaries, and infrastructure investments. However, parents argue that these increases lack transparency and violate norms. Courts and governments have intervened repeatedly.

The introduction of the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Act, 2025 aimed to create a structured approval system and prevent arbitrary hikes. The Supreme Court also emphasized proper implementation of such laws, cautioning against hurried or retrospective enforcement that could burden parents. High Courts have similarly directed schools to refund excess fees or restrict coercive actions against students.

Despite these measures, compliance has remained inconsistent. Several cases show schools continuing to raise fees even after adverse court orders, prompting further litigation. The disconnect between the judicial directives and institutional practice has intensified tensions.

Demonstrations of parents against what they describe as “arbitrary” and “unjustified” fee hikes have highlighted issues like lack of financial transparency, sudden fee revisions, and alleged harassment of students for non-payment. In extreme cases, disputes have led to threats of expulsion or denial of access to classes, further fuelling public outrage.

LocalCircles has conducted a survey to find out what families of school going children feel about the situation, which is reported to have worsened in the last three years. The survey received over 47,000 responses from parents whose children are enrolled in private schools across 271 districts of India. 62% respondents were men while 38% respondents were women. 45% of respondents were from tier 1, 29% from tier 2 and 26% respondents were from tier 3 & 4 districts.

7 in 10 parents whose children go to private school and surveyed say the schools have increased fees by 30% or more over the last 3-year period; 3 out of those 7 say it has increased by 50-80%

The survey asked parents of students studying in private schools, “How much has the private school your children/ grandchildren go to, increased the total fee in percentage terms in the last 3 years i.e. between 2023 to 2026?” Out of 22,443 parents of school children studying in private schools who responded to the question 11% indicated that the hike has been “over 80%” in the last 3 years; 22% of respondents indicated “50-80%” hike; 3% of respondents indicated “30-50%”” hike; 26% of respondents indicated "10-30%” hike and 4% of respondents did not give a clear answer. To sum up, 7 in 10 parents whose children go to private school and surveyed say the schools have increased fees by 30% or more over the last 3-year period; 3 out of those 7 say it has increased by 50-80%.

9 in 10 parents whose children go to private school and surveyed say that their State Government has not been effective in capping or limiting excessive fee increases

In the light of Delhi government assurance to Supreme Court about not allowing any school fee hike in the current academic year and many state governments taking action in the past to prevent steep hikes, the survey asked parents, “Has your District Administration/ State Government been effective in capping or limiting excessive fee increases by private schools?” Out of 25,246 parents/ grandparents who responded to the question 2% indicated “yes, they (state government) have been” effective in capping or limiting excess fee hike; 41% of respondents indicated “no, they talk but they fail to make any impact”; 51% of respondents indicated "no, they have not even taken up the issue”; and 6% of respondents did not give a clear answer. To sum up, 9 in 10 parents whose children go to private school and were surveyed, say that their State Government has not been effective in capping or limiting excessive fee increases.

In summary, while parents clamor to give their children the best of education in private schools of repute, it is unfortunately becoming out of reach of most middle-class and financially weak families. The survey reveals that 7 in 10 parents whose children go to private school and were surveyed, say the schools have increased fees by 30% or more over the last 3-year period. What is shocking is that 3 out of those 7 say it has increased by 50-80%. The lack of proper administrative action is such that 9 in 10 parents whose children go to private school and were surveyed say that their State Government has not been effective in capping or limiting excessive fee increases.

Thus, while regulatory frameworks and court interventions have sought to control private school fee increases, the past three and more years reveal a persistent trend of rising costs and recurring conflicts. The issue underscores the urgent need for stricter enforcement, greater transparency, and a balanced approach that addresses both institutional sustainability and parental affordability. In effect, unless that state government takes action at the local level, any intervention by the courts will not be effective.