Calls for Reform: Congress Seeks Comprehensive Policy on Coaching Institutes

The Congress has called for a comprehensive policy solution to address the rapid growth of coaching institutes in India. Highlighting an alarming 146% rise in GST collections from these institutes, the party stressed the need for revised syllabi, increased resources for exam-takers, and quality education investments.

India urgently needs a comprehensive policy solution to tackle the mushrooming of coaching institutes, the Congress said on Saturday. The party advocated for revising syllabi, providing more resources for all exam-takers, and investing in the quality of education.

Congress general secretary in-charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, revealed that data from the Department of Higher Education shows a rapid rise in GST collections from coaching institutes, surging from Rs 2,241 crore in 2019 to Rs 5,517 crore in 2024. This marks an astonishing 146% increase, attributed partially to better enforcement and an expanding market. Ramesh highlighted the worrying statistic that the GST collected at 18% suggests an annual market of Rs 30,653 crore for coaching institutes—nearly two-thirds of the Union Budget's allocation for higher education in FY24.

Ramesh underscored the need for a well-thought-out policy, considering the poor regulation of the coaching industry. These comments arose amid heightened concerns following the death of three civil service aspirants in a flooded basement of a Delhi coaching institute. Ramesh also cited a parliamentary written response by Minister of State in the Education Ministry, Sukanta Mazumdar, who mentioned the circulation of regulatory guidelines for coaching centers to states and Union territories, urging further legal actions.