Maharashtra govt proposes law to regulate private preschools across state

The Maharashtra government is planning to bring a law to regulate private preschools in the state, with mandatory registration and quality standards for institutions providing early childhood education.

School Education Minister Dada Bhuse informed the state assembly on March 13 that the government had earlier introduced an online registration system for such institutions.

A circular issued on April 24, 2025, made it compulsory for private preschools to register on the Preschool Registration Portal, and 12,733 schools have completed the process so far.

Bhuse said the initiative is intended to ensure safe and quality education for children in the three-to-six age group while also allowing parents to access consolidated information about preschools at the state and district levels.

According to the minister, institutions registering on the portal must provide details such as their location, management information, number of classrooms, and student strength.

They are also required to submit information on infrastructure facilities, including school buildings, playgrounds, toilets, drinking water, and CCTV, and details of teachers and staff.

He said the government has urged remaining preschools to complete their registration.

Bhuse also told the House that the state plans to introduce legislation to regulate private preschools with a focus on mandatory registration, regulation, and quality assurance.

Under the proposed framework, a designated authority will oversee the registration and monitoring of such institutions.

All centers will be required to register through the online portal and renew their registration every three years, he said.

The government is also considering guidelines covering academic and infrastructure standards. These include a student-teacher ratio of 20:1, a child-centered curriculum, availability of toys and learning materials, and child-friendly infrastructure.

The minister added that preschools will not be allowed to conduct written or oral entrance tests for admission. Instead, only a holistic assessment of a child’s development will be permitted.

Bhuse said the proposal has received inputs from the Women and Child Development Department and has been sent to the Law and Judiciary Department for legal vetting. The government aims to implement the law before the next academic year.