Big Relief for Parents? Maharashtra Plans Refund Policy for Cancelled School Admissions
Pune, 1st May 2026: The Maharashtra government is considering introducing a fee refund policy for private school admissions, on the lines of the system followed in higher education institutions across the country.
Education Commissioner Sachindra Pratap Singh has appointed a committee, chaired by Primary Education Director Sharad Gosavi, to examine whether parents can receive a refund if a school admission is cancelled. The move comes amid rising complaints from parents over the non-refund of fees by private schools.
At present, regulatory bodies such as the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) have clear guidelines for fee refunds in higher education. Under these norms, students are eligible for a partial refund if they cancel admission within a specified period. A similar provision also exists in the state’s centralised online Class XI admission process.
However, no such policy currently exists for private schools in Maharashtra. While provisions under the Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Fee Regulation) Act, 2011 and the Rules of 2016 regulate fee structures and address complaints, they do not cover fee refunds after admission cancellation.
To address this gap, the newly formed committee will study the issue and submit its recommendations to the government within one month. The panel includes education officials, school representatives, and parent members.
The proposed policy is aimed at bringing clarity and providing relief to parents facing financial losses due to cancelled school admissions.
