Delhi School Fee Hike: Regulatory Panels Mandatory by July 15; Hikes to Be Vetted on 18 Strict Parameters

Delhi School Fee: The Education Minister of Delhi Ashish Sood on Thursday (July 2) stated that private schools in operation in the national capital will have to prove their case for fee hike on the basis of 18 criteria, which include development of infrastructure, transport, security, and hiring of teachers, besides informing the parents about the need for such hike.

According to the minister, the Delhi government has asked all private unaided schools in Delhi to form School Level Fee Regulation Committee (SLFRC) till July 15 in accordance with the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Act, 2025. As per the news agency PTI, Sood stated that the government is serious about making good education affordable and accessible to all, and that “education is a noble service to society and not a commercial business.”

The Regulatory Mechanism: Composition of the Panel

In order to avoid biased and subjective audits, the regulatory committee that has been introduced is not supposed to be solely run by the school administration. These include:

• The School Principal or any other management representative.

• Two members from the Parents Teachers Association (PTA).

• The Chartered Accountant (CA) who will be appointed by the DoE to audit the financials of institutions.

Timelines And Penalties for Non-Compliance

The Directorate of Education has very clearly stated that compliance with the aforementioned regulatory time frame is non-negotiable.

• July 15, 2026: Last date by which all private schools must form their respective regulatory committees and furnish the information regarding committee members on the DoE portal.

• August 10, 2026: Date by which committees must submit audited financial justification in case a hike is being proposed.

In the event that schools fail to form the panel or impose a fee hike without complying with the 18 criteria, they would be heavily penalized. This could include the revocation of recognition from the school or a formal proposal for taking control of the school administration under the Delhi School Education Act & Rules.