Breaking: Punjab Governor clears ordinance to regulate private school fees; Annual hike capped at 5%
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, July 13, 2026: In a major relief for parents across Punjab, the Punjab Governor has approved the Punjab Regulation of Fee of Unaided Educational Institutions (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, paving the way for stricter regulation of fee hikes by private schools.
Announcing the development, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the ordinance has officially come into force after receiving the Governor’s assent. He thanked the Governor for approving what he described as a significant pro-student and pro-parent measure.
Under the new ordinance, unaided private schools in Punjab will no longer be allowed to increase their annual fees by more than 5 per cent. The government said the move is aimed at curbing arbitrary fee hikes and preventing the commercialisation of education.
The Chief Minister asserted that the state government is committed to ensuring that education does not become a business at the cost of parents. He said the ordinance reflects the government’s resolve to reduce the financial burden on families and bring greater transparency and accountability to private school fee regulation.
The decision is expected to benefit lakhs of parents across Punjab, many of whom have repeatedly raised concerns over steep annual fee increases by private schools. With the ordinance now in effect, educational institutions will have to adhere to the newly prescribed ceiling on annual fee revisions.