According to an estimate, more than 2.5 lakh students are studying in coaching institutes in Kota, with around 4,000 hostels and more than 45,000 PGs (paying guests) where children stay. Many children living away from home feel lonely and often become victims of depression, which is not known to either the coaching institute or their parents. Additionally, with the high expectations of parents, the children are unable to bear the pressure of studies, and many end their lives due to stress and depression.

Kota, the coaching hub of Rajasthan, came into the limelight way back in the 1990s as students from every corner of the country started coming to the city attracted by the excellent education system of the coaching institutions. Since then, these institutes started writing success stories with their students cracking exams to get into prestigious engineering and medical colleges of the country. However, in the past few decades, the city soon earned the tag of suicide capital as tough competition and immense study pressure coupled with parents’ ambition to see their child crack the prestigious exams led many students to suicide.

Provisions of the bill

Alarmed by the rising number of student suicides, the Rajasthan government is now planning to bring a bill to prevent suicides of coaching students in the state and also control the coaching centres. Rajasthan Coaching Institute Controlled and Regulation Bill 2025 was approved by CM Bhajan Lal Sharma Cabinet, and the government is preparing to get the bill passed in the current budget session of the Assembly itself.

Apart from this, once the law is passed, coaching centres will not be able to charge arbitrary fees and will also have to ensure a stress-free environment for students where their mental health will have to be kept in mind. Provisions for refunding fees to students who leave coaching midway will also be included in the bill. The bill fortifies the Bhajan Lal government’s resolve that there should be no frustration in the minds of unemployed youth who are pursuing studies.

According to the provisions of the bill, coaching centres with 50 or more students will be brought under the legal ambit. It will be mandatory for coaching centres with 50 or more students to get registered. Apart from this, there is a proposal for setting up the Rajasthan Coaching Institute Controlled and Regulation Authority in the state, and the secretary in charge of the Higher Education Department will be the chairman of this authority. Apart from this, a district committee will also be formed under the chairmanship of the District Magistrate. A state-level portal and helpline for counselling will also be created for monitoring coaching institutes and for the convenience of students. Under the new law, registration of every coaching centre having more than 50 students will be mandatory, and there is a provision of a heavy penalty for violation of rules. The penalty will be Rs 2 lakh for the first time violation of the rules, while it will be Rs 5 lakh if a violation occurs for the second time. There is a provision to cancel the registration of coaching institutes if there is a violation for the third time.

Why the need?

According to a report titled ‘Student Suicide: An Epidemic in India, released in 2024, some shocking figures were revealed, which stated that the rate of student suicide in the country has gone up more than the rate of population growth. Not only this, the suicide rate of students has gone up more than the overall suicide rate. According to the report, the overall suicide rate in India has increased by 2 per cent, while the suicide rate of students has increased by 4 per cent. The need for such a law was necessary as at least 17 students committed suicide in 2024 in Kota, while till February 2025, so far, 7 students have ended their lives due to stress. Additionally, in 2023, 28 students committed suicide in Kota, which was the highest figure for a year.

According to experts, once the law prioritises the academic and mental health of students, coaching centres will be under pressure to reduce the burden of studies and exam stress and will also be forced to provide counselling services to help students deal with stress. The new rules will also force coaching institutes to reduce study hours, test patterns, and pressure on students, thus bringing a positive change in their overall mental health. It is also hoped that more attention will be paid to the needs of students, and educational institutions will also have to take care of the mental state of students.

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