New grievance system launched as Maharashtra Education Board bans school-mandated vendor lists
Mumbai – In a significant development for parental rights, the Maharashtra State Education Department has issued new directives to curb the financial exploitation of parents by private schools.
With this, the campaign spearheaded by ‘Surajya Abhiyan’ to halt the financial exploitation of parents by private schools under the guise of educational materials has achieved a significant victory. On 15 April 2026, the Directorate of Education issued a circular stating that “schools must not compel parents to purchase uniforms, notebooks, or educational materials from specific shops or vendors”.
Schools can’t force purchases from specific vendors!
Maharashtra school education department issues a fresh circular directing all schools not to compel parents to buy uniforms, textbooks or other materials from specific shops or through the school pic.twitter.com/kJBsFwQVVd
— Surajya Abhiyan (@SurajyaAbhiyan) April 16, 2026
The most vital feature of this order is that it goes beyond simply stating rules; it mandates the activation of a robust grievance redressal mechanism. Surajya Abhiyan has welcomed the government’s decision. Shri. Abhishek Murukate, the Maharashtra State Co-ordinator for Surajya Abhiyan, stated that a formal letter has also been sent to the Union Minister for Education, Shri. Dharmendra Pradhan, demanding that a similar transparent system be implemented across all states and education boards (CBSE/ICSE) throughout the country.
New mandates as per the circular
Through this circular, the State Directorate of Education has ordered all schools within its jurisdiction to take immediate action by passing a resolution. This resolution must state that, from the 2026-27 academic year, there will be no compulsion to purchase uniforms or other educational materials from specific shops or the schools themselves. Furthermore, the following measures have been made mandatory:
- Dedicated nodal officers: Every education office must appoint a specific ‘nodal officer’ to handle these cases and provide an official email address where parents can easily send their complaints.
- Mandatory school compliance: Schools are required to pass formal internal agreements to stop these practices. They must also ensure these new rules are widely publicised so that every school, regardless of the language or board is aware of the law.
- Strict enforcement: Once a complaint is filed, authorities are required to investigate the claims. If a school is caught breaking the rules, they will face immediate disciplinary action.
Surajya Abhiyan’s appeal to parents
“Simply having rules is not enough; their effective implementation is true good governance!” expressed Shri. Abhishek Murukate. He noted that while a Government Resolution dated 11 June 2004 against school high-handedness already existed, the exploitation of parents continued due to a lack of effective enforcement and a proper mechanism.
He further said that owing to the consistent follow-up by Surajya Abhiyan, these ‘paper rules’ will now finally be put into practice. The path to grievance redressal is now open in Maharashtra, and parents should not hesitate to lodge complaints with nodal officers or via email, along with any supporting evidence they may have. Parents can also contact Surajya Abhiyan in this regard. Schools are not commercial centres but sacred temples of knowledge; parents must become vigilant to uphold this principle.”
Regarding the national scope of the campaign, Shri. Murukate concluded, “This order in Maharashtra is an important milestone. Some other states in India have taken similar steps; however, this crisis has spread across the country, and many schools under central boards (CBSE/ICSE) do not heed state regulations. Therefore, we have urged the Union Education Secretary and Minister Shri. Dharmendra Pradhan to issue a uniform ‘National Advisory’ for the entire country to ensure that parents in no state are financially exploited.”
Zilla Parishad Education Dept prohibits private schools from forcing uniform and textbook purchases
April 17, 2026
Pune, Maharashtra – The Pune Zilla Parishad Education Department has issued a strong warning to English-medium private schools across the region to stop the practice of mandating the purchase of uniforms and textbooks from specific internal vendors. Primary Education Officer Sanjay Naikwade stated that any institution found continuing this practice would face a formal recommendation for the cancellation of its recognition. This directive comes in response to a surge in complaints from parents alleging that schools are charging excessive prices for these materials, which are often available at much lower prices in the open market.
Under current state regulations, including the Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Regulation of Fee) Act, schools are permitted a maximum fee hike of 15% once every two years. However, reports indicate that several institutions have been raising fees beyond this threshold without the required consent from the Parent-Teachers Association. Officials have clarified that any violation of these fee-capping rules or the coercion of parents into buying school-specific merchandise is a breach of the Right to Education Act and existing government resolutions dating back to 2004.
Surajya Abhiyan’s campaign against this practice
The campaign to stop schools from forcing such purchases is being carried out for years by the Surajya Abhiyan. The Abhiyan has submitted formal requests to education officers in over thirteen districts, including Jalgaon, Beed, Latur, Dharashiv, Kolhapur, Pune, Nashik, Akola, Satara, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg. In response, many officials have promised quick action, and some have already released official notices to stop the practice. In Beed district, the campaign has gained extra strength from local lawyers who are working to ensure that schools follow the law.
