Testing times ahead for India’s lucrative academic coaching industry

Kota in Rajasthan is one of India's biggest coaching hubs with several brands – such as Allen Career Institute – spread across the city. In 2023, Allen had more than 125,000 students. ST PHOTO: DEBARSHI DASGUPTA
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NEW DELHI – India’s multibillion-dollar coaching industry has been thrown into disarray by the introduction of government guidelines aimed at restricting the student intake at private coaching centres, while also making them more accountable and transparent.

The move could loosen the industry’s entrenched hold on Indian society, which has seen it emerge as a parallel schooling system as it feeds on the aspirations of many to excel both at school and in college entrance examinations.

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