Bengaluru, Karnataka’s cabinet has constituted a sub-committee, headed by Health Minister U.T. Khader, to examine private-school fees and broader education reforms as parents across the state face steep increases in school and professional college costs, officials said. The move, announced by the state government, follows widespread concerns about annual tuition hikes, additional mandatory charges and high fees in unaided professional courses.
Panel set up amid complaints of runaway fee increases
The panel comes in response to sustained pressure from families — particularly middle and lower-middle-income households — who report that school-related expenses now include higher tuition, transport charges, compulsory uniforms, vendor-tied books and a growing list of activity and development levies. Karnataka has around 17,000 private schools, with about 4,000 in Bengaluru alone, and fees vary widely across the state.
Private-school associations had sought a 12–15% fee hike for the 2026–27 academic year, citing inflation and operational costs, while some schools in Bengaluru reportedly implemented increases of 20–40%. Education economists note that even a 10% annual rise compounds rapidly: a parent paying ₹1 lakh today could be paying nearly ₹1.6 lakh within five years.
Professional education: large outlays for many families
The panel will also look at fee structures in professional education. Under the Common Entrance Test (CET) system for 2026–27, several unaided engineering colleges charged around ₹1.2–1.3 lakh per year — considerably more than government-college fees — pushing a four-year private engineering degree beyond ₹5 lakh in tuition alone. Medical education costs are substantially higher: government college tuition stands at ₹64,350 annually, while government-quota seats in private medical colleges cost about ₹1.6 lakh, private-fee category seats around ₹12 lakh, and management-quota seats between ₹25–45 lakh.
| Course / Category | Typical annual fee (reported) |
|---|---|
| Private school (many Bengaluru schools) | ₹35,000–₹2,00,000+ |
| Unaided engineering colleges (2026–27) | ₹1.2–1.3 lakh |
| Govt medical college | ₹64,350 per year |
| Govt-quota seat in private medical college | ₹1.6 lakh per year |
| Private-fee medical seat | ₹12 lakh (annual) |
| Management-quota medical seat | ₹25–45 lakh (annual) |
Political and social stakes
Political observers cited in reporting say the sub-committee’s findings could carry electoral weight if the government produces concrete measures to ensure more transparent fee structures and to curb add-on charges. Middle-class voters, analysts note, may remember any relief from rising education costs when they cast ballots in future elections.
The government has not yet published a formal timeline or an official public notice detailing the panel’s remit, methodology or deadlines. Parents and students seeking updates should monitor announcements from the Karnataka cabinet and the Department of Public Instruction for official notifications, circulars and guidelines.
- What the panel will review: private-school fees, add-on charges and wider education reforms.
- Who is heading it: Health Minister U.T. Khader (cabinet sub-committee chair).
- Why it matters: rapid compounding of fee increases and very high costs for professional degrees are straining household finances.
Families affected by fee hikes are advised to retain fee notices and receipts, check school governing bodies’ records and await the panel’s recommendations. Any regulatory changes or official price controls would be notified by the Karnataka government through its regular channels.
The sub-committee’s formation follows growing concern about affordability in both school education and professional courses and signals the state government’s intent to examine a problem that many parents describe as a recurring financial emergency.
