All pre-schools in Maharashtra, including nurseries and kindergartens, mostly run privately will soon need to register with the state’s school education department under the proposed Maharashtra Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Act, 2025.

Registration will be mandatory and granted only to institutions meeting standards for infrastructure, curriculum, fee structure, admissions, and teacher qualifications. The Act aims to regulate the rapidly growing pre-primary sector, which serves children aged 3 to 6 and has so far remained largely unmonitored.

A senior official noted that many pre-schools currently operate informally, even from residential spaces, highlighting the need for standardisation. The move aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which recognises early childhood as a critical learning stage.

The draft defines pre-schools as any institution offering education to children under six—such as ECCE centres, play groups, and kindergartens—regardless of name, language, or affiliation. Crèches are excluded.

Standards include safe buildings, gender-separated child-friendly toilets, and proper learning spaces. Teacher qualifications must meet National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) norms, with a five-year transition period for current staff. The state will support training for government-run centres.

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