The Rise of India's 'Shadow Education' System: Trends and Implications of Private Coaching
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Social Development, Education, Human Resources; Social Sector Initiatives; Key Committees.
Mains:
General Studies Paper 1 (Society): Social empowerment; Poverty and developmental issues.
General Studies Paper 2 (Governance & Social Justice): Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education, Human Resources; Government policies and interventions.
Essay: Topics on Education, Inequality, Youth, and Mental Health.
Key Highlights from the News
The number of students taking private coaching (private tuition) in India has significantly increased over the past seven years (2018-2025). On average, 27% of students in the country now attend tuition.
This increase is most pronounced in rural areas compared to urban areas. While this indicates a narrowing of the rural-urban gap, the pressure of coaching is also increasing in rural areas.
The largest increase is at the higher secondary level, especially among rural girls.
Private tuition is most prevalent in eastern and north-eastern States like West Bengal (75%), Tripura (79%), Odisha (57%), and Bihar (52.5%).
The Justice A.K. Rajan Committee report in Tamil Nadu points out that intense competition in competitive exams like NEET promotes the coaching culture.
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