In a major decision set to ease the concerns of thousands of private schools, the Madhya Pradesh Government has scrapped the mandatory requirement of submitting a registered rent agreement for obtaining recognition. The move comes as a major relief for more than 3,600 schools across the State, many of which had been caught in uncertainty over their future due to difficulties in fulfilling this condition.
The School Education Department announced that the online portal for recognition applications will reopen on September 29. Schools that missed earlier deadlines will now be able to apply by paying the prescribed late fee.
While this step clears a major procedural roadblock, officials clarified that recognition will continue to remain subject to the directives of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, where related matters are under consideration.
The issue of registered rent agreements had emerged as a significant hurdle, especially for schools operating in rented premises. Many school operators argued that property owners were unwilling to provide registered agreements, leaving them unable to submit the required documents despite fulfilling all other conditions. As a result, recognition of several schools was withheld, creating widespread anxiety among students, parents and management alike.
According to official data, Madhya Pradesh currently has 23,611 recognised schools, while applications from 3,632 schools are pending. Recognition is granted for three years at a time, meaning the approvals granted in this cycle will remain valid until the academic session 2025–26. In Bhopal alone, nearly 500 schools are expected to benefit immediately from the relaxation.
The School Education Department stated that despite the relaxation, the process of granting recognition will remain transparent and closely monitored. Officials stressed that the decision had been taken to ensure that students’ education is not disrupted because of procedural challenges faced by school managements.
Adding to this, the department also announced that Aadhaar-based services would remain suspended for three days starting September 29 due to technical upgrades. However, this temporary suspension will not affect the recognition application process, which will continue through the reopened online portal.
The decision is being widely welcomed by stakeholders, particularly at a time when parents had raised strong concerns about the fate of students in schools awaiting recognition.
Inspectors and education officers had also flagged that delays in recognition could affect examinations and admissions for the upcoming academic year.
By removing the bottleneck of registered rent agreements, the Government has paved the way for smoother functioning of schools and reassured thousands of families that academic activities will continue unhindered.