From Rhymes to Robotics: How India’s Preschool Fees Escalated from Rs 600 to Rs 4 Lakh

Over the last few years, preschool fees in India have risen dramatically, leaving many middle-class families grappling with financial strain. Viral posts highlight parents in cities like Bengaluru, Delhi, and Jaipur paying lakhs per year for early education that once cost a fraction of today’s prices. What started as affordable neighborhood playschools has now transformed into high-investment branded preschools offering robotics kits, phonics classes, and glossy facilities.

In August 2025, a Reddit thread reported pre-nursery fees in Bengaluru of around Rs 1.85 lakh annually, including registration and consumables. Another post revealed Grade 1 fees of Rs 7.35 lakh and Rs 11 lakh for Grades 11–12, excluding transport, books, and uniforms — pushing real costs beyond Rs 8 lakh per year. Similar reports surfaced from Delhi and Jaipur, sparking public debate about affordability.

From Simple Learning to Advanced Curriculums
Thirty years ago, preschools focused on nursery rhymes, counting, and basic recognition. In the early 1990s, local preschools cost between Rs 50 (Rs 600/year) and Rs 300 per month (Rs 3,600/year). Bidisha Chandra, an experienced preschool educator, recalls teaching simple skills like alphabets, numbers, and charts.

Today, preschools emphasize early exposure to coding, robotics, phonics, and extracurricular programs. Chandra notes, “Education has become a business. Anything can be packaged with a fancy name and sold, even toddler yoga. Safety, specialized teachers, and classroom tech all increase costs.”

Branded Preschools and the Middle-Class Market
Local playschools now compete with branded franchises offering international curricula, Instagram-friendly facilities, and advanced teaching methods. Shikha Khandelwal of Eurokids explains that fees are determined by brand, city, and amenities. Bidisha warns that 80% of the offerings may be unnecessary, even if marketed as beneficial.

Factors Behind Rising Costs
Pankaj Kumar Singh of Thames Valley preschools lists key drivers: infrastructure, international teaching methods, advanced curriculums, professional teachers, safety, and smaller student-teacher ratios. The low barrier to entry for new preschools has increased competition and encouraged aggressive productisation of every novelty.

What Parents Prioritize
Parents focus on safety, qualified teachers, and tangible results. Nidhi Sabbarwal emphasizes “solid infrastructure, facilities, security, and qualified teachers who understand a child’s psychology.” Yajnaseni Basu stresses hygiene, CCTV coverage, and low teacher-to-student ratios. Branded preschools often meet these criteria, justifying higher fees for many families.

Do Higher Fees Ensure Better Outcomes?
Preschools claim success in cognitive, social, and emotional development, but parents question whether extra amenities — PlayStations, clubs, or events — truly add value. Many feel fees are disproportionate to the benefits, with children attending just two hours a day.

Bridging Quality and Affordability
Providers suggest flexible fee structures, optional advanced modules, scholarships, NGO partnerships, and CSR funding as solutions. Parents are encouraged to prioritize what truly matters — safety, qualified teachers, and consistent opportunities for social and motor skill development.

The Takeaway
There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Families who can afford branded preschools may benefit from specialized curricula, safety, and teacher attention. For many middle-class families, however, the current fee escalation is unsustainable. The sector’s success will depend on balancing aspiration with accessibility, ensuring early education fosters curiosity and resilience rather than merely signaling privilege.