The tragic deaths of three civil services aspirants in the flooded basement of Rau's IAS Study Circle in the capital sparked a political debate in Parliament. The incident prompted the Ministry of Home Affairs to establish a high-level committee for investigation.

During a short discussion in Rajya Sabha, BJP members blamed the AAP-led Delhi government, while the AAP and Opposition INDIA bloc criticized the central government. Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed concern over the coaching center culture, likening it to a "gas chamber" and questioning the substantial spending on newspaper advertisements by such institutions.

Dhankhar emphasized the importance of nurturing India's youth demographic dividend and criticized the commercialization of education through coaching centers. He highlighted the significant profits made by these institutions, suggesting a need for closer scrutiny of their practices and impact on the education system.

In light of the recent tragedy at Rau's IAS Study Circle, Chairman Dhankhar highlighted the booming coaching industry's concerning practices. He pointed out the prevalence of coaching center advertisements dominating newspaper front pages, emphasizing that students ultimately bear the cost of this marketing. Dhankhar noted that every new building and expansion in the coaching sector is financed by student fees.

The discussion, which touched on the broader implications of the coaching culture exemplified by institutions like Rau's IAS Study Circle, saw participation from key government figures. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar contributed their perspectives to the debate, underscoring the significance of the issue in the wake of the recent incident. Pradhan emphasized that although education falls under the Concurrent List, this does not absolve state governments of their duty to take action against unlawful coaching centers. He stressed that states must assume responsibility for regulating and addressing issues related to illegal educational institutions operating within their jurisdictions, despite the shared authority between central and state governments in educational matters. 

In response to the incident at Rau's IAS Study Circle, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan informed the House about the Centre's proactive measures regarding coaching institute regulation. He revealed that the central government had issued guidelines to all states multiple times over the years, specifically in 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2024, aimed at overseeing coaching centers.

These directives, Pradhan explained, focused on mandating the registration of coaching institutes like Rau's IAS Study Circle and establishing minimum operational standards. The guidelines also instructed states to actively supervise these institutes' activities and impose penalties for non-compliance. This information underscores the government's ongoing efforts to address concerns in the coaching sector, even before the recent tragic event.

 Pradhan emphasized that the Centre had issued advisories to all states regarding coaching centers, suggesting that adherence to these guidelines could have prevented the tragedy at Rau's IAS Study Circle. He stressed state accountability in such matters.

Minister Khattar accused the Delhi government of negligence, attributing the deaths to poor maintenance of sewer lines by the AAP-run Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). He alleged that Rau's IAS Study Circle received an NOC from the MCD despite lacking proper clearance for basement classes. Khattar also mentioned an ignored student complaint about the institute's poor conditions.

In defense, AAP member Sanjay Singh highlighted his government's efforts in improving Delhi's infrastructure. He cited statistics on water supply and sewer line installations in unregulated colonies, attempting to counter accusations of negligence in the context of the Rau's IAS Study Circle incident.

This debate underscores the complex interplay of responsibilities between different levels of government in regulating institutions like Rau's IAS Study Circle and maintaining urban infrastructure.

Addressing the operation of Rau's IAS Study Circle in Delhi, Singh noted that such coaching centers have existed for 20-25 years, mostly under BJP-controlled MCD. He claimed that the Delhi minister's orders for desilting were ignored due to the Lt. Governor's control over services, implying a power struggle between the state and central governments.

The discussion revealed a complex political landscape. Opposition leaders criticized the Centre for the proliferation of coaching institutes like Rau's IAS Study Circle nationwide. Interestingly, INDIA bloc MPs avoided directly blaming their ally, the AAP.

Some opposition members, such as DMK's Tiruchi Siva, faulted the L-G for allegedly impeding the AAP government's functioning. Meanwhile, members from Congress, RJD, CPI(M), CPI, and IUML focused on the coaching institutes themselves and held the Centre accountable for their widespread growth.

This debate surrounding the Rau's IAS Study Circle incident highlights the intricate web of responsibilities and political dynamics involved in regulating educational institutions and managing urban infrastructure in Delhi.

Know more about UPSC exam here:- https://www.studydekho.com/course/information/union-public-service-commission-upsc/44

Best coaching institutes for UPSC in Chandigarh:- https://www.studydekho.com/chandigarh/coaching/upsc