An IIT Bombay alumnus, Aviral Bhatnagar, has ignited a social media debate by comparing his engineering fees with the annual cost of kindergarten education in Mumbai. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Bhatnagar revealed that his cousin’s daughter’s Upper Kindergarten (UKG) fees were crossing Rs 4 lakh per year — nearly double his own four-year tuition at IIT Bombay.
Bhatnagar’s post read:“Cousin told me her daughter's UKG fees is crossing 4 lakh per year in Mumbai. My fees at IIT Bombay were half that for the entirety of the four years. Education costs are the hidden inflation that no-one is talking about. Perhaps AI tutors will make it affordable again.”
The comparison drew strong reactions online, with users divided over whether the rising school fees reflect inflation, lifestyle aspirations, or deeper systemic issues in India’s education system.
Some argued the surge in fees is more about lifestyle choices than actual inflation. One user commented,“It’s not education cost inflation but lifestyle inflation. Your cousin is already rich; he wants to send his child to a top nursery school.”
Others highlighted systemic concerns:“Education, marriage, and medical care are the most profitable businesses in India. Government schools and hospitals are in the worst condition, which boosts private schools and hospitals. India is only for rich people.”
Personal anecdotes also surfaced: one parent shared,“Just got my four-year-old daughter admitted to a decent school in Noida with fees of around Rs 2.75 lakh a year. I did my entire engineering in Rs 2 lakh.”
The conversation also explored alternatives such as homeschooling and AI-powered learning. Users suggested that AI tutors and digital solutions could help make education more affordable and accessible. One post read,“With the current job market, education should really be taken over by AI. Otherwise, if nothing else, the concept of Return on Investment (ROI) will go for a toss.”
Several commentators stressed that education should remain a fundamental right rather than a commodity. The debate underscores wider questions about the accessibility, affordability, and commercialization of education in India, raising concerns about whether rising fees reflect inflation, status-driven spending, or structural gaps in the education system.
The discussion around Bhatnagar’s post has sparked a nationwide conversation on the value, cost, and purpose of early education — and whether India’s private schooling model is sustainable for the majority.
