Business
‘Child’s future can’t be monthly burden’: Noida doctor flags impact of soaring school fees on families
New Delhi: For many urban families in India, a child’s education has always been seen as the key to a brighter future. But today, that dream is coming with a growing price tag. The steady and often steep rise in school fees is no longer just a budgeting issue but it’s also becoming a major source of anxiety for parents. From cutting back on expenses to postponing savings goals, households are increasingly adjusting their lifestyles and financial plans just to keep up with the cost of schooling.
School fees don’t just test a parent’s income.
They test their silence.Every year, the number rises.
And parents quietly adjust life around it.
Fewer vacations. Delayed dreams. Extra shifts.
No complaints. Just quiet sacrifice.We are told it’s for “quality education.”
But…
— Dr SHRADDHEY KATIYAR (@Wegiveyouhealt1) February 3, 2026
When School Fees Begin to Weigh on Families
For many parents, rising school fees are not just figures on a receipt but they carry an emotional cost too. Dr Shraddhey Katiyar, a Noida-based doctor, recently shared a heartfelt post on X, drawing attention to the silent stress families experience as education expenses continue to climb. His words struck a chord with many parents who see their own struggles reflected in the issue.
“School fees don’t just test a parent’s income. They test their patience, their silence, and their endurance,” Katiyar wrote. He noted that many families adjust their lives silently by skipping holidays, postponing personal goals, or taking on extra work, simply to ensure their children’s education continues smoothly.
According to him, most parents do not openly complain about rising school fees. Instead, they quietly make adjustments in their daily lives. Family holidays are put on hold, personal ambitions take a back seat, and longer working hours become the norm, all to manage the growing expenses.
“Every year, the number rises. And parents quietly adjust life around it. Fewer vacations. Delayed dreams. Extra shifts. No complaints. Just quiet sacrifice,” he added.
Katiyar also questioned the reasons often given by schools for repeated fee hikes. He pointed out that even though parents are told the higher fees will improve the quality of education, classrooms continue to remain crowded and teachers’ salaries do not always reflect those increases. “Education should not feel like a monthly threat,” he wrote, stressing that learning must remain a basic right and not turn into a financial strain.
He further warned that when education starts feeling like a luxury instead of a necessity, many deserving children risk being left behind, and families are left emotionally drained. “Education should lift families up, not leave them exhausted. Children often realise later that their parents bore the cost quietly,” Katiyar noted.
Parents Share Their Concerns
Many parents say the financial pressure begins much earlier than expected, sometimes as early as playschool. Ishani Bhatt, a mother of a 2.5 year old living in Greater Noida West, says education costs start piling up right from toddlerhood.
“My child goes to a reputed playschool, but the expenses are steep. For 3-4 hours, you will shell out Rs 6-7k per month, not to take into account the one-time admission fee, which was nearly Rs40,000. Initially, we were told that this would cover all extra curriculum activity expenses, but every other day, there’s some expense or the other, albeit small ones,” she says.
Bhatt explains that apart from direct fees, there are several indirect expenses too. “Even if they are not direct expenses, there are several indirect expenses. For instance, schools will have different ‘days’ – say tomorrow is ‘purple colour day’. Schools ask parents to send wards in clothes of that shade. Now if they don’t have that colour, parents often end up buying new clothes. While our school doesn’t make it mandatory, yet as a parent, you might feel your child should not be the one feeling left out. These create indirect pressure. Then again recently, school charged around Rs 500 for a photobook of class picture. There are several such instances. So we are left wondering what were the extracurricular fees that we paid at the beginning of the season for?”
She adds that education should remain a right and not feel like a privilege that only some families can afford, and that this principle should apply right from playgroup and nursery.
Business
Ola, Uber, Rapido Strike Today: Will You Get A Cab Or Auto On February 7? What Commuters Should Know
Last Updated:
Drivers gather at Jantar Mantar where multiple unions flagged concerns over fare policies, alleged regulatory gaps and the use of private vehicles for commercial taxi services.
Ola, Uber, Rapido Strike Today.
Ola, Uber, Rapido Strike Today: Passengers booking taxis or autorickshaws through app-based platforms may have noticed disruptions and uncertainty on Saturday as drivers across several states held protests and strikes, demanding tighter regulation of the sector and a crackdown on bike taxi services.
Drivers gathered at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, where multiple unions flagged concerns over fare policies, alleged regulatory gaps and the use of private vehicles for commercial taxi services. The protests brought together both app-based and conventional cab drivers, highlighting growing discontent over pricing policies, the use of private vehicles for commercial transport, and what unions describe as uneven enforcement of rules.
What Are Drivers Demanding?
Driver unions are seeking structural changes rather than temporary relief. Their key demands include the creation of a Rashtriya Chalak Ayog, a national drivers’ welfare body, an all-India ban on private bike taxis, and stricter action against the use of unlicensed private vehicles as taxis.
A major concern is surge pricing on ride-hailing platforms. Drivers allege that while fares rise sharply during peak hours, the additional amount largely goes to aggregators, leaving drivers with little benefit even as commuters assume they are earning more.
Why Bike Taxis Are At The Centre Of The Dispute
Licensed taxi and autorickshaw drivers say bike taxis, often operated using private two-wheelers, are cutting into their earnings while operating in a regulatory grey zone. According to unions, enforcement against such services varies widely across states, creating uneven competition.
Drivers have also raised safety and insurance concerns, alleging that accident victims involving illegal bike taxis often struggle to get insurance compensation due to unclear liability and lack of permits.
Panic Buttons
One of the lesser-known issues affecting drivers is the mandatory installation of panic buttons in commercial vehicles. While the Centre has approved around 140 device providers, unions claim state governments have declared a large number of these companies unauthorised.
As a result, drivers say they are being forced to remove existing devices and spend up to Rs 12,000 again on new installations, turning a safety requirement into a repeated financial burden.
Will Cabs And Autos Be Available?
Despite union claims that vehicles were kept off the roads, cabs and autorickshaws continued to be available on platforms such as Uber, Ola and Rapido in many cities, though availability and waiting times varied by location.
For commuters, this means service disruptions are likely to be uneven rather than total, depending on city-wise participation and enforcement.
Why This Issue Keeps Returning
Drivers say that without a uniform national framework covering fares, commissions, licensing and welfare, disputes will continue to surface.
Unions also point to the rapid increase in autorickshaw permits under open permit policies, saying the growing supply of vehicles has reduced per-driver income without a corresponding rise in demand.
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February 07, 2026, 14:23 IST
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Gold prices in Pakistan increased on Saturday in line with the international market. In the local market, the gold price per tola reached Rs519,462 after a gain of Rs11,700.
According to All Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Association (APGJSA), 10-gram gold was sold at Rs445,354 after an increase of Rs10,030.
The international rate of gold was up by $117 to reach $4,967 per ounce (with a premium of $20).
Meanwhile, the price of silver increased by Rs444 to reach Rs8,269 per tola.
Last Updated:
Budget 2026 has introduced a six-month disclosure plan for foreign assets with immunity from prosecution.
Taxpayers can be fined upto Rs 10 lakh if they fail to declare. (Representative Image)
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman revealed in the Union Budget 2026 that taxpayers in India who failed to report income or assets kept abroad now have a six-month opportunity to come clean and avoid fines and penalties under the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) Act.
The Foreign Assets of Small Taxpayers – Disclosure Scheme (FAST-DS) 2026 is a new option that aims to rectify previous errors by voluntary disclosure. It is specifically designed for taxpayers who might have neglected to disclose overseas assets or income on previous income tax returns (ITRs), including students, workers, young professionals, and relocated non-resident Indians (NRIs).
Who Can Use the 6-Month Window
Eligible taxpayers are permitted to register hidden foreign assets or income under FAST-DS that were either not taxed at all or were not accurately declared in the foreign assets schedule of previous returns. Examples include foreign bank accounts, overseas shares, mutual funds, employee stock options (ESOPs/RSUs), foreign real estate, and other financial interests held overseas.
The scheme is divided into two categories:
Category A: For those who have not disclosed any overseas assets or income at all, up to a value of Rs 1 crore. They cannot get immunity unless they pay taxes and penalties equal to 60 per cent of the value of their assets or income.
Category B: For people who paid taxes and declared overseas income but neglected to disclose the related asset. They can regularise the declaration by paying a one-time charge of Rs 1 lakh per asset if the asset’s worth is up to Rs 5 crore.
Taxpayers can avoid drawn-out legal proceedings and be protected from harsher penalties under the Black Money Act owing to this prompt declaration.
Penalties If You Miss the Deadline
Taxpayers will be subjected to severe penalties if they fail to disclose their assets and incomes earned from overseas during this period under the Black Money Act. The taxpayers will be fined Rs 10 lakh per asset for each year they fail to make a disclosure, and a penalty three times the tax amount will be imposed, along with a 30% tax on each income earned from overseas assets.
Furthermore, prosecution may result in jail time ranging from six months to seven years in severe circumstances.
Reopened assessments can cover up to 16 years, and tax treaty advantages such as relief under the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) may no longer be accessible.
Why It Matters
According to tax professionals, this one-time window offers a unique chance to correct prior non-disclosures without worrying about legal action or severe fines. Additionally, it promotes voluntary compliance and reduces the likelihood of future disagreements between taxpayers and tax authorities.
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Delhi, India, India
February 07, 2026, 10:43 IST
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