Kamal Ghorui
After nearly three years of slowdown, Rajasthan’s Kota is seeing admissions rise again. Early trends for the 2026-27 academic session show a 20 to 30 per cent increase in enrolments across coaching institutes preparing students for Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).The recovery follows a sharp contraction between 2023 and 2025, when student numbers fell by 30 to 40 per cent. The intake dropped from around 2.5 lakh aspirants, generating an estimated annual revenue of Rs 6,500 to 7,000 crore, to nearly 85,000 to 1 lakh students. Revenue during this period reduced to about Rs 3,500 crore, according to PTI.The current admission cycle, which began with new batches on March 25 and will continue until April 2, has brought a visible increase in student and parent movement into the city. Early signals suggest that the slowdown may be easing.But the rise in numbers is only one part of the story. The key question is whether this marks a stable recovery or a short-term correction after a steep fall.
Kota’s admission cycle shows early signs of recovery
Kota’s coaching ecosystem has long been positioned as a national centre for competitive exam preparation. Over the past four decades, it has drawn students from across the country seeking entry into institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).Recent results continue to support that reputation. In the January session of JEE Main, eight out of 12 candidates who secured 100th percentile scores were from Kota-based institutes. Students trained in the city have also secured All India Rank 1 in IIT-JEE for the past two years.This consistency in outcomes has remained intact even during the period of declining enrolment. The current rise in admissions suggests that demand for structured coaching has not disappeared, but may have been temporarily disrupted.
Local economy and stakeholders see impact
Local stakeholders are already linking the inflow of students to broader economic recovery. Firoj Khan, president of the Kota Station Area Auto Union, told PTI, “We hope for the return of the prosperous times of the past.”Om Birla, Lok Sabha Speaker and Member of Parliament from Kota-Bundi, said the city continues to focus on providing a supportive environment for students preparing for engineering and medical entrance examinations. He also urged residents to contribute to student well-being, PTI reports.The city’s infrastructure reflects its scale. Kota currently has nearly 4,000 hostels and around 45,000 paying guest facilities. About 35 coaching institutes operate in the city, offering preparation for national-level entrance examinations.Naveen Mittal, president of the Kota Hostel Association, said the current inflow of students is higher than expected. “It reaffirms the trust of students and parents in Kota’s education ecosystem. If this trend continues, the coaching industry and the city’s economy will return to track,” he told PTI. He added that hostel operators have been advised not to increase rents despite rising demand.
Parents and students return, confidence builds
Parents and students from different parts of the country also pointed to continued confidence in Kota. Ajay Kumar from Imphal said he had long considered the city based on feedback from students in the Northeast, PTI reports. Om Kumar from Begusarai described Kota as a competitive environment for focused study, while Bhavesh from Jalgaon referred to it as a centre for engineering and medical preparation. Dr Anurag Singh from Ambedkar Nagar said perceptions about the city often differ from ground realities and cited its academic environment and facilities, according to PTI.Alongside admissions, orientation and counselling sessions have also increased. Coaching institutes are conducting programmes on behaviour, stress management and study planning, with participation from students and parents.
Bottom line
The rise in enrolments is expected to support local businesses linked to student spending. But the recent past offers a caution. A system that saw a decline of up to 40% within a short period cannot rely only on returning numbers.For now, Kota’s recovery is visible in admissions and footfall. Whether this translates into a sustained revival will depend on whether the factors that led to the earlier slowdown have been addressed.(with PTI inputs)
