# Governing party MLAs boost private school growth: IIM-B study 2026-08-11T02:02:45+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet A study by IIM-Bangalore and Masters' Union researchers, reported by Times of India, found that constituencies with MLAs from the governing party record 3-5 percentage point higher growth in private schools. The research examined the political economy of education privatisation in India and attributed the trend to MLAs' influence over bureaucracy. Officials often delay approvals, and politician alignment matters, opposition MLAs feel powerless as bureaucrats fear transfers. The effect is larger in less developed states like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, though statistically not significant. The report also noted MLAs may directly operate private schools, enhancing social status and offering patronage opportunities. There was no comparable effect on government schools due to multi-layered policy frameworks. The authors called for greater transparency, reduced administrative discretion, and stronger quality monitoring rather than restricting private participation. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com Tags: education, IIM-B study, India, MLAs, political influence, private schools Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/governing-party-mlas-boost-private-school-growth-iim-b-study/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/governing-party-mlas-boost-private-school-growth-iim-b-study/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.