A middle-class family, fueled by dreams of a brighter future for their child, enrolls them in a prestigious private school. The promise of top-tier education, English-medium instruction, and a ticket to a better life feels worth every rupee. But by the time their child reaches Grade 12, the bill has ballooned to 30 lakhs before coaching classes, extracurriculars, or even a single textbook. For many, this isn’t just a financial stretch; it’s a plunge into a debt trap that’s qu