New Delhi, Dec. 29 -- Delhi-based Deepika Khosla, 38, a French teacher, and her husband, Mohit Khosla,40, a working professional in the telecom sector, are parents to twins Avighna and Itika, both eight years old and currently in grade 3. Education forms a central part of the family's monthly budgeting. On average, the couple spends around Rs.40,000- Rs.45,000 per month per child on education and related needs. "We plan for education-related expenses as a fixed, non-negotiable expense, similar to our home EMI or car EMI. It has to be taken care of, so it has to be taken care of," said Deepika.

In India's metros, educating a child has quietly become one of the biggest household expenses. Beyond headline tuition fees, parents must budget f...