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Key Points

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar announced that admissions to state-run institutes like BARTI and SARTHI will now be purely merit-based. A uniform policy will standardize scholarships and student intake across these institutions. Pawar revealed that only 1% of scholarship beneficiaries pursued Ph.D. programs, costing ₹30 lakh per student. The reforms aim to prioritize courses with clear employment potential, following recommendations from a Chief Secretary-led committee.

Key Points: Ajit Pawar Announces Merit-Based Admissions for Maharashtra Training Institutes

  • Merit to replace quotas in BARTI, SARTHI, MahaJyoti, and ARTI admissions
  • Uniform policy for scholarships and student intake
  • Only 1% of beneficiaries pursued Ph.D. despite high costs
  • Committee recommends focus on career-oriented courses
2 min read

Admissions in educational institutions to be based on merit: Maha Dy CM

Maharashtra Dy CM Ajit Pawar mandates merit-based admissions in state-run training institutes like BARTI and SARTHI, prioritizing employability.

"Admissions will be limited to courses with proven employment potential. — Ajit Pawar"

Mumbai, July 3

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, in Legislative Council, on Thursday said that going forward, admissions to various courses offered by institutions such as Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Research and Training Institute (BARTI), Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Research, Training, and Human Development Institute (SARTHI), Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Research and Training Institute (MahaJyoti) and Anna Bhau Sathe Research and Training Institute (ARTI) will be granted solely based on merit.

A uniform policy will also be implemented regarding the number of students, general scholarships, foreign scholarships, and admission procedures across these institutions.

Pawar was responding to a question raised by MLCs Sanjay Khodke and Abhijit Wanjarri regarding the disbursement of rental allowance and contingency funds by SARTHI.

He stated that between 2018 and 2025, around 3 lakh students benefited from government scholarships, tuition fee assistance, and other schemes across 83 courses under SARTHI.

However, only 3,000 students (just 1 per cent) pursued Ph D programs, for which Rs 280 crore was spent. This implies an average of Rs 30 lakh per student over five years, a figure that warrants serious consideration.

Pawar also clarified, admissions will be limited to courses that have proven employment potential, ensuring public resources are directed towards skill-based and career-oriented programs.

A committee headed by the Chief Secretary was earlier appointed to review and recommend a common framework regarding student intake, admissions, scholarships, and academic quality in BARTI, SARTHI, MahaJyoti, and ART institutions.

The report from this committee has now been received, and decisions based on it will be announced shortly, Pawar added.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Rs 30 lakh per PhD student is shocking! We need better accountability in research funding. Good move to focus on employment-oriented courses - too many degrees but no jobs situation in India right now.
R
Rohit P
As someone who benefited from SARTHI's scholarship, I welcome this change. But implementation is key - hope they don't dilute the merit criteria later under political pressure. Education should remain above vote bank politics!
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Kavya N
While merit is important, what about students from rural areas who don't have access to quality schooling? The policy needs proper safeguards to ensure equal opportunity. Otherwise it will only benefit urban elites.
D
David E
Interesting development. In Western countries, we've seen similar debates about balancing merit with diversity. Maharashtra's approach of focusing on employment potential makes practical sense for developing economies.
S
Shreya B
Good step but incomplete. What about improving school education first? Many students can't compete on merit because their foundational education is weak. Fix that before changing higher education policies!

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