4,400 Poor Students in Maharashtra Denied RTE Seats After Minority Tag to 73 Schools: AAP

Pune, 24th February 2026: The controversy over minority status granted to private schools in Maharashtra has intensified, with the Aam Aadmi Party alleging a multi-crore financial benefit to institutions despite the state government’s claim of putting the approvals on hold.

According to Mukund Kirdat, State Spokesperson of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), 75 educational institutions were granted minority status within hours of the demise of former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. The certificates were reportedly dated January 29, 2026. Allegations surfaced that the approvals were issued in haste during a period of state mourning, following which Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the decision to grant minority status had been stayed.

However, Kirdat has claimed that despite the announced stay, the Education Department has recognised the minority status certificates and reduced RTE (Right to Education) reserved admissions for these schools.

He alleged that the minority status has become a “profit-making tool” for private schools by exploiting loopholes in the rules. According to his calculations, around 73 private schools stand to benefit by more than ₹25 crore annually. He said the estimated annual gain is based on an average RTE intake of 60 students per school, with an average annual fee of ₹75,000 and government reimbursement of ₹17,500 per student — resulting in a net gain of ₹57,500 per student. Multiplied across 73 schools, the total benefit is estimated at approximately ₹25.18 crore per year.

Kirdat further alleged that in the Pune division, seven Podar International School branches have newly opted out of RTE admissions after being granted minority status. He claimed that due to the hurried approval of minority status to 73 schools across Maharashtra, nearly 4,400 economically weaker students have been denied admission under the RTE quota.

Raising questions over the process, Kirdat asked why the minority certificates were not cancelled if a stay had indeed been imposed, and why the Education Department had not acted upon the government’s decision. He also questioned how institutions that have been functioning for six to seven years suddenly showed more than 51 percent of their management committee members, directors, and students as belonging to a linguistic minority.

He alleged that while private schools benefit financially, poor students bear the brunt of reduced access to education. “At a time when the population is increasing, government schools are declining, and private schools are rising, how is it that RTE school registrations are reducing every year?” Kirdat said, alleging collusion between the Minority Department and the Education Department to benefit corporate schools.