RTE Admissions Pune: Over 2.89 Lakh Applications Received for 1.14 Lakh Seats
Pune, 6th April 2026: The lottery for admissions under the Right to Education (RTE) Act has been announced in Pune. The draw was conducted by Education Commissioner Sachindra Pratap Singh.
Among all schools in the city, Podar International School received the highest number of applications. For a total of 69 seats, the school received around 2,094 applications, making it the most preferred school among applicants.
Providing details, Director of Primary Education Sharad Gosavi said, “A total of 1,14,826 seats are available in 8,701 schools, and 2,89,609 applications have been received.” He added that more than 88,000 admissions were completed last year under the RTE quota. “The list of selected and waiting students will be released within two days, after which the admission process will begin,” he said.
Explaining the objective of the policy, Education Commissioner Sachindra Pratap Singh said, “Education is the most important tool for development. Every private school must reserve 25 per cent of seats for students from weaker and disadvantaged sections.” He added that the aim of the law is to ensure inclusiveness and prevent schools from becoming limited to only higher-income groups.
Officials also raised concerns about misuse of the system. Singh said action has been taken against parents who submitted false information in their applications. He also cautioned parents not to trust agents promising admissions, stating that the entire process is conducted online with no human interference. A helpline will also be provided for parents to report any irregularities.
The RTE Act aims to ensure equal educational opportunities for children from weaker sections by enabling them to secure admission in private schools.
