Pune: ABVP Demands Scholarships for VJNT Students Admitted Through ‘Against CAP’

Reported by Shoaib Tadvi and Radhika Sharma
Yerwada, 1st October 2026: The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has demanded that eligible students from Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribes (VJNT), Special Backward Class (SBC), Other Backward Classes (OBC) and other eligible categories who secured admission through the ‘Against CAP’ route should receive the applicable post-matric scholarship benefits.

The demand comes amid concerns over students who were admitted against vacant seats after the completion of the regular Centralised Admission Process (CAP). ABVP has submitted multiple representations to the concerned authorities, seeking clarity and implementation of scholarship provisions for such students.

Maharashtra Government clarification on ‘Against CAP’ admissions

A communication issued by the Assistant Director, Other Backward Bahujan Welfare, Pune, addresses the issue of the Government of India Post-Matric Scholarship for students belonging to the VJNT, SBC and OBC categories.

According to the communication, students from these categories pursuing diploma, degree and postgraduate technical education courses can avail themselves of the Post-Matric Scholarship if they have secured admission through the government’s Centralised Admission Process (CAP).

The communication also states that after completion of the CAP admission process, students from VJNT, SBC and OBC categories who are admitted against seats that remain vacant through the ‘Against CAP’ process can also avail themselves of the scholarship, subject to the prescribed conditions, including an annual family income limit of ₹2.5 lakh.

The communication makes it clear that the clarification applies specifically to the Government of India Post-Matric Scholarship scheme.

ABVP says eligible students should not be deprived of benefits

ABVP has argued that students who secure admission against vacant seats after the CAP process should not be deprived of scholarship benefits merely because their admission takes place after the regular CAP process.

Om Malunjkar said, “Students who have secured admission against vacant seats after the CAP process should not be deprived of scholarship benefits if they fulfil the eligibility conditions prescribed by the government. There should be clear implementation of the government’s own instructions.”

Vivek Salave said, “Students and their parents are facing uncertainty because of confusion regarding scholarship eligibility. The concerned departments and colleges must follow the government clarification and ensure that eligible students are not denied their benefits.”

Prem Tanavade said, “Post-Matric Scholarship is important for students from economically weaker families. If a student fulfils the required conditions, admission through Against CAP should not become a reason for creating unnecessary difficulties in accessing the scheme.”

Govind Shete said, “The government communication specifically mentions students admitted against vacant seats after completion of the CAP process. We demand that this provision should be implemented uniformly by all concerned colleges and departments.”

Rudra Kolapkar said, “There should be complete clarity for students regarding the scholarship process. Eligible VJNT and other backward-category students should be able to submit their applications and receive the benefits according to the government rules.”

11% VJNT reservation in Maharashtra

The issue also comes in the context of Maharashtra’s reservation framework for VJNT communities. According to a Maharashtra Government circular dated May 13, 2025, the VJNT reservation is divided into 3% for VJ-A, 2.5% for NT-B, 3.5% for NT-C and 2% for NT-D, together accounting for 11%.

The reservation is subject to applicable admission rules and verification of the required documents. Candidates claiming reserved-category benefits are required to produce the prescribed caste and caste-validity documents and, where applicable, a Non-Creamy Layer certificate.

The 11% reservation figure, however, should not be converted into a specific number of seats without an official total-seat base. Therefore, an earlier estimate of 16,000–18,000 or more seats has not been presented as an official statistic.

ABVP submits multiple representations

ABVP has raised the scholarship issue through several representations. Documents submitted by the organisation show representations dated July 27, August 5, August 20 and September 8, 2026, seeking intervention regarding scholarship benefits for students admitted through the ‘Against CAP’ process.

The government documents submitted by ABVP also refer to admission processes including the Mop-Up Round, Special Mop-Up Round and Online Stray Vacancy Round, and discuss the treatment of eligible students admitted through such vacant-seat processes.

ABVP has now demanded that the concerned authorities issue clear instructions to colleges and scholarship departments and ensure that eligible students do not face difficulties in receiving benefits prescribed under the Government of India Post-Matric Scholarship scheme.

The government communication cited in the representations states that eligible VJNT, SBC and OBC students admitted through ‘Against CAP’ against seats remaining vacant after the CAP process can receive the Post-Matric Scholarship benefit, subject to the applicable conditions, including the ₹2.5 lakh annual family income limit mentioned in the communication.