Students urge Fadnavis to protect reservation, scholarships at new private medical universities

A students' organisation has urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to safeguard reservation, scholarship and fee reimbursement for SC/ST/OBC students at two private medical colleges that the state cabinet recently approved to convert into health sciences universities. The Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar National Students' Federation said students at private universities should not be treated differently from those in deemed universities, where the state already extends freeship schemes.

The government has formed a committee to examine the private universities legal framework, including reservation and related policies, according to organisation president Dr Siddhant Bharne. He has called for an immediate interim clarification to protect student interests until the committee submits its report and a final policy is notified. The matter is urgent because NEET-UG admissions are underway, and students need to know fee structures, reservation and scholarship provisions before choosing colleges.

The letter to the CM described the issue as one of social justice and equal opportunity for economically and socially disadvantaged students aspiring to become doctors.