Over 13,000 RTE Seats Lost in Nine Years as 325 Private Schools Exit 25% Quota in Pune

Over 13,000 RTE seats lost in Pune in nine years as 325 private schools exit the 25% reserved quota; delayed reimbursements and minority exemptions fuel concerns.

Pune | 16 February, 2026- In a troubling development for education equity in Pune, more than 13,000 seats reserved under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act’s 25% quota have disappeared over the past nine years as 325 private schools opted out of the scheme. While the 25% reservation initially applied to nearly 9,000 private unaided schools in the city, only 8,655 schools now participate, offering about 1,12,885 reserved seats — a significant drop that threatens access for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The RTE Act mandates that private schools reserve one in every four seats for children from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). Education rights groups warn that this declining participation undermines the intent of the law and limits opportunities for underprivileged students to access quality education.

One key reason for the drop is delayed government reimbursements. Private school administrators argue that the funds reimbursed per RTE student are both insufficient and often late, making it financially challenging to sustain participation. Rising operational costs have made many schools reluctant to continue offering reserved seats without timely support.

Another major factor is the increasing number of schools claiming minority status, which exempts them from the 25% quota requirement. Some schools have reportedly used this exemption broadly, even when the criteria for minority recognition are not strictly applicable, further reducing the number of available RTE seats.

Education activists warn that the decline in seats represents a systemic weakening of the RTE framework in urban areas like Pune. Advocates say it undermines equitable access to quality education, leaving families that rely on the quota uncertain about admission opportunities. Recent amendments in Maharashtra also allow private schools to claim exemption if a government or government-aided school exists within one kilometre, widening the loophole and potentially shrinking access further.

Parents and activists have proposed corrective measures, including timely and fair reimbursements, stricter verification of minority status claims, and enforcement of existing RTE norms. Without these measures, the promise of free and quality education for disadvantaged children risks being compromised.

The consequences are significant. Pune, as a major urban and educational hub, faces the possibility that children from weaker socio-economic backgrounds may be forced to attend government schools with fewer resources, instead of accessing quality private education through the RTE quota. Systemic reforms are critical to ensure that the law’s original purpose – equitable educational access – is preserved.

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