According to reports, PhD fellows from the Maratha and Kunbi communities, Scheduled Castes (SC), Other Backward Classes (OBC), Vimukt Jaatis and Nomadic Tribes (VJNT), and Special Backward Classes (SBC) from various parts of Maharashtra protested at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan on Monday (19 February) against the decision of the Department of Social Justice and Special Assistance to cap the number of fellowships at 200.

Protestors argued that capping the number of beneficiaries deprives many of them of the opportunity to pursue research through fellowships. The state government announced an entrance test to select candidates after deciding to cap the number in October 2023. However, the exam held in December 2023 was canceled due to the use of the same question paper as the 2019 State Eligibility Test (SET) exam.

• Although the exam was conducted again in January, candidates boycotted it, citing unsealed question papers. The lack of clarity on the fellowship after the unsuccessful attempts to conduct the test has left candidates in limbo.
• Traditionally, all eligible candidates who applied for fellowships were able to avail of the facility. Pune hosts two of the three institutes granting research fellowships to PhD scholars in Maharashtra: Babasaheb Ambedkar Research and Training Institute (BARTI) for Scheduled Castes and SARTHI (Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj Research, Training and Human Development Institute) for Maratha and Kunbi communities. The Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Research and Training Institute (MahaJyoti) in Nagpur offers fellowships to students from Other Backward Classes.
• The students believe that the number of seats offered to their communities is disproportionate compared to their numbers, and they see the decision to cap fellowships as unjust. Despite efforts to raise their concerns through letters and meetings, their issues remain unaddressed.
• The students also highlighted lapses in the conduct of the entrance test. They plan to stay in Mumbai until their demands are met.