Students from the Competitive Examination Centre (CEC) of the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), along with the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Post-Graduate Students Association (DAPSA) and the Maharashtra Republican Party Students’ Front, on Wednesday submitted a memorandum to the Vice-Chancellor demanding the immediate reinstatement of the UGC-recognised UPSC and MPSC Special Batch.
This Special Batch has been discontinued for the past two years. Earlier, the batch had 52 seats for UPSC and 52 seats for MPSC. Out of these 52 seats in each batch, 20 seats were reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) and 10 seats for Scheduled Tribes (ST) students.
Students pointed out that this year, the university has only announced add-on batches, with 40 seats for UPSC and 40 seats for MPSC. For these, the reserved category students are being charged ₹7,500, while the Open category students are being charged a steep ₹30,000. Moreover, the SC/ST reservation quota in these new batches has been reduced compared to earlier.
Akshay Kamble, Secretary, Maharashtra State (NSUI), said, "The UGC-approved UPSC and MPSC Special Batch must be reinstated without delay. If not, the NSUI will initiate a massive and determined agitation across the university. We refuse to accept any administration that disregards students’ rights."
A student, Dipak Sutar, said, "We strongly oppose any policy that disadvantages marginalised Bahujan and Dalit students. The bias against SC-ST students is both disgraceful and unacceptable. The university must act immediately to restart this batch in the spirit of social justice."
"Stop jeopardising our future. Every year, numerous students from the university’s CEC clear the UPSC and MPSC exams to become officers. Keeping this batch closed is nothing short of crushing the dreams of thousands of students," said Ashok Gore, another student.
"Imposing such high fees on students while keeping the Special Batch suspended for two years is deeply troubling and unacceptable. If this batch is not restored, countless students will suffer severe academic and career losses, for which the university will bear full responsibility," said Siddhant Jambhulkar from NSUI.
Students have firmly demanded that while the add-on batches may continue, the original UGC-recognised Special Batch with 52 seats each for UPSC and MPSC, including the reservation of 20 SC and 10 ST seats, should be restored immediately.
Meanwhile, The Free Press Journal tried to reach out to Dr Suresh Gosavi, Vice-Chancellor of SPPU, but did not get a response.
