Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has called attention to Maharashtra’s inadequate funds allocation for research students compared to other states. In a letter to State Minister of Higher and Secondary Education Chandrakant Patil dated January 3, Gadkari urged the state government to relax eligibility conditions and provide scholarships to research students pursuing PhD through BARTI, SARTHI, and MahaJyoti.
Expressing concern over the current situation surrounding research fellowships in Maharashtra, Gadkari emphasized the need for strategic decisions to boost the number of PhD holders in the state.
In the letter, Gadkari stated, “Maharashtra spends very less funds on research students as compared to other states… The state government needs to relax the eligibility conditions and provide scholarships to research students doing PhD through BARTI, SARTHI, and MahaJyoti so that the number of PhD holders in the state increases. There is an urgent need to take a strategic decision in this regard.”
The Maharashtra government grants PhD fellowships through various institutes catering to different communities. BARTI supports students from Scheduled Castes, SARTHI aids students from the Maratha community, MAHAJYOTI assists students from Other Backward Classes, and TRTI provides support to candidates from Scheduled Tribes.
The controversy around research fellowships in Maharashtra escalated in October when a decision was made to limit intake for BARTI, SARTHI, and MahaJyoti to 200 students. The issue resurfaced in late December when the entrance examination for these fellowships was announced.
Highlighting the challenges faced by students, Gadkari mentioned the rigorous requirements, including conducting scientific research, collecting and organizing data, and writing research articles and a PhD thesis. He noted students’ statements indicating insufficient support from the state government. Additionally, Gadkari highlighted obstacles faced by students from challenging backgrounds, such as the two-year master’s degree requirement, the 55% marks criteria, and difficulties in finding a research guide.