Maharashtra Revises FYJC In-House Quota for 2025

In a significant development that could impact admission patterns in city colleges, the Maharashtra state government has revised the in-house quota rule for First-Year Junior College (FYJC) admissions. As reported by The Times of India, the new rule stipulates that only students from schools situated on the same premises as their junior colleges will be eligible for in-house quota seats, a change that has sparked confusion and concern among educators and parents alike.

What the Revised Rule Means

According to the updated guidelines released by the school education department, only schools and junior colleges sharing the same premises, whether in the same building, on the same campus, or separated merely by a road, will be allowed to claim in-house quota seats. This is a departure from the earlier criteria, which allowed schools under the same management from the same division or revenue district (such as Mumbai) to be considered eligible.

The government has clarified that the decision comes in light of the state-wide centralisation of FYJC admissions this year. Previously, the in-house quota was available for six regions, and colleges could offer the 10% in-house quota to students from any school operated by the same trust or group in the same division. However, with centralised online admissions rolled out across Maharashtra in 2025, the authorities felt the need to avoid loopholes that could arise from management operating schools across cities, such as Mumbai and Latur, under the same name.

Mumbai Colleges at a Crossroads

The change has raised concerns, especially in Mumbai, where most junior colleges are not housed on the same campus as schools. Many institutions run by the same management have separate school and college buildings, often located a few kilometres apart. These setups were previously eligible under the in-house quota, giving school students a smoother transition into college.

A principal from a city college explained, "Schools have always functioned independent of colleges. And they are mostly not run on the same premise. Not all managements in the city may have schools and colleges on the same campus," Another principal pointed out that parents often choose schools based on the assumption of a guaranteed in-house seat for junior college. This shift may now disrupt such long-standing expectations.

Mismatch in Language Raises Fresh Concerns

Adding to the confusion, a discrepancy in the official documentation has been flagged. While the Marathi version of the information booklet mentions that schools should be in the same vicinity or campus, the English version uses the more restrictive phrase ‘same premises’. Principals and parents are now urging the education department to issue a clarification to prevent misinterpretation during the admission process.

Additional Changes for a Smoother Admission Process

To support a more seamless admission experience this year, the government has introduced several additional reforms:

• Document verification will now be done through individual results portals at the college level.
• Students will no longer need to visit guidance centres in person.
• The final ‘open to all’ admission round will also be conducted online and centrally, based purely on merit.

These measures aim to reduce physical movement and streamline the overall process for students and colleges alike.

Conclusion

While the intent behind the revised in-house quota rule may be to bring consistency across the centralised system, it has created unexpected hurdles for several Mumbai colleges and their students. With discrepancies in language and longstanding institutional structures affected, educationists are calling for clearer communication from the state to avoid last-minute confusion during this critical phase of admissions.

Source:

Times of India, 21 May, 2025: Students can avail of in-house quota for FYJC only if school is on 'same premises' as college

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