CM Fadnavis honours SARATHI toppers in Pune
Synopsis
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis honoured Maratha students who cleared UPSC and MPSC exams at a SARATHI event in Pune on 26 June 2026, citing over 2 lakh trained and 13,000 made employable, while reaffirming education and skill development as pillars alongside reservation.
Key Takeaways
CM Devendra Fadnavis felicitated UPSC, MPSC and competitive-exam toppers from the Maratha community at a SARATHI event in Pune on 26 June 2026 .
SARATHI has trained more than 2 lakh youth in UPSC, MPSC and banking exams; over 13,000 students have been made employable through specialised programmes.
SARATHI was established in 2018 following the 2015-16 Maratha reservation agitation to complement reservation with education and skill-building.
Additional schemes include fee concessions on par with OBC students, the Punjabrao Deshmukh Nirvah Bhatta Yojana for rural students, and interest-free loans via the revived Annasaheb Patil Economic Development Corporation .
SARATHI has expanded into drone pilot training, language labs and technology-based skilling to align with Maharashtra's manufacturing economy.
New SARATHI headquarters and hostels are being constructed across multiple cities to widen access for students from rural areas.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday, 26 June 2026, felicitated students from the Maratha community who cleared UPSC, MPSC and other competitive examinations, at a ceremony in Pune organised by the Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Research, Training and Human Development Institute (SARATHI). The event also honoured the parents of successful candidates and recognised SARATHI's officers, board members and staff.
Context
Speaking at the event, CM Fadnavis said that SARATHI has so far trained more than 2 lakh young men and women for UPSC, MPSC and banking-sector examinations, and that more than 13,000 students have become employable through its specialised training programmes. He congratulated all achievers, attributing their success to 'mehanat, chikati ani gunavattechya balawar' — hard work, perseverance and merit.
The Chief Minister also acknowledged the role of Deputy Chief Minister (late) Ajit Pawar, who, as Finance Minister, channelled funds through the Planning Department to build SARATHI's headquarters and hostels across the state.
Policy Backdrop
SARATHI was established in 2018 in the wake of the 2015-16 Maratha reservation agitation, which saw peaceful, disciplined marches across Maharashtra. The state subsequently enacted a dedicated reservation law, but also recognised that reservation alone was insufficient. CM Fadnavis reiterated this position, stating: 'Reservation is not the only solution — empowering every section of society through education, skill development, training and employment is essential.'
Complementary measures introduced include fee concessions for Maratha students in higher education on par with OBC students, a maintenance allowance for rural students living in cities under the Punjabrao Deshmukh Nirvah Bhatta Yojana, and the revival of the Annasaheb Patil Economic Development Corporation to provide interest-free loans for entrepreneurship. CM Fadnavis noted that SARATHI has now expanded into drone pilot training, language laboratories and modern technology-based skilling to prepare youth for future opportunities.
Stakeholders and Impact
Maharashtra positions itself as the country's manufacturing hub, and CM Fadnavis underscored the need for skilled local manpower to serve expanding industries. SARATHI's training pipeline is framed as directly meeting this demand. The institute's headquarters and hostels are being built in several cities to widen access for students from rural districts.
The Chief Minister invoked Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to frame the state's inclusive intent: 'Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj never discriminated, and the state government will not discriminate either. We are working to bring all communities into the mainstream of development.' He reaffirmed that the government stands firmly behind economically and educationally backward sections of the Maratha community.
Senior political figures present at the event included Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar, Minister Chandrakant Patil, MP Dr Medha Kulkarni, Pune Mayor Manjusha Nagpure, SARATHI Chairman Ajit Nimbalkar and Annasaheb Patil Economic Backward Development Corporation Chairman Narendra Patil.
What's Next
The government has indicated that SARATHI's physical infrastructure — headquarters and student hostels — will continue to expand across Maharashtra's cities, broadening the reach of coaching and residential support. The performance of SARATHI-trained candidates in upcoming UPSC and MPSC examination cycles will be a key measure of the programme's effectiveness. CM Fadnavis also committed to ensuring competitive examinations are conducted 'on time, transparently and credibly', signalling continued attention to the integrity of the public recruitment process.
Point of View
The Chief Minister is signalling that the state is moving the Maratha question from a politically charged reservation debate toward a human-capital framework — one that is harder to challenge in court and broader in electoral appeal. The inclusion of senior coalition partners such as Deputy CM Sunetra Ajit Pawar at the event also underscores the Mahayuti alliance's shared stake in community welfare optics ahead of future electoral cycles.
NationPress
26 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is SARATHI and who can benefit from it?
SARATHI — the Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Research, Training and Human Development Institute — is a Maharashtra government body set up in 2018 to coach Maratha community youth for UPSC, MPSC, banking and other competitive examinations, as well as to provide skill-development and vocational training.
How many students has SARATHI trained so far?
According to CM Devendra Fadnavis, SARATHI has trained more than 2 lakh young men and women across UPSC, MPSC, banking and other programmes, with over 13,000 students made employable through its specialised training initiatives.
What is the Punjabrao Deshmukh Nirvah Bhatta Yojana?
It is a Maharashtra state scheme that provides a maintenance allowance to rural students from the Maratha community who move to cities for higher education, helping them meet accommodation and living expenses.
What is the Annasaheb Patil Economic Development Corporation?
It is a state body that was revived by the Maharashtra government to offer interest-free loans to Maratha youth for self-employment and entrepreneurship, aiming to create a new generation of small business owners from the community.
Why did Maharashtra set up SARATHI instead of relying solely on reservation?
CM Fadnavis has stated that reservation alone is not sufficient and that education, skill development and employment opportunities are necessary to truly empower the community. SARATHI was created to build human capital alongside the reservation framework enacted after the 2015-16 Maratha agitation.
