Maharashtra CM Fadnavis backs Maratha youth with SARATHI push, 2 lakh beneficiaries
Synopsis
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis used a SARATHI felicitation event in Pune to stack up a striking scorecard — 140 UPSC qualifiers, 1,124 MPSC successes, 1.75 lakh entrepreneurs, and 2 lakh beneficiaries — while unveiling 'Nipun Setu', a scheme to place merit-qualified candidates who missed government jobs into private sector roles. The ambition is real; the gap between numbers and ground-level outcomes is the story to watch.
Key Takeaways
CM Devendra Fadnavis addressed a SARATHI felicitation event in Pune on 26 June , reaffirming the state's Education-Training-Employment policy for the Maratha community .
SARATHI has produced 140+ UPSC qualifiers, 1,124 MPSC successes, and over 500 banking sector selections; more than 2 lakh students have benefited overall.
The Annasaheb Patil Financial Development Corporation has created 1.75 lakh entrepreneurs with over ₹7,500 crore in loans; the state allocates ₹1,500 crore annually .
A new 'Nipun Setu' initiative will fund private-sector training and placement for merit-qualified candidates who missed government job cutoffs.
SARATHI centres are being expanded to Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Amravati, Nagpur, Latur, and Kolhapur within the next year.
Deputy CM Sunetra Ajit Pawar cited a ₹1,360 crore project for SARATHI's administrative headquarters, eight regional offices, and hostels for 1,000 students .
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday, 26 June reaffirmed the state government's commitment to the social, educational, and economic upliftment of the Maratha community, outlining a three-pillar policy centred on Education, Training, and Employment. Speaking at a felicitation ceremony in Pune organised by the SARATHI institute (Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Research, Training and Human Development Institute), he credited the body with transforming outcomes for over 2 lakh students through its various programmes.
SARATHI's Track Record
Fadnavis highlighted that under SARATHI's guidance, more than 140 candidates have cleared the UPSC, 1,124 have succeeded in the MPSC, and over 500 have secured positions in the banking sector. Additionally, more than 13,000 youth have become employable through skill development training. The ceremony honoured students who cleared the UPSC, MPSC, and various banking examinations, along with their parents.
Key Schemes and Financial Support
The Chief Minister detailed several flagship initiatives targeting Maratha students. A 50% tuition fee waiver has been extended to those pursuing professional higher education courses. The Bhausaheb Panjabrao Deshmukh Nirvah Bhatta Yojna provides financial assistance of up to ₹60,000 along with hostel facilities for aspirants studying in major cities.
The Annasaheb Patil Financial Development Corporation has been accelerated through interest subsidies, creating over 1.75 lakh entrepreneurs with loans exceeding ₹7,500 crore disbursed to date. The state government allocates ₹1,500 crore annually for this purpose.
Modern Skills and Technology Push
Fadnavis urged students to pivot towards emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), computer technology, language labs, tool labs, and drone technology. He pointed to the AI-based 'Mahavistar' app launched for agriculture, which is currently used by around 50 lakh farmers. SARATHI has already begun drone pilot training for youth, the CM noted.
A new initiative called 'Nipun Setu' was also announced, aimed at students who qualified in competitive examinations on merit but missed government jobs due to limited vacancies. Under this scheme, the state government will bear their training costs and facilitate placements in the private sector.
Infrastructure Expansion
SARATHI's regional centres, student hostels, and training facilities are being set up in Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Amravati, Nagpur, Latur, and Kolhapur, with completion expected within the next year. There are also plans to co-locate the offices of SARATHI and the Annasaheb Patil Financial Corporation to offer all services under one roof.
The CM assured that MPSC examinations will be conducted in a timely, transparent, and merit-based manner, and that any decision on online exam formats will be taken only after consulting students.
Deputy CM's Remarks
Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar described SARATHI as more than a government scheme delivery body, calling it 'a powerful movement for social transformation, educational progress, and youth empowerment.' She noted that the institute embodies the vision of Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj on equality and social justice.
She also highlighted a ₹1,360 crore project approved during the tenure of the late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar for a state-of-the-art administrative headquarters, eight regional offices, and hostels accommodating 500 boys and 500 girls each. DCM Pawar assured that the state government will ensure no shortage of funds for SARATHI's welfare schemes.
With infrastructure expansion underway and the 'Nipun Setu' initiative on the horizon, the next test will be whether these commitments translate into verifiable employment outcomes for Maratha youth across Maharashtra.
Point of View
1.75 lakh entrepreneurs, 2 lakh beneficiaries — are politically useful and may well be accurate, but they arrive without an independent audit, making them difficult to assess against the scale of the Maratha community's aspirations. The 'Nipun Setu' scheme is a notable policy pivot: rather than expanding government headcount, it redirects merit-qualified candidates toward private employment, which is either pragmatic realism about public-sector capacity or a quiet admission that competitive exam seats will never match demand. The ₹1,500 crore annual allocation for the Annasaheb Patil Corporation is substantial, but the ratio of loans disbursed to viable businesses sustained remains unaddressed. Maharashtra's political leadership has a structural incentive to associate itself with SARATHI's wins; the harder accountability question is what happens to the students who go through its programmes and still don't find work.
NationPress
26 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SARATHI institute and what does it do?
SARATHI — the Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Research, Training and Human Development Institute — is a Maharashtra government body focused on the educational and economic upliftment of the Maratha community. It provides coaching for competitive exams such as UPSC and MPSC, skill development training, and entrepreneurship support, and has so far benefited over 2 lakh students.
What is the 'Nipun Setu' scheme announced by CM Fadnavis?
'Nipun Setu' is a new Maharashtra government initiative for candidates who qualified in competitive examinations on merit but could not secure government jobs due to limited vacancies. The state will bear their training expenses and facilitate placements in the private sector.
What financial support is available to Maratha community students under current schemes?
Maratha community students pursuing professional higher education receive a 50% tuition fee waiver. The Bhausaheb Panjabrao Deshmukh Nirvah Bhatta Yojna provides financial assistance of up to ₹60,000 along with hostel facilities for those studying in major cities.
How has the Annasaheb Patil Financial Development Corporation performed?
The corporation has created over 1.75 lakh entrepreneurs through interest-subsidised loans, with more than ₹7,500 crore disbursed to date. The Maharashtra government allocates ₹1,500 crore annually to fund the initiative.
Where are SARATHI's new regional centres being set up?
SARATHI is expanding its regional centres, student hostels, and training facilities to Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Amravati, Nagpur, Latur, and Kolhapur. CM Fadnavis said these facilities will be completed within the next year.
