Maharashtra Government Abolishes 5% Muslim Quota in Education Amid Controversy

Mumbai, Feb 18: At the start of Ramadan, the Devendra Fadnavis government in Maharashtra delivered a major shock. It has ended Muslim reservations, completely scrapping the 5% quota allocated to Muslims. All old circulars and orders have been revoked.

Since 2014, an ordinance had provided 5% reservation for the Muslim community in education. However, due to the absence of a supporting law and repeated court stays, the policy remained uncertain for years. Now, the government has officially abolished it. As a result, Muslim students will no longer have a 5% quota in colleges, nor will caste verification certificates be issued.

AIMIM MP Imtiaz Jaleel strongly reacted, saying: “As a Ramadan gift, the government has cancelled 5% educational reservations for Muslims. The High Court itself acknowledged that Muslims have the highest dropout rate. Still, we urge our boys and girls not to drop out. If India studies, India will progress.”

Congress leader and professor Varsha Eknath Gaikwad also criticized the decision, calling it a major blow to the Muslim community. She questioned why the government is stripping backward classes of their rights.

Meanwhile, Minority Affairs Department Deputy Secretary Milind Shenoy has been transferred. Allegations surfaced that between January 28 and February 2, 2026, more than 75 educational institutions were granted minority status in record time. Suspicions also arose about digital signatures being added to several files after the death of former Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. Questions were raised about how such rapid approvals were made during the state’s mourning period. CM Devendra Fadnavis has suspended all 75 approvals and ordered a high-level inquiry.