Pune | Staff Reporter

The Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Research and Training Institute (BARTI) has appealed to students from reserved categories seeking admission to professional undergraduate and postgraduate courses to promptly complete any pending requirements related to their caste validity certificates.

For the academic year 2026–27, the State Common Entrance Test Cell has conducted the centralized admission process for reserved-category candidates seeking admission to various undergraduate and postgraduate professional courses in higher education, technical education, agricultural education, medical/Ayush education and arts education. The admission deadlines for these courses have already been announced by the State Common Entrance Test Cell.

However, district caste certificate verification committees have observed that several students submitted their applications late. Although eligible candidates have been informed through SMS, email and letters about deficiencies in their applications and the need to submit the required documents, many applicants have reportedly not yet contacted the concerned committees.

BARTI has clarified that completing deficiencies in applications is the sole responsibility of the applicants. To prevent inconvenience to students and ensure timely decisions, district caste certificate verification committees have been directed, wherever necessary, to keep their offices open on holidays.

The appeal is particularly aimed at students who have not yet rectified deficiencies in their caste validity certificate applications. Such applicants have been urged to immediately contact their respective District Caste Certificate Verification Committee and complete the pending requirements, enabling the committee to take a decision within the prescribed timeframe.

The appeal has been issued by Deepa Mudhol-Munde, Director General, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Research and Training Institute (BARTI), Pune, and Chief Coordinator, District Caste Certificate Verification Committees, Maharashtra State.

BARTI stressed that timely completion of the process is essential to ensure that students from backward and reserved categories are not deprived of admission to professional courses due to the absence of a caste validity certificate.