The Maharashtra government has amended the Right to Education (RTE) rules, exempting private schools within one kilometer of government or aided schools from admitting students under the RTE quota for economically backward sections. Previously, all unaided and private schools were required to reserve 25% of their entry-level seats for such students. The amendment aims to prioritize admissions in government and aided schools, potentially reducing the financial burden of reimbursement on the government. While welcomed by private school managements, some educationists question its legality and impact on the spirit of the RTE Act. Legal experts argue that the amendment aligns with provisions recommending government intervention to establish schools where needed. Stating that this is not in violation of the RTE Act, Ravi Bharadwaj, managing partner at Edulegal with expertise in education sector, said.

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