Will MS University’s 70% local student quota be reduced? No decision yet says varsity

Officer on Special Duty and PRO Professor Hitesh Ravaiya said, “No decision has been taken by MSU in the matter of quota so far. If any decision is taken, it will be informed publicly.”

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University officials said the MSU management is “awaiting directions” from the state government on its locus standi in deciding the quota. GCAS guidelines state that students applying to universities through the portal will adhere to university rules.

Even as protests by students of Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU) in Vadodara have intensified against the possibility of the 70 per cent quota for local students shrinking to 50 per cent due to the implementation of the Gujarat Common Admission Services (GCAS) platform, the MSU management maintained that it has “taken no decision” on the quota, as the “ball is in the court of the government”.

On Friday, members of All Gujarat Students’ Union (AGSU) protested at the MSU head office, handing over a representation seeking an increase in the quota for local students from Vadodara from 70 per cent to 90 per cent, vehemently opposing the “rumoured decision” to reduce the quota to 50 per cent.

Pankaj Jaiswal of AGSU said, “The university can have a quota of 90 per cent for local students and 10 per cent for outsiders but if it is thinking of giving 50 per cent quota to outsiders, it will result in a major protest.”

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Officer on Special Duty and PRO Professor Hitesh Ravaiya said, “No decision has been taken by MSU in the matter of quota so far. If any decision is taken, it will be informed publicly.”

On May 15, the state education department had started registration for college admissions through the GCAS portal.

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MSU officials said the guidelines don’t clarify on the power of universities to decide on the local quota. An official said: “It is not true that MSU has decided to reduce the local quota from 70 to 50 per cent. There is chaos because there is no clear guideline from the state on what power universities affiliated to the state and now under the purview of GCAS have in deciding local quotas…”

Aditi Raja

Aditi Raja is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, stationed in Vadodara, Gujarat, with over 20 years in the field. She has been reporting from the region of Central Gujarat and Narmada district for this newspaper since 2013, which establishes her as a highly Authoritative and Trustworthy source on regional politics, administration, and critical socio-economic and environmental issues. Expertise: Core Authority & Specialization: Her reporting is characterized by a comprehensive grasp of the complex factors shaping Central Gujarat, which comprises a vast tribal population, including: Politics and Administration: In-depth analysis of dynamics within factions of political parties and how it affects the affairs in the region, visits of national leaders making prominent statements, and government policy decisions impacting the population on ground. Crucial Regional Projects: She consistently reports on the socio-economic and political impact of infrastructure projects in the region, especially the Statue of Unity, the Sardar Sarovar Project on the Narmada River, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail bullet train project as well as the National Highway infrastructure. Social Justice and Human Rights: Her reporting offers deep coverage of sensitive human-interest topics, including gender, crime, and tribal issues. Her reports cover legal proceedings from various district courts as well as the Gujarat High Court (e.g., the Bilkis Bano case remission, POCSO court orders, Public Interest Litigations), the plight of tribal communities, and broader social conflicts (e.g., Kheda flogging case). Local Impact & Disaster Reporting: Excels in documenting the immediate impact of events on communities, such as the political and civic fallout of the Vadodara floods, the subsequent public anger, and the long-delayed river redevelopment projects, Harni Boat Tragedy, Air India crash, bringing out a blend of stories from the investigations as well as human emotions. Special Interest Beat: She tracks incidents concerning Non-Resident Gujaratis (NRIs) including crime and legal battles abroad, issues of illegal immigration and deportations, as well as social events connecting the local Gujarati experience to the global diaspora. ... Read More

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