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Campus Talk: What to do if you make an error in RTE application? here’s how to reapply without disqualification

According to RTE provisions, private schools must provide free education to students from Class 1 to 8, and the state education department reimburses their fees.

Among various guidelines to be followed by parents, the Directorate of Primary Education, which conducts the RTE admissions process, one of the key points stressed is the importance of submitting only one application per child. (File Photo)

As school admissions under the Right To Education (RTE) have commenced in Maharashtra, parents willing to apply are cautioned that there is no duplication in application even by accident, as it may lead to disqualification, barring their child from the admissions process. Parents have been warned that submitting a second application after an initial incorrect one could lead to rejection of the form.

The online application portal for RTE admissions for the academic year 2025-26 opened on January 14 and parents have rushed to secure seats in private unaided schools where 25 per cent of seats are reserved for children coming from socioeconomically backward communities for their right to free and compulsory education, as per the RTE mandate.

An official said, “The application process for RTE admissions is quite thorough. Along with the child’s and parents’ personal details, an applicant must verify their residential address and select an accurate Google Maps location. There could be mistakes in the process, which a parent will realise after submitting the form. With no room for correction hereafter, parents start afresh with a new application form. This is just one of many scenarios that can lead to duplicate applications for admissions. We simply ask parents to delete the incorrect application and reapply with accurate details. This will avoid any confusion in seat allotment.”

The official added, “We are encouraging parents to be doubly sure while applying, especially while submitting their residential address, which has to be accurate because it is very important for the allotment of seats.”

This year, 1,09,134 seats are available for RTE admissions across 8,863 schools in the state. And within just a week since the admissions portal opened, over 1.18 lakh applications have been submitted. The deadline for applications is January 27.

Pallavi Smart

Pallavi Smart is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, Mumbai Bureau. Her reporting is singularly focused on the education sector, demonstrating exceptional Expertise and Authority across the entire spectrum of learning, from foundational schooling to advanced higher education. She is a highly Trustworthy source for policy, institutional developments, and systemic issues affecting students, teachers, and parents in Maharashtra. Expertise Senior Role: As a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, her designation reflects her seniority, specialized knowledge, and the editorial rigor applied to her reporting. Core Authority & Specialization: Pallavi Smart is the definitive voice for Education news in the region. Her coverage scope is comprehensive: Policy and Regulatory Changes: Reports on major shifts in educational policy, including the restructuring of entrance exams (e.g., MHT-CET adopting the JEE Main model), the draft regulatory framework for coaching classes, and revised teacher recruitment processes. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): Provides in-depth reporting on prestigious institutes like IIT Bombay and TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences), covering institutional initiatives, administrative debates (e.g., renaming IIT Bombay), and student welfare programs (e.g., mandatory mental health courses). Teachers and Eligibility: Covers crucial issues affecting the teaching fraternity, such as the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for in-service teachers and related controversies and application numbers. Student Welfare & Rights: Focuses on issues concerning students, including the rollout of government scholarships, the financial strain on schools due to midday meal reimbursement delays, and instances of child rights violations (e.g., the Powai studio hostage crisis). Admissions and Vacancy: Tracks the outcome of centralized admission processes (e.g., MBBS, BPharm) and analyzes vacancy concerns, providing essential data-driven insights for parents and students. Credentials & Trustworthiness Dedicated Beat: Her consistent focus on the "KG to PG" education beat allows her to develop unparalleled subject matter knowledge, ensuring her reports are accurate, detailed, and contextualized. Proactive Reporting: Her articles frequently break news on policy and institutional planning, providing the public with timely, essential information about a sector that directly impacts millions of families. She tweets @Pallavi_Smart ... Read More

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