Overview
- Maharashtra’s 2026 budget proposes 8–10 EduCities and invites foreign universities, with plans to allow institutions from six countries to open campuses in Navi Mumbai.
- AISF argues the initiative shifts higher education toward private, corporate control and could price out poorer students.
- Citing the economic survey, AISF notes higher-education enrolment fell to 4.531 million in 2023–24 from 4.621 million a year earlier, a drop of about 90,000.
- The survey lists average teacher–student ratios of 30:1 in primary and 26:1 in secondary and higher secondary, yet AISF highlights sharper shortages such as 31:1 in Nanded and 41:1 in Jalna at the higher secondary level.
- The group points to about 2.29 lakh vacant government posts and criticises budget schemes like student visits to ISRO and NASA and an overseas-mobility agency, arguing core school facilities and staffing should come first.