Maharashtra Waives Minority Certificate Requirement for Student Admissions

Mumbai, July 30: The Maharashtra government has announced a major relief for students belonging to minority communities by clarifying that educational institutions cannot insist on an individual Minority Certificate as a mandatory requirement for admission. The Minority Development Department has issued clear directions to all education directorates to ensure that no eligible student is denied admission solely due to the absence of such a certificate.

The clarification comes after the government received reports that some educational institutions were demanding individual Minority Certificates from students during the ongoing 2026–27 academic admission process. Reiterating the existing policy, the department has instructed all institutions to strictly adhere to the prescribed norms.

The Maharashtra government officially recognizes Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Parsi (Zoroastrian), Jain, and Jewish communities as notified minority groups. However, the state does not issue individual Minority Certificates to members of these communities. Consequently, requiring such a certificate for admission is contrary to the government’s policy, the department stated.

Under the Government Resolution dated July 1, 2013, institutions must accept any of the prescribed documents as valid proof of minority status. These include the student’s School Leaving Certificate (SLC), admission register, or other school records indicating religion or mother tongue. If such records are unavailable, a certificate issued by the head of the concerned religious institution or a registered religious body, or an affidavit submitted by the student’s parents, shall be accepted as valid proof.

To ensure uniform implementation of these guidelines, fresh instructions have been issued to the Directorates of School Education, Higher Education, Technical Education, Vocational Education, Medical Education and Research, and AYUSH Education.

The Minority Development Department has directed all government-aided and unaided educational institutions to strictly comply with these norms and ensure that no eligible minority student is deprived of admission merely because an individual Minority Certificate is not available.