By team abhyaspeeth 
By Abhyspeeth News Desk | April 12, 2025
In a significant move towards promoting transparency and curbing arbitrary fee hikes, the Maharashtra Fee Regulatory Authority (FRA) is considering introducing fee caps for Non-Resident Indian (NRI) and management quota seats in engineering and management colleges across the state.
Currently, there are no specific guidelines regulating fees for these special category seats in non-medical professional institutions. As a result, many private colleges have been charging NRI and management quota students exorbitant amounts—sometimes three to five times higher than the approved fees. This has led to concerns about affordability and fairness in access to higher education.
According to officials from the FRA, the existing income-equalization model, which allows medical colleges to charge five times the regular fee for NRI seats, is not being applied to engineering and management colleges. This policy vacuum has created space for institutions to exploit the system without accountability.
“Institutes are misusing the absence of a formal structure to charge whatever they want under the NRI quota,” a senior FRA official said. “There is a need for a balanced model that protects students while ensuring that institutions remain financially viable.”
The proposed regulation would set upper limits on the fees that colleges can demand under these quotas, thereby ensuring a more level playing field. The move is also expected to bring clarity for both parents and students, many of whom struggle to find affordable options for higher education.
The proposal is likely to be tabled in upcoming FRA meetings, and if approved, could take effect from the 2025–26 academic year.
This reform, if implemented, will not only benefit students from India and abroad but also set an important precedent for other states to follow.
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