Fee hike and capped reimbursement hit private polytechnic admissions in Telangana

Admissions to diploma programmes in polytechnic colleges, particularly private institutions, in Telangana have seen a sharp decline, with nearly 13,000 seats going vacant in the academic year 2025-26. The drop is largely attributed to the steep tuition fee hike by the State government and the subsequent cap on fee reimbursement.

Following web-based counselling for internal sliding (change of branch within the same college), a total of 12,991 diploma seats remained vacant across 115 polytechnics. Of these, 8,744 vacant seats were in 56 private colleges, which filled only 42.6 percent of their seats this year. By contrast, the 59 government polytechnics, with 4,247 seats, recorded a 70.1 percent occupancy rate.

For 2025-26, the government raised the tuition fee for private polytechnics from Rs.14,900 to Rs.39,000 per annum. However, the fee reimbursement was capped at Rs.14,900, leaving students to bear the remaining Rs.24,100 out of their own



pockets.

For several years, private polytechnic fees had stood at Rs.14,900 and were fully covered under the government’s fee reimbursement scheme, allowing students to pursue courses without additional expenses. The recent hike, coupled with an unrevised reimbursement amount, has placed a heavy financial burden on students, particularly those from economically weaker sections, leading many eligible candidates to forgo polytechnic education this year.

Another factor affecting enrollment is the mismanagement of the admission process. Lack of clarity regarding reimbursement for the increased fees briefly stalled seat allotment. Although the government issued an order on October 10, 2024, revising annual fees for all diploma programmes in private polytechnics to Rs.39,000, it failed to decide whether the full fee would be reimbursed for eligible students. The resulting indecision delayed the first phase of counselling and contributed to vacant seats.