The Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Research and Training Institute (MahaJyothi) holds immense importance as a nodal center, providing education, training, employment and self-employment opportunities to the youth and women of the OBC, VJNT, and SBC communities in Maharashtra. The institute, established by Devendra Fadnavis in 2019, has been operating from a temporary space since its inception. But now the institute will have its own administrative building cum training center in Nagpur. The bhoomi pujan ceremony of the Administrative Building of the institute (Mahajyoti Bhawan) was performed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on October 19, 2025.
The Devendra Fadnavis led government had taken a historic decision in 2016 by setting up a separate ministry for the welfare of the OBC, VJNT, and SBC communities. This was a significant step towards the upliftment of the backward classes; a series of empowerment programs under this ministry started coming up. In July 2019, the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Research and Training Institute (MahaJyothi Sangstha) was established as an autonomous body specifically meant for the development of the OBC and allied communities. This was done to identify the issues related to OBCs. Earlier, under BARTI and SARTHI, the OBC issues would often get mingled with the SC and Maratha issues, creating delays in their addressing. With its extensive scope of educational, economic, and skill based development for the OBC, VJNT, and SBC communities, Mahajyoti has evolved into a lifeline for them. This institution provides latest facilities and financial assistance for higher studies, research, and training for OBC students. A large number of students have shined in Ph.D., competitive exams and other courses, thereby proving the institute’s life changing role for the people from the OBC communities.
OBC students are getting ample support to realize their dreams
Through Mahajyoti, over 60 hostels have been launched across the state, opening the doors to higher education for students from villages and remote areas. The institute also runs schemes for OBC students to provide interest-free loans of up to ₹15 lakh, enabling them to start their own businesses. The Devendra Fadnavis government has allocated substantial funds to Mahajyoti to assist the youth and women from the OBC communities to stand on their own feet with self-respect and bring about transformation in their lives. The construction of the institute’s new administrative building in Nagpur will enhance the efficiency and scope manifold. This seven-story building is set to become a hub of hope for thousands of students in the future. With state-of-the-art facilities, including study rooms, control room, training center, and a 500-seat auditorium, Mahajyoti’s operations will expand in terms of range, scale and impact. The building will provide accommodation for 248 students. Meanwhile, the department has also allocated ₹174 crore for the construction of a Mahajyoti regional training center in Nashik.
‘Barti’, ‘Sarthi’ and ‘Mahajyoti’
Mahajyoti has been established on the lines of ‘BARTI’ and ‘SARTHI’. BARTI stands for Babasaheb Ambedkar Research and Training Institute while SARTHI comes from Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Research, Training and Human Development Institute. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj and Mahatma Phule are the three great sons of Maharashtra who played pivotal roles in social reforms in their respective eras. They fought against caste discrimination, untouchability, and social inequality, and promoted education for all. Barti, Sarthi, and Mahajyoti, established with the same mission, were most appropriately named after them. Barti was founded on 22 December 1978, Sarthi on 25 June 2018 and Mahajyoti on 30 July 2019. The establishment of Mahajyoti is a result of the vision of Devendra Fadnavis government for the upliftment of the OBC community. This institution has now become a source of self-reliance and a driver of aspiration for the new generation of OBC community. The Fadnavis government also increased the income limit of the non-creamy layer of OBC community to Rs 8 lakh. All these decisions manifest the commitment of the Fadnavis government towards the all round development of the OBC community.
Schemes Implemented Under Mahajyoti
The state government implements three types of OBC welfare schemes through the Mahajyoti institute: training schemes, scholarship and financial assistance schemes, and other activity-based schemes. Training schemes cover pre-training for the Civil Services Examination (conducted by the UPSC), the State Services Examination (conducted by the MPSC), MPSC Group B and C exams, UGC/CSIR-NET and Maharashtra SET exams, IBPS bank exams, pre-recruitment training, and skill development. Financial assistance schemes are directed at PhD pursuits and competitive examinations. Meanwhile, other activities include pre-training for various courses, the distribution of book and allied items, and a hostel scheme for girls.
Today, with the support from Mahajyoti, students from the OBC community are increasingly getting success in competitive examinations, pursuing higher education, and starting their own businesses, thereby integrating into the mainstream of society. All of this is the outcome of the visionary decisions of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Under his leadership, Mahajyoti has become a transformative instrument, guiding the lives of thousands of students. This initiative, focused on social equality, educational opportunities, and economic empowerment for the OBC, VJNT, and SBC classes, is truly laying a solid and inspiring foundation for social reform in Maharashtra.
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