Telangana College bandh on March 26

The PDSU, led by State President P. Mahesh, has outlined a clear set of demands:

1. Immediate release of the Rs 10,000 crore scholarship and fee reimbursement backlog.
2. A significant hike in the annual education budget to meet election manifestos.
3. Settlement of Rs 218 crore in dues owed to the “Best Available Schools” scheme.

The ongoing crisis over unpaid scholarship and fee reimbursement dues in Telangana has reached a breaking point, with student unions and educational institutions announcing a massive state-wide protest. The Progressive Democratic Students Union (PDSU) has officially called for a state-wide shutdown (bandh) of all engineering, degree, PG, and professional colleges on March 26, 2026, to demand the immediate release of nearly Rs 10,000 crore in pending arrears.

Institutional collapse and academic limbo

The crisis, which has persisted for nearly four years, is now threatening the very survival of higher education in the state. Dr. K. Ramdas, a representative of the Federation of All Telangana Higher Institutions (FATHI), revealed that prominent campuses—including CBIT, KMIT, and VNR Vignana Jyothi—are struggling with unsettled dues. Major college groups are reportedly owed roughly Rs 2,000 crore each, leaving them unable to pay faculty salaries or maintain basic infrastructure.

For students, the impact is personal and immediate. Thousands of graduates are currently in "academic limbo," as colleges have withheld original certificates due to the government’s failure to clear their fees. This has prevented many from applying for jobs, securing internships, or pursuing higher studies abroad.

Broken promises and budgetary shortfalls

The agitation highlights a growing rift between the state government and the student community. Upon taking office 25 months ago, the current administration pledged to allocate 15% of the state budget to education. However, current figures show the allocation stands at only 8.2% (₹26,674 crore), far below the 18% benchmark recommended by the Telangana Education Commission.

This follows a series of "Chalo Assembly" marches and 72-hour sit-ins that have seen student leaders detained across Hyderabad. As the March 26 bandh approaches, student leaders warn that if the government does not act, the agitation will intensify into a permanent siege of ministerial residences.