Over 100 government-run junior colleges stare at bleak future in Telangana

Over 100 Telangana government-run junior colleges across the State are staring at a bleak future as they are yet to apply for affiliation from the Telangana Board of Intermediate Education for the academic year 2025-26

Hyderabad: Over 100 Telangana government-run junior colleges across the State are staring at a bleak future as they are yet to apply for affiliation from the Telangana Board of Intermediate Education (TG BIE) for the academic year 2025-26.

The most concerning part is that, out of the colleges that did not apply for affiliation, 62 are run by welfare residential educational institutions societies. The last date to apply for affiliation without a late fee concluded on May 4.

In response to the Board’s notification inviting applications from all junior colleges for the grant of affiliation for the academic year 2025-26, 233 BC Welfare junior colleges sought affiliation, as against 261 colleges in the last academic year. This meant 28 are yet to submit an application. Similarly, four out of 237 Social Welfare junior colleges did not apply for affiliation, 16 out of 204 Minority junior colleges, and 14 out of 128 Tribal Welfare junior colleges.

In addition, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs), established for orphans, semi-orphan girls, and girls from economically weaker sections, are no better off than the welfare educational institutions. So far, this year, only 249 out of 283 KGBVs have applied for the Board’s affiliation.

Taking affiliation from the Board is mandatory for all junior colleges, irrespective of their management. In the absence of affiliation, colleges will not be provided admission login by the TG BIE, and students joining such junior colleges will not be allowed to sit for intermediate public exams.

Private colleges are also in the same row. A quick scan of the Board’s affiliation applications reveals that 77 private junior colleges did not apply. While 1,415 private junior colleges were approved last academic year, 1,338 private colleges submitted applications for the academic year 2025-26.

The number of private junior colleges has come down from 1,482 in 2023-24 to 1,415 in 2024-25, indicating that 67 colleges have shut down during that academic year.

Overall, 183 junior colleges under different managements have not sought affiliation so far. As per the affiliation notification, the last date to submit an application with a late fee of Rs. 15,000 and Rs. 20,000 is June 1 and 8, respectively.