IAS Officer Puja Khedkar’s Admission Under OBC Quota for MBBS Comes to Light

An investigation into the educational background of IAS probationary officer Puja Khedkar has revealed that she secured admission for her MBBS degree under the OBC non-creamy layer quota. Puja, daughter of former Maharashtra IAS officer Dilip Khedkar, enrolled at Pune‘s Kashibai Navale Medical College in 2007 under the OBC Nomadic Tribe-3 category reserved for the Vanjari community, to which she belongs.

At the time of admission, Puja’s father was a prominent government official in Maharashtra. Her exceptional performance in the entrance examination with 146/200 marks led to her selection under the OBC quota, superseding the Common Entrance Test (CET) criteria, as NEET exams were not yet implemented.

According to college records, Puja Khedkar achieved commendable scores of 83% in Class 10 and 74% in her Class 12 examinations, highlighting her academic prowess during her formative years.

Recently, Puja Khedkar made headlines following a controversial incident involving her request for an array of facilities before assuming her role as Assistant Collector in Pune. Allegations suggest she advocated for a separate cabin, official residence, vehicle, and support staff, contrary to the standard protocol for probationary officers.

Subsequently, a report by the Pune District Collector urging the Chief Secretary prompted Puja Khedkar’s transfer from Pune to Washim district, marking a change in her administrative responsibilities within the Maharashtra administration.