Telangana polytechnic students protest GO 97, oppose merger with skills university
Polytechnic students across Telangana are observing protests on Thursday against the state government's move to merge polytechnic education with the Young India Skills University (YISU), demanding withdrawal of Government Order 97.
Students also staged protests and dharnas on Aug 18 and Aug 19 in Hyderabad, Secunderabad and Mahabubabad. The demonstrations were organised by several student groups, including the All India Democratic Students' Organisation (AIDSO) and the Telangana Polytechnic Joint Action Committee (TPJAC).
Students from Government Polytechnic Ramanthapur protested on campus. At Sangeet X Roads in Secunderabad, women students staged a demonstration, while students at Ramanthapur protested on their campus. In Mahabubabad, students attempted to enter the district Collectorate but were stopped by police. A confrontation followed, with students alleging that a police officer grabbed two protesters by the throat while pushing them back.
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విద్యార్థుల గొంతు పిసికి చంపేస్తారా @revanth_anumula .?
— Harish Rao Thanneeru (@BRSHarish) August 19, 2026
ఇదేనా మీరు పోలీసులకు ఇచ్చిన ఆదేశాలు?
‘శక్తి’ స్కీమ్, జీవో-97ను వెంటనే రద్దు చేయాలని డిమాండ్ చేస్తూ విద్యార్థులు రోడ్డెక్కితే.. ఇంత కర్కశంగా వ్యవహరిస్తారా?
ప్రశ్నిస్తే కేసులు..
నిరసిస్తే లాఠీలు..
హక్కుల కోసం… pic.twitter.com/ZVrdHVa2Ci
Students are demanding that polytechnic colleges remain under the existing technical education system rather than being brought under the Skill, Human Capital and Knowledge Training Initiatives (SHAKTI), the department under which the proposed restructuring is taking place.
What is GO 97?
The protests follow GO 97 issued July 3, under which the Labour, Employment, Training and Factories Department was renamed SHAKTI - Skill, Human Capital and Knowledge Training Initiatives. Government polytechnic colleges were also brought under the restructuring.
The move follows the Telangana government's earlier decision to bring polytechnic colleges, ITIs and Apprentice Training Centres under YISU. In September 2024, the state government said the move was intended to align technical education with industry requirements and introduce new skill-based courses.
YISU was established in August 2024 under the Young India Skills University, Telangana (Public-Private Partnership) Act, with a stated focus on industry-aligned education and employability.
Why are students protesting?
Students fear the move could weaken diploma education and affect their pathway to undergraduate engineering courses through the Engineering Common Entrance Test (ECET), which provides lateral entry into BTech programmes.
Speaking to the media, the students said that three years of their diploma education will go in vain if there is no provision for pursuing engineering education.
The TPJAC has also raised concerns about the future of the State Board of Technical Education and Training (SBTET), as well as staff service conditions, job security and promotions.
What is the government's plan?
The state government is seeking to bring polytechnic education under the broader skills framework linked to YISU. The move is part of its effort to align technical education and training more closely with industry and employment needs.
YISU was established by the Telangana government as an industry-oriented skills university. The proposed restructuring has, however, raised concerns among students and teaching staff about whether a skills-focused model can preserve the existing academic and higher-education pathways available to diploma students.
The TPJAC met government officials on Wednesday and sought safeguards for diploma education, students' higher-education opportunities and staff interests.
Students are demanding that GO 97 be withdrawn and that polytechnic education continue under the existing technical education framework.
The protests are expected to continue as student organisations step up mobilisation against the proposed merger.
