Pune, 10th September 2025: Over the past two years, more than 285,000 Kunbi records have been discovered in Pune district, with 51,349 applicants receiving official Kunbi caste certificates, as reported by district administration data.
The highest number of certificates were issued in Ambegaon, Junnar, and Khed talukas, according to officials. The process accelerated after the state government provided guidelines for verifying documents for Maratha-Kunbi certificates, in accordance with the Hyderabad Gazetteer.
This initiative was a response to the intense protests led by Maratha activist Manoj Jarange, who went on a hunger strike at Mumbai's Azad Maidan, demanding reservation benefits for the Maratha community. A senior official from the district administration confirmed that more than 286,000 Kunbi records were found in the district.
Out of over 51,000 applications, certificates were issued based on eligibility. Before 2023, around 47,000 people had already received Kunbi certificates in Pune district. The large-scale verification drive in the past two years significantly increased the number.
As part of the process, officials examined 13 types of documents, including genealogy records, revenue papers, educational records, agreements from the Nizam era, charters issued by princely states, and other national documents.
Certificates were only issued after thorough statutory and administrative checks. Officials stated that the Kunbi certificate is significant as it allows members of the Maratha community to access reservation benefits under the Other Backward Class (OBC) category.
