Approximately 1,500 colleges in Telangana have closed indefinitely to protest the government's failure to clear fee reimbursement dues and scholarships, impacting around 11 lakh students and 1.5 lakh teachers. The Telangana Degree Colleges Managements Association claims that the state owes nearly ₹5,900 crore in outstanding payments, with many colleges facing financial distress, including unpaid salaries and rising debts. While pharmacy colleges have joined the strike, the engineering college association refrained, citing concerns over students' education during the academic year. College managements have expressed desperation as many institutions are on the brink of closure due to unpaid dues since 2021, with some teachers reportedly facing severe mental distress. The Telangana government has released only a fraction of the allocated funds, further exacerbating the crisis. Officials from the higher education department are reportedly working to escalate the issue but have not committed to a specific timeline for resolution.