Maharashtra has a very long and strong tradition of private initiatives in higher education. There are several organizations established by social reformers, educationists and others devoted to the cause of education. Inspired by the work and teaching of some of them, particularly Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil, the Founder of Rayat Shikshan Sanstha, who did pioneering work in the field of education during the last century, Dr. Patangrao Kadam established Bharati Vidyapeeth in Pune in 1964. The mission that Bharati Vidyapeeth has defined for itself, is to bring about intellectual awakening of people through the spread of education and to prepare human resources needed for all round development, particularly economic, of the country.

Bharati Vidyapeeth had a very humble beginning. It was around 1963, when he was still a part time school teacher that Dr. Patangrao Kadam was disturbed on seeing that not many Maharashtrian students could get admissions to national level institutions such as National Defence Academy or clear competitive examinations. He noted that the root cause of this was a relatively weak foundation of these students in subjects such as English and Mathematics. With a view to promote interest and liking in the minds of the students for these two subjects, Bharati Vidyapeeth, since its inception, started conducting competitive examinations for school going children in the same. This subsequently became its major activity, which still continues. Bharati Vidyapeeth had its inception in a small room in a remote corner of an old part of Pune City. The onlookers then could not digest the word "Vidyapeeth" (University) in the name "Bharati Vidyapeeth". A newspaper once sarcastically commented that this Vidyapeeth borne in a congested lane of Pune City, would meet its natural death there itself. But that was not to be so. Bharati Vidyapeeth flourished and flourished extensively. It achieved ever greater heights of success. It went in search of new horizons and expanded its sphere of activities at unbelievable speed.

Bharati Vidyapeeth Engineering Entrance Exam is conducted by Bharati Vidyapeet University, Pune for admission to various engineering courses. This is one of the top universities of the country and is a Deemed University. The admission is not only to various Engineering Courses but also to architecture course. Each year this university attracts many students from different parts of the country.