🎓 What’s the Scheme About?
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Also known as the Shikshan Shulkh Shishyavrutti Yojna, this scholarship is offered by the Government of Maharashtra through institutions like MAFSU, MCAER, DTE, and the Directorate of Higher Education
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Provides partial to full reimbursement (50%–100%) of tuition and exam fees for eligible EBC students enrolled in professional or non-professional diploma, undergraduate, or postgraduate courses accessed via the CAP (Centralized Admission Process).
✅ Eligibility Criteria
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Maharashtra domicile and Indian citizenship
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Academic admission via CAP into professional or technical courses (Diploma / UG / PG)
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Family annual income ≤ ₹8 lakh
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Maximum two beneficiaries per family per year
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Minimum 50% attendance in previous semester (with exception for first-semester students)
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No two-year gap in course duration
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Not receiving any other scholarship/stipend
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Deemed/private universities excluded
💰 Benefits & Financial Assistance
| Income Bracket (Family) | Institution Type | Professional Courses | Non‑Professional Courses |
|---|---|---|---|
| ≤ ₹2.5 lakh | Govt & aided & unaided | 100% tuition waiver; 50% exam fee | 100% tuition + 100% exam fee (female) |
| ₹2.5 – ₹8 lakh | All institution types | 50% tuition waiver, 50% exam fee | 100% exam fee (female gets full tuition waiver) |
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Female students often receive 100% coverage regardless of income bracket
📄 Required Documents
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SSC mark sheet and onward academic records
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Maharashtra domicile certificate
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Current year-family income certificate
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CAP admission proof & counselling documents
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Attendance certificate
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Undertaking declaring not more than two beneficiaries in family
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Biometric attendance proof (UIDAI-based)
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Documents explaining academic gap (if applicable)
🛠️ Application Process & Renewal
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Apply via the MahaDBT portal (mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in)—registration, form fill-up, and document upload
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Final submission happens online; funds are disbursed to Aadhaar-linked bank accounts in two installments: tuition fee and exam fee reimbursements
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Eligible students from previous year may apply for renewal, provided there’s no academic gap exceeding two years
📅 Important Timelines
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For 2025–26, application deadline set as 31 March 2026 (some portals show 2026 deadline)
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Earlier rounds for 2023‑24 and 2024‑25 had deadlines around 31 March or early April
📝 Key Considerations & Student Experiences
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Refund Model: Students often pay full fees upfront; eligible refunds follow once scholarship is approved—this reimbursement is sometimes delayed until semester/year-end exams are cleared
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Document Retention Issue: Some colleges may refuse to return original documents if a student leaves mid-course citing clause in 2016 GR; colleges should not retain personal documents illegally—students can approach UGC or affiliated university for resolution
🧭 Why This Scholarship Matters
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Empowers EBC students with financial support to pursue higher education
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Reduces burden on families especially for professional courses like engineering, medicine, law, etc.
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Prioritizes gender parity by offering better benefits for female students
🧾 Summary Table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Eligible Students | EBC (Income ≤ ₹8 lakh), Maharashtra domiciles |
| Admission Requirement | Via Central Admission Process (CAP) |
| Course Types | Diploma / UG / PG – professional & non‑professional |
| Tuition Fee Assistance | 50–100% based on income & gender |
| Exam Fee Support | 50–100% (more for females) |
| Required Documents | Domicile, income proof, academic records, attendance, etc. |
| Application Channel | Online on MahaDBT portal |
| Disbursement Style | Aadhaar-linked account; refunds processed post-exam |
| Renewal Allowed | Yes, if academic gap ≤ 2 years |
