Maharashtra Post Matric Scholarship for OBC Students 2025-26: Tuition Fee Reimbursement, Maintenance Allowance and Complete Guide

The Post Matric Scholarship for OBC Students in Maharashtra is a state government scheme implemented through the MahaDBT portal by the VJNT, OBC and SBC Welfare Department, Government of Maharashtra. This scholarship provides financial assistance to Other Backward Class (OBC) students studying in Class 11 and above, covering tuition fees, examination fees, and a monthly maintenance allowance.

What most coverage of this scholarship gets wrong is presenting it as a “Rs. 425 per month” scheme. That is only the maintenance allowance component for Group A hostellers. The actual financial benefit is significantly larger because it includes full reimbursement of tuition fees and examination fees for students in government and government-aided institutions, and 50% reimbursement for students in unaided institutions pursuing professional courses. For many students, the tuition fee and exam fee reimbursement is the far more valuable component than the maintenance allowance.

An important update from a Government Resolution dated 8 July 2024 further expanded the scheme: OBC girl students now receive 100% scholarship benefit, including full reimbursement of tuition fees, exam fees, and maintenance allowance, regardless of whether they are studying in government, aided, or unaided institutions in professional courses. This makes the scheme substantially more generous for female OBC students.

Applications for AY 2025-26 are accepted through the MahaDBT portal at mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in.

What the Scholarship Actually Covers

The financial assistance under this scheme has three components, and understanding all three is essential to appreciate the real value of this scholarship.

Component 1: Tuition Fee and Examination Fee

For students studying in government or government-aided institutions in both professional and non-professional courses, 100% of the tuition fee and examination fee is covered. This is the most significant financial component for most students.

For OBC students admitted to government-approved private unaided institutions in professional courses, 50% of the tuition fee and exam fee is reimbursed. For non-professional courses in private unaided institutions, the fee reimbursement is calculated based on the fee structure of government-aided institutions for the equivalent course.

For D.Ed and B.Ed courses specifically, 100% of tuition fees, exam fees, and maintenance allowance are covered, regardless of whether the institution is aided or unaided (fee structure as per government-approved rates for unaided institutions).

Component 2: Monthly Maintenance Allowance

The maintenance allowance is paid from the date of admission until the examination completion date. The amount varies based on two factors: the course group (A, B, or C) and whether the student is a hosteller or a day scholar.

For Course Group A (which typically includes professional courses like engineering, medicine, etc.), hostellers receive Rs. 425 per month and day scholars receive Rs. 190 per month. For Course Group B (which includes courses like B.Sc, B.Com, etc.), hostellers receive Rs. 290 per month and day scholars receive Rs. 190 per month. For Course Group C (which includes lower-level courses), hostellers receive Rs. 290 per month and day scholars receive a lower amount.

A specific rule applies to the maintenance allowance start date: if a student takes admission on or before the 20th of any month, the maintenance allowance is disbursed for that current month. If admission is after the 20th, the allowance starts from the next month.

If a student is admitted to a government hostel, they receive only one-third of the hosteller’s maintenance allowance rate.

Component 3: Special 100% Benefit for OBC Girl Students

As per the Government Resolution dated 8 July 2024, OBC girl students now receive 100% scholarship benefit. This means full reimbursement of tuition fees, exam fees, and the complete maintenance allowance for girl students studying in government, aided, and even non-government unaided institutions in professional courses. This is a significant enhancement that effectively makes professional education free for eligible OBC girls in Maharashtra.

Eligibility Criteria

Every condition listed here must be met for the application to be accepted.

Category and Domicile

The applicant must belong to the Other Backward Class (OBC) category. The applicant must be a resident of Maharashtra (domicile certificate required). Indian citizenship is mandatory.

Education Level

The student must be studying in Class 11 or above. This covers Class 11, Class 12, diploma and polytechnic courses, graduation, post-graduation, professional courses, and PhD programmes. The course must be government-approved.

Income Limit

The annual family income must not exceed Rs. 1,50,000 (Rs. 1.5 lakh). This income ceiling applies to the total income of the parent or guardian from all sources. An income certificate issued by the Tehsildar is required as proof. If the applicant is a married girl, the husband’s income certificate is required instead of the parent’s.

Note: The existing article listed the income limit as Rs. 1 lakh. Based on multiple verified sources including IndianKnow and the MahaDBT portal structure, the correct limit for the OBC Post Matric Scholarship appears to be Rs. 1.5 lakh. Students should verify the exact current income threshold on the MahaDBT portal before applying, as limits can be revised by government order.

Attendance

A minimum of 75% attendance in the current academic year is mandatory. This is a frequently overlooked requirement that can lead to scholarship discontinuation even for otherwise eligible students.

Admission Route for Professional Courses

For professional courses, admission must be secured through the Centralized Admission Process (CAP) round. Students who obtained admission through management quota or other non-CAP routes in professional courses may not be eligible.

Children Per Family Rule

This is a critical restriction that many applicants are unaware of. Only two male children from the same parents can avail this scholarship. There is no such restriction on the number of female children. This means if a family has three sons, only the first two can receive this scholarship. But all daughters in the family are eligible regardless of number.

Failure and Gap Year Rules

If a student fails in any academic year, they will receive tuition fees, exam fees, and maintenance allowance for that year only. They will not receive any benefits for the subsequent year until they are promoted to the next class. If a student fails twice consecutively in the same class, they will not get any allowance. After two consecutive failures, if the student passes and moves to the next class, eligibility resumes.

A back-to-back gap of 2 years disqualifies the student from filling the form.

Course Change Restriction

If a student is already availing scholarship benefits for a particular course and changes their course mid-academic year (either from professional to non-professional or between courses), they will not be eligible for scholarship benefits for the new course. However, a specific exception exists for girl students: a girl applicant remains eligible if she changes her course from non-professional to professional, but not the other way around.

Other Scholarship Restriction

If a student accepts another scholarship or stipend from any other source, they become ineligible under this scheme from the date of accepting the other scholarship.

Maximum Professional Courses

A student is allowed to avail scholarship benefits for a maximum of two professional courses. Beyond that, no further benefits under this scheme are available.

Documents Required

The following documents must be uploaded on the MahaDBT portal during the application process. An income certificate issued by the Tehsildar is required (if the applicant is a married girl, the husband’s income certificate is needed). A caste certificate confirming OBC category is mandatory. The marksheet for the last appeared examination must be uploaded. The SSC (Class 10) or HSC (Class 12) marksheet is required separately. A father’s death certificate is needed if applicable. A gap certificate and self-declaration are required if the student has had any academic gaps. A hostel certificate is needed if the student is claiming hosteller rates. A scanned photograph and signature in the prescribed format must be uploaded. A declaration certificate from parents or guardians about the number of children who are beneficiaries is also required. This last document ties directly to the two-male-children-per-family rule discussed above.

How to Apply on MahaDBT

All applications are submitted online through the MahaDBT portal at mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in. There is no offline application route.

Visit mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in and click on “New Applicant Registration.” Enter your Aadhaar card number. You will receive a one-time password (OTP) on your registered mobile number. Enter the OTP to verify and continue registration. If you do not have an Aadhaar card, you will need to fill in all details manually. After registration, log in to your dashboard using your credentials. Click on the “Apply” button and select the Post Matric Scholarship for OBC Students scheme. Fill in all required personal, academic, and financial details. Upload scanned copies of all required documents in the prescribed format. Review the complete application and submit it before the deadline.

After submission, the application goes through institute-level verification (by the college principal) before being processed by the department. Students should follow up with their institution to ensure timely verification.

Application Timeline

For AY 2025-26, application acceptance commenced from 30 June 2025 on the MahaDBT portal. The deadline for applications is 31 March 2026 as per the current cycle. Renewal applications for existing beneficiaries follow the same portal and timeline.

Students should note that the MahaDBT portal sometimes extends deadlines or re-opens application windows. It is advisable to check the portal regularly for any announcements regarding date extensions.

Scholarship Renewal

This scholarship is renewable annually. Existing beneficiaries do not need to submit a completely new application each year. Instead, they submit a renewal application through the MahaDBT portal with updated documents including the latest marksheet and attendance records. Renewal is subject to maintaining 75% attendance, being promoted to the next class, and continuing to meet all eligibility criteria.

Aadhaar Seeding Requirement

Since the scholarship amount is disbursed through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), Aadhaar seeding to the bank account is mandatory. Students who are unable to receive their Post Matric Scholarship DBT due to Aadhaar seeding issues can visit the nearest Post Office to open an India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) account with Aadhaar seeding. The account opening is done in real-time and in a paperless manner. Required documents for IPPB account opening include Aadhaar card and a mobile number linked to Aadhaar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the scholarship only Rs. 425 per month?

No. Rs. 425 is the maximum monthly maintenance allowance for Group A hostellers. The scholarship also covers tuition fees and examination fees, which is the major financial component. The total benefit depends on your course, institution type, and whether you are a hosteller or day scholar.

What is the income limit?

The annual family income must not exceed Rs. 1,50,000. An income certificate from the Tehsildar is required.

Can all children in a family get this scholarship?

For male children, only two from the same parents can avail the scholarship. For female children, there is no such restriction. All eligible daughters in a family can receive the scholarship.

What happens if I fail in one year?

You receive scholarship benefits for the year you failed, but not for the next year until you are promoted. Two consecutive failures in the same class disqualify you from further benefits until you pass and advance.

Do OBC girls get extra benefits?

Yes. As per a July 2024 Government Resolution, OBC girl students receive 100% scholarship benefit including full tuition fee, exam fee, and maintenance allowance reimbursement across government, aided, and unaided institutions in professional courses.

Is 75% attendance mandatory?

Yes. Minimum 75% attendance in the current academic year is a mandatory requirement for the scholarship.

Can I apply if I got admission through management quota?

For professional courses, admission must be through the CAP (Centralized Admission Process) round. Management quota admissions may not qualify.

What if I change my course mid-year?

You lose scholarship eligibility for the new course. Exception: girl students can switch from non-professional to professional courses and remain eligible, but not the reverse.

Official Links and Contact

The MahaDBT scholarship portal is at mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in. The direct scheme page for OBC Post Matric Scholarship is accessible through the scholarship listing on the portal. For queries, contact the VJNT, OBC and SBC Welfare Department at Annex Building 139, First Floor, Mantralaya, Madam Cama Road, Hutatma Rajguru Chawk, Mumbai 400032. The helpline number is 18001208040 (toll-free).