Post-Matric Scholarship to SBC Students, Maharashtra 2025-26

About This Scholarship

The Post-Matric Scholarship to SBC Students (पोस्ट मैट्रिक छात्रवृत्ति, SBC विद्यार्थियों हेतु) is a financial assistance scheme operated by the VJNT, OBC and SBC Welfare Department, Government of Maharashtra. This scholarship is designed exclusively for students belonging to the Special Backward Class (SBC) category who are pursuing post-matric education in the state. The scheme covers three major expenses: Tuition Fees, Examination Fees, and a monthly Maintenance Allowance.

The real strength of this scholarship lies in its comprehensive coverage. It does not simply offer a fixed stipend. Instead, it reimburses 100% of tuition fees and examination fees for SBC students enrolled in government, government-aided, and even non-aided (private) institutions, across both professional and non-professional courses. In addition to fee reimbursement, students receive a monthly maintenance allowance that varies based on their course group (A through E) and whether they are hostellers or day scholars. The benefit period runs from the actual date of admission until the completion of examinations.

All applications are processed through the MahaDBT portal (mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in), Maharashtra’s centralized Direct Benefit Transfer platform. For the academic year 2025-26, the application window opened on 30th June 2025. The portal handles fresh applications, renewals, and re-applications for previous academic years on separate timelines.

Scholarship Details

Eligibility Criteria

The primary requirement for this scholarship is that the applicant must belong to the Special Backward Class (SBC) category and must be a resident of Maharashtra. The annual income of the applicant’s parents or guardians should not exceed Rs. 2.50 Lakh. The applicant must be pursuing a post-matric course (Class 11 or above) that is approved by the government.

Attendance is a strict criterion under this scheme. A minimum of 75% attendance in the current academic year is mandatory. Students who do not meet this attendance threshold will not be eligible for scholarship benefits for that particular year.

The scholarship has a specific sibling rule that families should understand before applying. A maximum of two boy applicants from the same parents can avail this scholarship. However, there is no cap on girl applicants, meaning any number of daughters from the same family can apply and receive the benefit independently.

Students seeking admission in professional courses such as Engineering, Medicine, MBA, and similar programmes must have entered through the Centralized Admission Process (CAP) round. Admission outside the CAP round for professional courses makes the student ineligible for this scholarship.

A student cannot hold this scholarship simultaneously with any other scholarship or stipend. The moment a student accepts financial assistance from another source, benefits under this scheme will cease from that date onward.

There are also rules around switching courses that applicants should be aware of. Switching from a non-professional course to a professional course is permitted and the student remains eligible. However, switching from a professional course to a non-professional course disqualifies the student. Additionally, if a student changes their course mid-way during an academic year while already availing benefits, they will lose eligibility for any further scholarship or freeship.

The scholarship continues until the student completes one full academic track. For example, a student can receive benefits through Class 11, Class 12 Arts, B.A., M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. as a continuous track. However, if a student completes B.A. and then B.Ed., and later seeks admission in M.A., the scholarship will not be available for M.A. because they already completed a track via B.Ed. On the other hand, if the same student takes admission in M.B.A. after B.Ed., they can again become eligible because M.B.A. is classified as a professional post-graduate course.

Benefits and Maintenance Allowance

The scholarship provides 100% reimbursement of Tuition Fees and Examination Fees for all eligible SBC students studying in government, government-aided, or unaided (private) institutions, covering both professional and non-professional courses. The maintenance allowance is paid as an additional benefit and is structured according to five course groups.

Course Group A (typically professional degree courses like Engineering, Medicine, etc.) provides Rs. 425 per month for hostellers and Rs. 190 per month for day scholars. Course Group B provides Rs. 290 per month for hostellers and Rs. 190 per month for day scholars. Course Group C also provides Rs. 290 per month for hostellers and Rs. 190 per month for day scholars. Course Group D provides Rs. 230 per month for hostellers and Rs. 120 per month for day scholars. Course Group E (typically Class 11 and 12 level courses) provides Rs. 150 per month for hostellers and Rs. 90 per month for day scholars.

The maintenance allowance is paid for the duration starting from the admission date until the exam completion date. There is an important rule regarding the start date: if the applicant secures admission on or before the 20th of any month, the maintenance allowance will be issued for that current month. If admission happens after the 20th, the allowance begins from the following month.

Students living in a government hostel receive only one-third of the hosteller rate, since the government hostel already subsidizes their accommodation costs. For B.Ed. and D.Ed. courses specifically, students receive 100% benefits including Tuition Fees, Exam Fees, and Maintenance Allowance. Students in aided or unaided institutions pursuing B.Ed. or D.Ed. have the fee structure applied as per government rates for the equivalent course.

Renewal Policy and Failure Rules

The scholarship is not renewed automatically. The applicant must pass the previous year’s examination to continue receiving benefits. The rules governing academic failure differ by course group and are critical to understand before applying.

For students in Course Group A, if the applicant fails the examination for the first time, the scholarship may still be renewed. However, for the second and any subsequent failure in the same class, the applicant must bear all expenses on their own until they secure promotion to the next higher class.

For students in Course Groups B, C, D, and E, the policy is stricter. The student must secure promotion to a higher class to continue receiving scholarship benefits. For the second and subsequent failures, the applicant is responsible for their own expenses until they pass.

A general rule applies across all course groups: if a student fails in a particular academic year, they will still receive Tuition Fees, Exam Fees, and Maintenance Allowance for that specific year in which they failed. However, no further benefits will be released until they successfully pass and advance to the next class. In the case of SBC specifically, if an applicant fails for a year, no reimbursement is paid for that particular year.

There is a medical exception as well. If a student is unable to appear for the annual examination due to a medical condition or an unforeseeable event, the head of the institution (Principal) can certify that the student would have passed had they appeared. This exception is only granted when the institution head is satisfied with the medical proof or other sufficient evidence submitted by the student.

Required Documents

1. Caste Certificate: Must be issued by a competent authority of the Government of Maharashtra. This certificate also serves as proof of residency, so a separate domicile certificate is generally not required.

2. Income Certificate or Income Declaration: Issued by a competent authority, confirming that the parents’ or guardians’ annual income does not exceed Rs. 2.50 Lakh.

3. Caste Validity Certificate: This is mandatory for students enrolled in professional degree courses and professional post-graduate courses. For non-professional courses, the caste validity certificate is not required.

4. HSC or SSC Marksheet or Last Examination Marksheet: The most recent marksheet showing the applicant’s academic record.

5. Gap Certificate: Not mandatory in general, but if there has been any gap in the applicant’s education history, this certificate becomes compulsory.

6. Father’s or Guardian’s Death Certificate: Required only in cases where the father or guardian is deceased.

7. Ration Card: Needed to verify the number of children in the family, which is relevant for the sibling rule (maximum 2 boys, unlimited girls).

8. Leaving Certificate: From the previous educational institution.

9. Declaration Certificate of Parents or Guardians: A declaration about the number of children who are beneficiaries of government scholarship schemes.

How to Apply

The application process is entirely online through the MahaDBT portal. To start, visit mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in and click on “New Applicant Registration.” Registration can be completed using an Aadhaar number (with OTP or biometric verification) or through the non-Aadhaar registration flow using an Aadhaar Enrollment ID or alternative identity proof.

After registration, log in and fill your profile to 100% completion. The profile includes several sections: Personal Information (covering caste, income, and personal eligibility details), Address Information (permanent and correspondence addresses), Other Information (parent or guardian details), Course Applied (current course details), Past Qualification Information (previous academic records), and Hostel Details (whether hosteller or day scholar). The MahaDBT system will only suggest eligible schemes once the profile is fully complete, and it matches schemes based on your caste, religion, and income details.

Once the profile is complete, navigate to “All Schemes” from the left panel and locate “Post Matric Scholarship to SBC Students” under the OBC, SEBC, VJNT & SBC Welfare Department. Click “Apply,” upload all required documents, and submit. After submission, your application goes through institute-level scrutiny followed by department-level scrutiny. You can track the status at any time using the “My Applied Scheme” section in your dashboard.

If you are eligible for multiple schemes, you can apply for more than one, but the disbursement will happen for only one scheme based on the preference you set in the portal. Make sure to arrange your scheme preferences carefully if you have applied to more than one.

A critical requirement for receiving the scholarship amount is Aadhaar seeding. Your bank account must be linked to your Aadhaar number through the NPCI mapper for the DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) to be processed. If your bank is unable to complete Aadhaar seeding, you can visit the nearest Post Office and open an India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) account with instant Aadhaar seeding. This requires only a mobile number, Aadhaar number, and your scholarship application ID.

Apply Now on MahaDBT Official Portal

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the income limit for the SBC Post-Matric Scholarship?

The annual family income of the applicant’s parents or guardians must not exceed Rs. 2.50 Lakh. This is verified through an Income Certificate or Income Declaration issued by a competent authority.

How much maintenance allowance will I receive as a day scholar?

The maintenance allowance for day scholars depends on the course group. Groups A, B, and C day scholars receive Rs. 190 per month. Group D day scholars receive Rs. 120 per month. Group E day scholars receive Rs. 90 per month. The allowance runs from the admission date until the exam completion date.

Can I hold this scholarship along with another scholarship?

No. The scheme rules clearly state that no scholarship will be paid under this scheme from the date a student accepts another scholarship or stipend from any other source. If you are eligible for multiple schemes on MahaDBT, you can apply for all of them, but disbursement will happen for only one based on your set preference.

What happens if I fail in an examination?

If you fail in a particular year, you will still receive Tuition Fees, Exam Fees, and Maintenance Allowance for that specific failed year. However, no further benefits will be provided until you pass and get promoted to the next class. For Course Group A, the first failure is treated leniently and the scholarship can be renewed. For Groups B to E, promotion to the next class is required before benefits resume.

Is the Caste Validity Certificate mandatory for all SBC applicants?

No. The Caste Validity Certificate is mandatory only for students enrolled in professional degree courses and professional post-graduate courses. Students pursuing non-professional courses do not need to submit this certificate.

How many children from one family can receive this scholarship?

A maximum of two boy applicants from the same parents can avail the scholarship. There is no limit on girl applicants. Any number of daughters from the same family can independently apply and receive the benefit.

What should I do if my scholarship amount is not credited to my bank account?

The most common reason for non-disbursement is that the bank account is not linked (seeded) to the Aadhaar number through the NPCI mapper. Visit your bank and ensure Aadhaar seeding is completed. If your bank cannot resolve the issue, open an India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) account at the nearest Post Office with instant Aadhaar seeding. You will need a mobile number, Aadhaar number, and your scholarship application ID.

Can I switch from one course to another and still keep the scholarship?

It depends on the direction of the switch. Moving from a non-professional course to a professional course is allowed and you remain eligible. However, moving from a professional course to a non-professional course will make you ineligible. Also, changing your course mid-way during an academic year while already receiving benefits will disqualify you from further scholarship for the new course.