Tuition Fees and Examination Fees to OBC Students, Maharashtra 2025-26: Up to 100% Fee Reimbursement, Eligibility and How to Apply

The “Tuition Fees and Examination Fees to OBC Students” is a fee reimbursement scheme by the VJNT, OBC and SBC Welfare Department, Government of Maharashtra. It reimburses tuition fees, examination fees, and other admissible compulsory fees for OBC category students studying in Class 11 and above at government, government-aided, and approved private institutions across Maharashtra. The annual family income limit for this scheme is Rs. 8 lakh.

This is a separate scheme from the “Post Matric Scholarship to OBC Students” which has a lower income limit of Rs. 1.5 lakh and includes a monthly maintenance allowance. The key difference is the income threshold: families earning between Rs. 1.5 lakh and Rs. 8 lakh per year are eligible for this fee reimbursement scheme but not for the Post Matric Scholarship. Students whose family income is below Rs. 1.5 lakh may be eligible for both schemes, but the Post Matric Scholarship provides additional maintenance allowance on top of fee reimbursement.

Understanding which scheme you qualify for, and what each covers, is essential before applying on the MahaDBT portal. Many students apply for the wrong scheme or miss the one they are actually eligible for because the names sound similar and both are under the same department.

Applications for AY 2025-26 are accepted through the MahaDBT portal at mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in. The deadline is 31 March 2026.

How This Scheme Differs from the Post Matric Scholarship

Since both schemes target OBC students through the same department and the same portal, confusion is common. Here is the practical distinction.

The Post Matric Scholarship to OBC Students has an income limit of Rs. 1.5 lakh per year. It provides a monthly maintenance allowance (Rs. 190 to Rs. 425 depending on course group and hosteller/day scholar status) plus tuition fee and exam fee reimbursement. It is designed for students from the lowest income bracket within OBC.

The Tuition Fees and Examination Fees to OBC Students scheme, which is what this article covers, has an income limit of Rs. 8 lakh per year. It does not provide any monthly maintenance allowance. It exclusively reimburses tuition fees, examination fees, and other admissible compulsory fees. It is designed for a broader OBC population that may not qualify for the Post Matric Scholarship but still needs support with course fees.

A student from a family earning Rs. 3 lakh per year would be eligible for this fee reimbursement scheme but not for the Post Matric Scholarship. A student from a family earning Rs. 1 lakh per year could potentially benefit from both (though dual scholarship rules on the portal may restrict this).

What the Scheme Covers

The scheme reimburses all types of compulsory fees including tuition fees, examination fees, and other admissible fees to the concerned OBC student. The reimbursement structure depends on the type of institution and the applicant’s gender.

For Professional Courses (Engineering, Medical, etc.)

Students admitted through the CAP (Centralized Admission Process) round to government, government-approved private unaided, and permanently non-granted colleges get 50% of tuition fees and exam fees reimbursed, as per the rates approved by the Education Fee Committee. This 50% reimbursement applies to male and female students in private unaided institutions.

For students studying in government or government-aided institutions in professional courses, 100% of tuition fee and examination fee is reimbursed.

100% Benefit for OBC Girl Students

As per the Government Resolution dated 8 July 2024, 100% benefit is applicable for girl applicants. This means OBC girl students receive full reimbursement of tuition fees and exam fees regardless of whether they are in government, aided, or private unaided institutions pursuing professional courses. This is a significant policy change that makes professional education effectively free for eligible OBC girls in Maharashtra.

For Non-Professional Courses

For non-professional courses in government and aided institutions, the fee reimbursement covers tuition fees and exam fees as per the institution’s fee structure. For non-professional courses in private unaided institutions, the reimbursement is typically calculated based on the fee structure applicable at government-aided institutions for the equivalent course.

Eligibility Criteria

The applicant must belong to the Other Backward Class (OBC) category, including both OBC Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NC) and OBC Creamy Layer distinctions as applicable to specific scheme rules. A valid caste certificate is mandatory.

The applicant must be a resident of Maharashtra with a domicile certificate. Indian citizenship is required.

The student must be studying in Class 11 or above in a government-approved course. This includes Class 11, Class 12, diploma and polytechnic courses, graduation, post-graduation, professional courses (engineering, medical, etc.), and PhD programmes.

The annual family income from all sources must not exceed Rs. 8,00,000 (Rs. 8 lakh). An income certificate issued by the Tehsildar is required as proof.

For professional courses, admission must have been secured through the CAP (Centralized Admission Process) round. Management quota or other non-CAP admissions in professional courses may not be eligible for fee reimbursement.

The student must have passed the previous class or semester examination. The specific minimum marks requirement should be verified on the MahaDBT portal for the current cycle.

Only two male children from the same parents can avail this scheme. There is no restriction on the number of female children from the same family. This is the same rule that applies across most MahaDBT OBC welfare schemes.

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

Minimum 75% attendance in the current academic year is mandatory.

Documents Required

The following documents must be prepared and uploaded during the online application on MahaDBT. A caste certificate confirming OBC category is mandatory. An income certificate issued by the Tehsildar showing annual family income not exceeding Rs. 8 lakh is required (for married girl applicants, the husband’s income certificate is needed). The marksheet for the last examination passed must be uploaded. The SSC (Class 10) or HSC (Class 12) marksheet is needed separately. A bonafide certificate from the current educational institution confirming enrollment is required. Bank passbook details (account number and IFSC code) are needed for DBT disbursement. Aadhaar card linked to the bank account is mandatory for receiving the benefit. A passport-sized scanned photograph and signature in the prescribed format are required. A gap certificate and self-declaration are needed if the student has had any academic gap between courses. A declaration certificate from parents or guardians about the number of children who are beneficiaries must be provided, confirming compliance with the two-male-children rule. A father’s death certificate is needed if applicable. A hostel certificate is required if the student is a hosteller.

How to Apply on MahaDBT

The application is submitted entirely online through the MahaDBT portal at mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in.

Visit the portal and click on “New Applicant Registration.” Enter your Aadhaar card number for authentication. You will receive an OTP on your registered mobile number for verification. Complete the registration process. If you do not have an Aadhaar card, manual registration is available but requires filling in all details manually. After registration, log in to your dashboard. Navigate to the scholarship section and select “Tuition Fees and Examination Fees to OBC Students” from the OBC, SEBC, VJNT and SBC Welfare Department schemes. Fill in all required personal, academic, and financial details. Upload scanned copies of all required documents. Review the complete application and submit before the deadline.

After submission, the application is verified at the institute level by the college principal. Students should follow up with their institution to ensure timely verification, as delays at the institute level can cause processing issues.

Application Timeline

For AY 2025-26, application acceptance commenced from 30 June 2025 on the MahaDBT portal. The deadline for the current cycle is 31 March 2026. Fresh applications and renewal applications are both accepted through the same portal. The MahaDBT portal may extend deadlines or reopen application windows, so students should check the portal regularly for updates.

Important Rules to Remember

If a student changes their professional or non-professional course mid-academic year after availing the fee reimbursement benefit, they will not be eligible for benefits for the new course. The girl student exception applies here too: a girl changing from non-professional to professional remains eligible, but not the reverse.

For B.Ed and D.Ed courses, 100% benefit (tuition fees and exam fees) is applicable in both aided and unaided institutions, with the fee structure for unaided institutions calculated as per government-approved rates.

The admission date affects the fee reimbursement cycle. If the student takes admission on or before the 20th of any month, the benefit calculation includes that month. Otherwise, it starts from the next month.

Aadhaar seeding to the bank account is mandatory for receiving DBT. Students with Aadhaar seeding issues can open an India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) account at the nearest post office, which enables real-time Aadhaar-linked account creation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the income limit for this scheme?

Rs. 8 lakh per year. This is higher than the Rs. 1.5 lakh limit for the Post Matric Scholarship to OBC Students, making this scheme accessible to a wider OBC population.

Does this scheme include a monthly maintenance allowance?

No. This scheme covers only tuition fees, examination fees, and other admissible compulsory fees. For a monthly maintenance allowance, students with family income below Rs. 1.5 lakh should check the Post Matric Scholarship to OBC Students on the same MahaDBT portal.

Do OBC girl students get extra benefits?

Yes. Per the July 2024 Government Resolution, OBC girl students get 100% fee reimbursement across government, aided, and unaided institutions in professional courses.

Is CAP round admission mandatory?

For professional courses, yes. Admission through the CAP round is required for fee reimbursement eligibility.

Can all children in a family get this benefit?

Only two male children per family can avail this scheme. All female children are eligible regardless of number.

What happens if I fail?

If a student fails in any year, benefits are provided for that year but not for the next year until the student is promoted. Two consecutive failures in the same class disqualify the student until they pass.

Can I get both this scheme and the Post Matric Scholarship?

These are separate schemes with different income thresholds. The MahaDBT portal’s dual-benefit rules should be checked, as accepting benefits from another scheme typically makes you ineligible for this one.

Official Links and Contact

The MahaDBT portal for applications is at mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in. The direct scheme page is accessible through the OBC, SEBC, VJNT and SBC Welfare Department section on the portal. For queries, contact the VJNT, OBC and SBC Welfare Department, Annex Building 139, First Floor, Mantralaya, Madam Cama Road, Hutatma Rajguru Chawk, Mumbai 400032. Toll-free helpline: 18001208040.