Maharashtra announces 100% tuition, exam fee waiver for orphan students in higher education

The Maharashtra government has announced a 100% tuition and examination fee waiver for orphan students taking admissions in recognised professional courses through the Centralized Admission Process (CAP) from the academic session 2025-26. The move comes after an MLA raised concerns about financial difficulties faced by orphan children.

The exemption is applicable to all except management quota or institute-level admissions in the government colleges, government-aided private colleges, partially aided (phase-wise grant) and permanently un-aided colleges, state universities, deemed-to-be universities (excluding private deemed and self-financed universities), and sub-centers under public universities.

The Women and Child Development Department took the decision after considering government resolutions regarding extension of fee exemptions to orphans.

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The Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Rais Sheikh recommended that the state government must directly pay the tuition fee of such students to the colleges. He suggested a separate fee concession scheme for state’s orphan candidates after receiving a letter from the Mission Awareness Foundation, highlighting the students' plight.

Maharashtra fee waiver for orphan students

The state government issued the following requirements for the fee waiver:

It is mandatory for the orphan student to possess an orphan certificate (either institutional or non-institutional category) issued under the Department of Women and Child Development. The orphan student must also have a domicile certificate of the state of Maharashtra. This scheme will not be applicable to students taking admission in courses through distance, virtual, open learning or in part-time mode.

Once the benefit under the scheme is granted to an orphan student for the first academic year, it will continue for the entire duration of the course. However, if the student discontinues their education during the course duration, then:

• No educational or examination fees will be paid by the government for subsequent years.
• Educational institutions shall not recover such fees from the student.

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If the educational institution provides false or misleading information in the application under this scheme, then:

• The entire amount of benefit received under the scheme based on the incorrect information will be recovered with interest from the institution.
• The responsibility for such actions will rest entirely with the Commissioner, Women and Child Development Department.
• The Commissioner, Women and Child Development, Pune is appointed as the Coordinating Officer and Implementing Authority for this scheme, specifically for educational and examination fees.

Orphan students can avail either:

• The benefit under their social category’s scholarship scheme, or
• 100% benefit under the Orphan Reservation scheme (for education and exam fees), as per their personal choice. However, they cannot avail both benefits simultaneously.

All facilities included under the educational fees should be provided by the educational institution to the orphan students. In case of delays in payment of educational and exam fees by the government, institutions must not deny education or exams to the student.

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This scheme will apply to:

• Courses specified in Government Resolution No. 3 by the Higher and Technical Education Department.
• Professional courses up to graduation level, as notified from time to time by the Higher and Technical Education Department.

To avail the benefits under this scheme, students must submit an Income Certificate stating that the annual family income is Rs. 8 lakh or less.

In case orphan students face difficulties in obtaining an income certificate due to the death of parents:

• The educational institution must verify and certify (based on documents such as income proof from Talathi or competent authority) that the student’s annual income is Rs. 8 lakh or less.
• The institution must recommend the case to the District Women and Child Development Officer along with all documents.
• Based on this recommendation, the officer shall issue an income certificate with signature as early as possible.

While availing benefits under this scheme, orphan students must also comply with the conditions specified under the Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Tuition Fee Scheme as stated in Government Resolution by the Higher and Technical Education Department.