New Delhi: The Maharashtra government has provided relief to more than 2.4 lakh students affected by drought by waiving examination fees across 26 state universities. The initiative aims to ease the financial burden on students from drought-hit regions and ensure that economic hardship does not disrupt their education.
According to the Higher and Technical Education Department, as many as 2,40,365 students have benefited from the fee-waiver facility so far. The government has directed universities not to collect examination fees from eligible students residing in the state's 305 drought-affected talukas. The total number of beneficiaries is ultimately expected to exceed five lakh, with the deadline to submit examination forms set for October 30.
To facilitate the process, eligible students can utilize a zero-fee option while completing their examination forms, allowing them to finish submissions without any upfront cost. Additionally, universities have been instructed to issue refunds to eligible students who paid their fees prior to the announcement. The University of Mumbai alone has initiated refunds totaling approximately Rs 3.5 crore.
Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil emphasized that the administration remains dedicated to protecting students from educational interruptions due to regional drought conditions. He noted that the ongoing effort ensures qualified individuals do not miss out on the intended support.
This statewide relief initiative stems from a government resolution issued on September 25 by the Relief and Rehabilitation Department, which expanded the roster of drought-stricken talukas from 265 to 305. Following this update, the Higher and Technical Education Department instructed all regional universities to implement the fee exemption and distribute explanatory circulars.
Director of Higher Education Dr Shailendra Deolankar confirmed that institutions were told to establish zero-fee portals for pending submissions and coordinate reimbursements for early payers. The Directorate of Higher Education, along with individual university exam departments, is closely tracking rollout compliance.
Officials encourage students encountering obstacles or facing improper fee demands despite their eligibility to reach out to dedicated university helplines. Monitoring will continue across the state to guarantee seamless delivery of financial relief throughout the academic network.