Top Scholarships for Maharashtra Students 2024 - List, Eligibility, Rewards

The state government offers some of the best Maharashtra scholarships to its students. The candidates should be domiciled in Maharashtra to be eligible for these scholarships. They can apply online or offline through the MahaDBT portal.

The government credits the scholarship amount to the candidate's account through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. Therefore, they should mandatorily hold a bank account while applying for the scholarships. In this article, the candidates can find a list of the best Maharashtra scholarships, along with the important date.

Note: The last date to apply for the post-matric scheme for SC students on the MahaDBT portal was January 31st, 2024.

Best Maharashtra Scholarships in 2024

Below is a list of the best scholarships for Maharastra students in 2024:

• Post-Matric Scholarship to SBC Students, Maharashtra
• Tuition Fees and Examination Fees Scholarship to OBC Students
• Government Vidyaniketan Scholarship
• Punjabrao Deshmukh Vasatigruh Nirvah Bhatta Yojna
• Jawaharlal Nehru University Scheme
• Eklavya Scholarship
• Merit Scholarships for Economically Backward Class Students
• Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Shikshan Shulkh Shishyavrutti Yojna
• Post-Matric Tuition Fee and Examination Fee (Freeship) Scholarship
• Open Merit Scholarship in Junior College

Post-Matric Scholarship to SBC Students, Maharashtra

The VJNT, OBC, and SBC Welfare Department of Maharashtra provides post-matric scholarship to SBC students. The objective of the scheme is to inspire young minds with a passion for learning. The students can renew the scholarship by clearing the previous year's examination.

Eligibility Criteria

The candidates must belong to the SBC category and have permanent residence or a domicile certificate from Maharashtra. The other eligibility criteria are as follows:

• The family income should not exceed INR 1,00,000 per annum.
• The government should approve the courses pursued by the students.
• Only two male children in the family can apply. However, any number of girl children in the family can apply for the scholarship.
• The students should have at least 75% of attendance.
• The students cannot change their courses in the middle of the academic year.

Scholarship Rewards

The post-matric scholarship to the SBC category covers tuition fees, exam fees, and the selected students' maintenance allowance from the SBC category. The students should not be availing benefits from any other scholarship. Mentioned below are the scholarship rewards:

1. Scholarship amount ranging from INR 150 to INR 425 are offered to hostellers.
2. Scholarship amount ranging from INR 90 to INR 190 granted to the day-scholars

Also Check: Maharashtra HSC Result

Tuition Fees and Examination Fees Scholarship to OBC Students

The VJNT, OBC, and SBC Welfare Department provide tuition and examination fees scholarships for OBC students in Maharashtra. The scholarship aims to create equal educational opportunities for all students from different backgrounds. The government renders financial support to the students aspiring to study higher. The application is from December to February.

Eligibility Criteria

The OBC students residing in Maharashtra and studying post matriculation level can avail the benefits of this scholarship. Listed below are the other eligibility criteria:

• Family income should not exceed INR 8,00,000 per annum.
• Candidates should belong to the OBC category.
• The government should approve the courses pursued by the students.
• Students should study in government, government-aided, or private non-aided institutions.
• Students pursuing a degree in Medical, Dental, Homeopathy, Unani, Ayurveda, Physiotherapy, Business Aid, and Nursing are eligible for the freeship.
• Students pursuing diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate courses in Engineering, Pharmacology, HMCT, MBA/MMS, and MCA will be eligible for freeship.
• The government will cover the tuition and exam fees for the students pursuing D.Ed and B.Ed courses. 
• Admission should be through CAP round for the students pursuing professional courses.
• The candidates cannot enjoy the benefits of the scholarships more than two times.

Scholarship Rewards

The students studying in deemed universities will not be eligible to receive the scholarship benefits, and the students will receive the scholarship rewards for ten months. Listed below are the scholarship rewards received by the students:

1. Reimbursement of tuition fees and exam fees
2. The government will reimburse students' total cost of fees pursuing professional courses in government or government-aided institutions.
3. The government will refund 50% of the tuition and exam fees for students pursuing professional studies in private unaided institutions.

Also Check: Maharashtra HSC Supplementary Exam 2024

Government Vidyaniketan Scholarship

The Maharashtra state scholarship is available to students who have cleared their class X examination from the Government Vidyaniketan school in Aurangabad. The Directorate of Higher Education (DHE) provides this scholarship. The new applicants can apply through the DHE office, and the students renewing the scholarship can apply personally at the concerned college's joint director's office. Based on merit, the candidates will be selected. 

Eligibility Criteria

The Maharashtra scholarship form is available on the Maharashtra scholarship portal. The students should meet the following criteria to apply for the scholarship:

• Students should have secured a minimum of 60% marks in the Class X examination.
• Students should have cleared class X from the state government vidyanikethan 
• The students should have permanent residence or domicile in Maharashtra.

Scholarship Rewards

The selected students will receive the following benefit:

1. Students studying in class XI, class XII, and undergraduate courses will get INR 100 each month.

Also Read: Maharashtra Board Migration Certificate: Steps to Apply, Documents Required

Punjabrao Deshmukh Vasatigruh Nirvah Bhatta Yojna

This Maharashtra government scholarship offers financial assistance to the children of farmers and labourers, and they should be certified as marginal farmers or registered labourers by the relevant authorities. The scholarship benefits can be availed by the students who want to pursue polytechnic or vocational courses in government, government-funded or unaided colleges. This scheme applies to students from general and SEBC categories. The Panjabrao Deshmukh Vasatigruh nirvah Bhatta yojna is a part of the DTE Maharashtra scholarship and is one of the best Maharashtra scholarships.

Eligibility Criteria

The candidates should have Indian nationality and should be domiciles of Maharashtra. The other eligibility criteria are:

• The candidates should be full-time students enrolled in a technical college operated by the state pursuing diploma, graduate, or postgraduate courses. 
• Private universities and deemed universities are not accepted.
• Admission of the students should be through the Centralized Admission Process (CAP)
• The scheme is limited to only two children in a family.
• Family income should not exceed INR 8,00,000 per annum.
• The candidates should have at least 50% attendance in the previous semester.
• The government will discontinue the scheme if the candidate has a gap of two or more.

Scholarship Rewards

The students cannot avail the benefits from any other scholarship at the time of application. The government offers the following services:

• If the child of the registered labour or alpabhudharak (marginal landholder) is -

1. Studying in an institute located in MMRDA, PMRDA, Aurangabad, or Nagpur will receive INR 30,000 for ten months.
2. Studying in an institute outside MMRDA, PMRDA, Aurangabad city, or Nagpur city will receive INR 20,000 for ten months. 

• If the family income is up to INR 8,00,000 per annum - 

1. Candidates studying in an institute located in MMRDA, PMRDA, Aurangabad, or Nagpur city will receive INR 10,000 for ten months.
2. Candidates pursuing a course in an institute outside the MMRDA, PMRDA, Aurangabad city, or Nagpur city region will receive INR 8,000 for ten months.

Also Check: Maharashtra HSC Question Bank PDF with Solution

Jawaharlal Nehru University Scheme

The Directorate of Higher Education (DHE) provides the Jawaharlal Nehru University scheme. This scheme will choose a student studying at the Jawaharlal Nehru University. The application period is from December to February.

Eligibility Criteria

The students should be domiciles of Maharashtra. Given below are the other eligibility criteria:

• Students should reside in Maharashtra.
• Students should be studying at JNU.
• Students should be pursuing an undergraduate or postgraduate course.

Scholarship Rewards

The Jawaharlal Nehru University will choose one student, and the selected candidate will receive the following benefits:

1. The government will offer INR 8,000 to the selected candidate each month.
2. The chosen student will additionally receive INR 10,000 per annum.

Also Check: Maharashtra HSC Preparation Tips

Eklavya Scholarship

The Department of Higher Education (DHE) in Maharashtra provides the Eklavya scholarship. Students pursuing postgraduate courses can apply for the scholarship. The candidates are selected based on their merit, and the students can apply for the scholarship from December to February. 

Eligibility Criteria

The candidates should be permanent residents or domiciled in Maharashtra. The students cannot avail themselves of the Maharashtra scholarship benefits if they are studying outside the state. Listed below are other eligibility criteria:

• Students should be pursuing postgraduate courses.
• The arts and commerce students must have secured 60% marks in their graduation.
• The science students must have secured 70% marks in their graduation.
• Students should not have a full-time or a part-time job at the time of application.

Scholarship Rewards

The students are selected based on merit. The scholarship offers the following benefit:

1. The government grants INR 5,000 to all the selected students.

Read more: Eklavya Scholarship

Merit Scholarships for Economically Backward Class Students

The School Education and Sports Department [SESD] provides scholarships for OBC students in Maharashtra. The merit scholarships for the economically backward class applies to students studying in class XI and class XII. The scholarship aims to encourage the students belonging to the OBC category to go to college and thereon.

Eligibility Criteria

Mentioned below are the eligibility criteria that the students should consider before applying for the scholarship:

• The students must be permanent residents of Maharashtra.
• The candidates should have secured a minimum of 50% marks in the SSC examination.
• The students should clear the exams on the first attempt.

Scholarship Rewards

The state government will offer scholarship rewards for ten months. Given below are the scholarship rewards provided to the selected students:

1. For boys:
1. The scholarship amount of INR 140 will be granted to the hostellers each month.
2. The government will award INR 80 each month to the day-scholars
2. For girls:
1. INR 160 will be given each month to the hostellers
2. The government will grant INR 100 each month to the day-scholars

Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Shikshan Shulkh Shishyavrutti Yojna

The Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Shikshan shulkh shishyavrutti yojna is a part of the DTE Maharashtra scholarship. The goal of Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Shikshan shulkh shishyavrutti yojna is to offer financial aid to the EBC category students who are pursuing diploma, graduate, and postgraduate studies in professional courses. The admission of the students should be through the Centralized Admission Process (CAP). The Department of Technical Education provides the Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Shikshan shulkh shishyavrutti yojna. The students can apply through the Maharashtra scholarship portal.

Eligibility Criteria

The students should be Indian citizens and should be domiciles of Maharashtra. The other eligibility criteria are as follows:

• The candidates should be full-time students enrolled in a technical college operated by the state pursuing diploma, graduate, or postgraduate courses. 
• The admission of the students should be through CAP.
• Private universities or deemed universities are not applicable.
• Family income should not exceed INR 8,00,000 per annum.
• This scholarship is limited to only two children in a family.
• Students should have at least 50% attendance in the previous semester.
• The department will discontinue the scholarship if the student has a gap of more than two years.

Scholarship Rewards

The candidates cannot benefit from any other scholarship at the time of application, and students from the general and SEBC categories can also apply. The scholarship reward is as follows:

1. The government will cover 50% of the tuition fee and 50% of the exam fees.

Also Check: 12th Maharashtra Board Toppers Answer Sheet

Post-Matric Tuition Fee and Examination Fee (Freeship) Scholarship

The Social Justice and Special Assistance of Maharashtra provides the post-matric tuition fee and examination fee. The government offers financial aid to the SC category students who want to pursue higher education. The government will reimburse the tuition fee, exam fees, and other compulsory fees. The goal is to prevent students from dropping out of college due to financial problems.

Eligibility Criteria

The scholarship is exclusively for students from the scheduled caste or neo bouddhist community. Mentioned below are the other eligibility criteria:

• Family income should not exceed INR 2,50,000 per annum.
• Students should be permanent residents of Maharashtra.
• Students should have cleared the SSC or equivalent examination.
• Students should be studying in an institution recognized by the state government.
• Not applicable to students studying outside Maharashtra
• The admission of the students pursuing professional studies should be through CAP.
• Students can fail only once in the whole curriculum. 

Scholarship Rewards

Listed below is the reward offered to the selected candidates:

1. The government reimburses the tuition fee, exam fees, and other mandatory fees paid by the students.

Open Merit Scholarship in Junior College

The School Education and Sports Department, Maharashtra, provides an open merit scholarship for students in junior college. The applicants should have cleared the SSC examination to be eligible to apply for the scholarship. The government has launched the scheme to encourage meritorious and deserving students who want to pursue higher education. 

Eligibility Criteria

Given below is a list of the eligibility criteria:

• Candidates must be studying in class XI or Class XII.
• Candidates should have secured at least 60% marks in the SSC examination.
• Candidates should have cleared the SSC exam in their first attempt.
• Candidates should have secured a minimum of 50% marks in the first year of the junior college beneficiary category.

Scholarship Rewards

The scholarship applies to the selected candidates studying in class XI and class XII. The scholarship reward is as follows:

1. The government grants INR 50 each month for ten months.

Read more: Open Merit Scholarship.

Last Dates to Apply for the Best Maharashtra Scholarships

The Maharashtra domiciles belonging to the SC category can apply for the Government of India Post-matric Scheme by January 31st, 2024. First, they should ensure they fulfil all the requirements before applying for the Maharashtra scholarships. Following that, the eligible students can submit their applications well within the last date to avoid rejections.  

Summary:

The students can choose from a list of the best Maharashtra scholarships offered in the state. They can apply for it after meeting all the eligibility criteria and submitting the proper documents. The candidates must possess a domicile certificate and apply for the best Maharashtra scholarships through the MahaDBT website. However, the candidates should submit the applications for the pre-matric scholarships in person. 

Also Read: Maharashtra State Board 11th Books PDF Free Download