Maharashtra Scholarships – Complete List of All Schemes (SC, ST, OBC, NT, Minority, General)

In Simple Words: Maharashtra has 25+ government scholarship schemes — for SC, ST, OBC, NT, VJNT, SBC, minorities, students with disabilities, general category merit students, and children of ex-servicemen. Most applications are on the MahaDBT portal. The documents you need (income certificate, caste validity) take months to collect — start in May–June before the July–September application window opens.

Maharashtra offers one of India’s largest state scholarship ecosystems. Applications are primarily through mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in (MahaDBT portal). Some central government schemes use the National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in.

Schemes for SC Students (Scheduled Caste)

Post-Matric Scholarship for SC Students

For SC students studying after Class 10 (Class 11 through postgraduate).

Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Merit Scholarship (SC)

For Class 11–12 SC students who scored 75%+ in SSC (Class 10).

Dnyanjyoti Savitribai Phule Scholarship (SC Girls)

For SC girls in Class 5–10.

Pre-Matric Scholarship — Children of Those in Unclean Occupations (SC)

For SC students whose parents work in sanitation, tanning, scavenging, or similar occupations.

Schemes for ST Students (Scheduled Tribe)

Tuition Fee & Exam Fee Reimbursement for ST Students (Freeship)

For ST students in post-matric courses.

Central Government Post-Matric Scholarship (ST)

Higher amounts than the state scheme.

Schemes for OBC Students (Other Backward Class)

Post-Matric Scholarship for OBC Students

Broad coverage for OBC students in post-matric education.

Tuition Fees & Exam Fees for OBC Students (Freeship)

Fee reimbursement separate from the maintenance-allowance scheme.

Schemes for NT/VJNT Students (Nomadic and Vimukta Jati Tribes)

Post-Matric Scholarship for VJNT Students

For students from Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribe categories.

Tuition Fees & Exam Fees for VJNT Students (Freeship)

Maintenance Allowance for VJNT Students in Professional Courses

For VJNT students enrolled in hostel in a professional course.

Pre-Matric Scholarship for VJNT Students

For VJNT students in Class 1–10.

Schemes for SBC Students (Special Backward Class)

Post-Matric Scholarship for SBC Students

Tuition Fees & Exam Fees for SBC Students (Freeship)

Schemes for All Categories — Income-Based (EBC / Rajashri)

Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Scholarship (EBC)

For economically backward students from any caste — SC, OBC, General, all categories.

Schemes for Minority Community Students

Maharashtra provides scholarships for Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, Sikh, Parsi, Jain, and Jewish students.

Minority Scholarship — Professional Courses (DMER — Medical)

Minority Scholarship — Technical Courses (DTE)

State Minority Scholarship (Higher Education — DHE)

For minority students in degree and postgraduate programs.

Schemes for Students with Disabilities

Post-Matric Scholarship for Persons with Disability

For students with 40% or more disability.

Merit-Based Schemes (Open Category)

Open Merit Scholarship in Junior College

For general category students in Class 11–12 with merit.

Scholarship for Students with Distinction in Mathematics / Physics

For science students in higher secondary and graduation.

Schemes for Special Categories

Education Concession — Children of Ex-Servicemen

For sons and daughters of ex-Army, Navy, or Air Force personnel.

Education Concession — Children and Families of Freedom Fighters

For sons, daughters, wives, or widows of freedom fighters.

Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Hostel Maintenance Allowance

For post-matric students living in hostels.

Education Fee Reimbursement — Open Category (Medical)

For open/general category students admitted via CAP to private unaided medical colleges.

Documents Required for Most Scholarships

Prepare these before the portal opens:

• Income Certificate — valid for current academic year
• Caste Certificate (for reserved category schemes)
• Caste Validity Certificate — mandatory for all reserved category scholarships
• Aadhaar card
• Bank account in student’s own name — with Aadhaar seeding (NPCI linking) done
• Previous year marksheet and passing certificate
• Current year college admission letter and fee receipt
• Hostel certificate (if applicable)
• Bonafide certificate from college
• Disability certificate (for disability schemes)
• Ex-serviceman / Freedom Fighter proof (for relevant schemes)

Bank Account — Critical Requirement

All scholarship money is sent via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the student’s bank account. Two things must be true:

1. Account must be in the student’s name only — not joint, not parents’
2. Aadhaar must be seeded (NPCI linked) to the account at your bank

If Aadhaar seeding is missing, the money will not arrive even after scholarship approval. Visit your bank and ask for “Aadhaar seeding.”

When to Apply — Key Dates

Full month-by-month timeline: Maharashtra Scholarship Calendar

• May–June: Collect income certificate, caste validity, bank Aadhaar seeding
• July–September: MahaDBT portal opens — submit applications
• October–November: College verifies applications on portal
• December–March: Government processes and transfers money

Common Issues

• Which income certificate year is required
• Scholarship application rejected – reasons and fixes
• How to check scholarship status

Related Guides

• Documents Required for Maharashtra Scholarships (MahaDBT) – Full Checklist
• Documents Required for Income Certificate
• Documents Required for Caste Validity Certificate
• Caste Validity Certificate Guide
• Non-Creamy Layer Certificate Guide
• Domicile Certificate Guide Maharashtra

मराठीत वाचा

हा संपूर्ण मार्गदर्शक मराठीत उपलब्ध आहे: महाराष्ट्र शिष्यवृत्ती संपूर्ण माहिती (मराठी)

Scholarship schemes and eligibility criteria change annually. Always verify the latest details on mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in.