Maharashtra waives exam fees for 2.4 lakh students in drought-hit talukas
By TUF News Desk · Published 20 October 2026 · 3 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
2,40,365 students across Maharashtra have filled their semester exam forms this year without paying any fees.
The state government has waived examination fees for students from drought-affected talukas, and the latest department figures put the beneficiary count at 2.4 lakh across 26 state universities. Officials expect the number to cross five lakh by October 30, when the exam-form submission window closes for the semester examinations.
How the waiver works
The Relief and Rehabilitation Department issued a government resolution on September 25 identifying the drought-affected talukas, and the count has since gone up from 265 to 305. Following that, the Higher and Technical Education Department directed universities to stop collecting exam fees from eligible students, and to refund anyone who had already paid.
Rather than paying first and claiming reimbursement later, eligible students can submit their forms through a zero-fee option. Savitribai Phule Pune University students can use the facility on the university’s official portal while the forms window remains open.
Who has benefited so far
At Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), 65,200 students have benefited from the facility. COEP Technological University and Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth have started refunding fees collected earlier, and the University of Mumbai has begun processing refunds for eligible students.
Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil said the decision was taken promptly so that students from drought-hit families would not carry the extra burden of exam fees. “The process is underway, and no eligible student will be deprived of the benefit,” he said.
The director of higher education is overseeing the rollout across the state’s public universities, and students who face difficulty availing the waiver have been advised to reach out to the helplines set up by their universities.
Students trying to keep college costs down this year may also want to check the guide to scholarships for Indian university students, which lists central and state schemes that run alongside relief measures like this one.
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible for the Maharashtra exam fee waiver?
Students from talukas identified as drought-affected by the state government. The list grew from 265 to 305 talukas after the September 25 government resolution, and eligibility covers students of the state’s public universities.
How do I submit my exam form without paying the fee?
Use the zero-fee option on your university’s exam-form portal while the window is open. Forms can be submitted until October 30, and the government expects the beneficiary count to cross five lakh by then.
What if I already paid my exam fee?
Universities have been directed to refund fees already collected from eligible students. SPPU, COEP Technological University, Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth and the University of Mumbai have started processing refunds.
Where can I get help if the waiver is not applied?
Students facing difficulties have been advised to contact the helplines set up by their respective universities, and the implementation is being monitored by the director of higher education.
Is the waiver active at all universities?
The zero-fee option has been implemented across 26 state universities so far. SPPU, COEP Technological University, Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth and the University of Mumbai are among those that have started the refund process for students who had already paid.
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible for the Maharashtra exam fee waiver?
Students from talukas identified as drought-affected by the state government. The list grew from 265 to 305 talukas after a September 25 government resolution.
How do I submit my exam form without paying the fee?
Use the zero-fee option on your university's exam-form portal while the window is open. Exam forms can be submitted until October 30, and the government expects the beneficiary count to cross five lakh by then.
What if I already paid my exam fee?
Universities have been directed to refund fees already collected from eligible students. SPPU, COEP Technological University, Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth and the University of Mumbai have started processing refunds.
Where can I get help if the waiver is not applied?
Students facing difficulties have been advised to contact the helplines set up by their respective universities; the scheme's implementation is being monitored by the director of higher education.
Is the waiver active at all universities?
The zero-fee option has been implemented across 26 state universities so far, with SPPU, COEP Technological University, Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth and the University of Mumbai among those processing refunds.
Sources: The Indian Express, Hindustan Times, Punekar News