Archive · 19 Jul 2025
Maharashtra Grants Fee Waivers for Orphan Students' Higher Education
The Maharashtra government is now helping orphan students pay for college.
They will no longer have to pay for tuition or exams, starting in the new school year.
This happened because someone in the government, Rais Shaikh, asked for it.
They noticed that many orphans couldn't afford school.
The government will also help students who started college as orphans back in 2018.
This should make it easier for orphans to get an education and hopefully get jobs later on.
Maharashtra government will provide full tuition and exam fee waivers to orphan students starting from the 2024-25 academic year.
The decision follows a demand from Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh.
Benefits will be applied retrospectively to eligible students admitted since 2018.
The government also issued directions regarding job reservations for orphans.
Many orphan students were dropping out due to lack of financial aid.
- Who
- The Maharashtra government and orphan students.
- What
- The Maharashtra government is providing full tuition and exam fee waivers to orphan students.
- When
- Starting from the 2024-25 academic year, with benefits also applied retrospectively to those admitted since 2018.
- Where
- Maharashtra, India
- Why
- To enable orphan students to pursue higher education without financial constraints and address the issue of dropouts.
Advocates for Orphan Students
Government Response
Financial Support
Advocates for Orphan Students
Orphan students should receive 100% fee waivers for education and other benefits.
Government Response
N/A
Job Reservation
Advocates for Orphan Students
Implement 1% job reservation for orphans in all government and semi-government offices.
Government Response
N/A
- Benefit
- Full tuition and exam fee waivers
- Target Group
- Orphan students
- Start Date
- Academic year 2024-25
- Retroactive Application
- Yes, for students admitted since 2018
- Initiator
- Rais Shaikh, Samajwadi Party MLA
- Government Department
- Women and Child Development Department