The Maharashtra e-Scholarship, also known as Mahaeschol, is a set of scholarship programs offered by the Government of Maharashtra to provide financial assistance to students from economically weaker sections and backward classes to pursue education.
These scholarships aim to promote education among students from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Vimukta Jati Nomadic Tribes (VJNT), Other Backward Classes (OBC), Special Backward Classes (SBC), and Economically Backward Classes (EBC).
The scholarships are managed through the MahaDBT portal (mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in) and other platforms like mahaeschol.maharashtra.gov.in.
Maharashtra e-Scholarships provide critical financial support to students from disadvantaged backgrounds, covering pre-matric and post-matric education. By meeting eligibility criteria, applying through the MahaDBT or mahaeschol portals, and submitting required documents, students can access benefits like tuition fee waivers, exam fee reimbursements, and maintenance allowances.
Benefits of Maharashtra e-Scholarships
The benefits vary by scheme and include financial assistance for tuition fees, examination fees, maintenance allowances, and hostel expenses. Scholarships reduce the financial burden on families, enabling students to pursue higher education without loans.
Schemes like freeships cover fees for students whose family income exceeds scholarship limits but is within freeship criteria (e.g., up to ₹8 lakh). Some schemes provide merit-based incentives, encouraging academic excellence.
The funds are transferred directly to the student’s bank account via DBT. Below are some key benefits:
1. Post-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST/SBC/VJNT/OBC:
Covers 100% tuition and examination fees for students in government/government-aided institutions.
Maintenance allowance or hostel students (amount varies based on course and category, e.g. ₹1200–₹2500 per month).
2. Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Merit Scholarship:
Provides ₹3000–₹5000 per annum for students in Classes 11 and 12.
3. Savitribai Phule Scholarship:
Financial assistance of ₹1000–₹2000 per annum for SC/SBC/VJNT girl students in Classes 5 to 10.
4. Dr. Punjabrao Deshmukh Vasatigruh Nirvah Bhatta Yojna:
Hostel maintenance allowance ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹30,000 per annum, depending on the course and location (urban/rural).
5. EBC Scholarship:
Reimbursement of 50%–100% of tuition and examination fees for economically backward students.
6. Minority Scholarships:
Up to ₹25,000 per annum for professional courses, covering tuition and maintenance.
7. Pre-Matric Scholarships:
Covers tuition fees, exam fees, and a small stipend (₹500–₹1000 per month) for students in Classes 1 to 10 engaged in unclean occupations.
8. Vocational Training and ITI Scholarships:
Stipend of ₹500 per month for trainees in government ITIs.
Reimbursement of vocational training fees for backward and economically weaker sections.
Eligibility Criteria for Maharashtra e-Scholarship/ Mahaeschol
1. Domicile: The applicant must be a resident of Maharashtra, with proof such as a domicile certificate, birth certificate, or school leaving certificate.
2. Bank Account: A bank account linked with Aadhaar is mandatory for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of scholarship funds.
3. Institution: Students must be enrolled in a government-recognized institute in Maharashtra.
4. Academic Performance: For certain scholarships, a minimum percentage of marks is required (e.g., 60% or above in the previous examination for some post-matric scholarships).
5. Category: Many scholarships are specific to SC, ST, VJNT, OBC, SBC, or EBC categories. Some are open to all (e.g., for economically weaker sections).
6. Students must have passed SSC from the Maharashtra State Board with a minimum of 75% marks.
7. Students from other states are generally not eligible unless their parents have a Maharashtra domicile.
8. Students receiving other scholarships or stipends may not be eligible for some schemes.
9. For OBC/SBC/VJNT students, a Non-Creamy Layer Certificate is required.
Application Process
The application process for Maharashtra e-Scholarships is primarily online through the MahaDBT portal (mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in) or mahaeschol.maharashtra.gov.in. Some schemes may also require offline submission of documents.
Visit the Official Portal:
Go to https://mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in or https://mahaeschol.maharashtra.gov.in. For ST students, use https://etribal.maharashtra.gov.in for specific schemes.
Register:
Click on "New Registration" and select the registration method (Aadhaar or biometric).
Provide mobile number and verify with OTP.
Create a username and password.
Fill Application Form:
Log in using credentials.
Select the appropriate scholarship scheme (pre-matric or post-matric).
Fill in personal, academic, and income details.
Upload required documents (e.g., caste certificate, income certificate, mark sheets, Aadhaar card, bank passbook).
Verify and Submit:
Verify all details and submit the application.
Take a printout of the application form for future reference.
Submit Hard Copy (if required):
Some institutes require students to submit a hard copy of the application along with attested documents to the college office.
Track Application:
Use the application ID to track the status on the MahaDBT portal or Aaple Sarkar DBT portal (aaplesarkar.mahaonline.gov.in).
Offline Application Process (where applicable):
1. Contact the scholarship-providing department, school, college, or institution to obtain the application form.
2. Fill in all required details and attach supporting documents.
3. Submit the completed application to the respective department or institution.
Required Documents:
Aadhaar card (linked to bank account).
Caste certificate (for SC/ST/OBC/SBC/VJNT).
Income certificate (issued by Tahsildar).
Domicile certificate or school leaving certificate.
Mark sheets of the last examination (e.g., SSC, HSC).
CAP allotment letter (if applicable).Bank passbook or canceled cheque.
Non-Creamy Layer Certificate (for OBC/SBC/VJNT).
Hostel certificate (for hostel maintenance schemes).
Important Dates for 2024-25:
The application window for 2024-25 is open until May 31, 2025, so eligible students should apply promptly to take advantage of these opportunities.
Application Start Date: July 25, 2024.
Last Date for Application (New/Renewal): May 31, 2025.
Re-apply for 2023-24: Extended till May 31, 2025.
For further details:
https://mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.inMahaeschol
https://mahaeschol.maharashtra.gov.inAaple
https://aaplesarkar.mahaonline.gov.in
