Government of Maharashtra approves increase in scholarship allowance for SC and ST students

The Maharashtra Cabinet on Tuesday (October 6, 2026) approved a series of decisions, including increased allowances under scholarship and hostel schemes for ST and other backward students, a new ‘Mukhyamantri Shaurya Padak’ for police personnel for acts of bravery, increase in royalty for the Wadar community in stone mining and a death compensation policy.

Under the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Swayam Yojana, the government has approved the revision of allowances for Scheduled Tribe students. “As the number of Scheduled Tribe students enrolling in various courses increases, the available admission capacity in government hostels is decreasing,” the CMO office said.

To make it easier for Scheduled Tribe boys and girls to get higher education while living outside their native villages, the Department runs Government Hostels at Divisional, District, Taluk and Rural levels. From the academic year 2016-17, “Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Swayam Yojana” has been implemented for Scheduled Tribe students pursuing higher education after class 12 who could not get admission in government hostels, receiving a lump sum every year – for food, accommodation and maintenance allowance at fixed rates – credited directly to their Benefit Accounts – Direct Transfers

Accordingly, the revised allowance rates, students studying in Mumbai, suburban Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad and Nagpur will get ₹80,000 annually revised from ₹60,000, this includes food allowance of ₹42,000, accommodation allowance and ₹8,000, maintenance allowance of ₹10,000. For students studying in other locations, the amount has been revised to ₹50,000 from ₹38,000

For students studying in other revenue division headquarters and ‘C’ category municipal corporation areas, the allowances will be increased to ₹68,000 from ₹51,000. Medical and engineering students will receive a lump sum of ₹8,000 per year for study materials, while students from other streams will receive ₹4,000 per year.

Under the Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Swadhar Yojana students from Scheduled Castes and Navbuddha categories who are eligible for government hostels but could not get access to them for higher education and who are pursuing higher education in Mumbai City, Mumbai Suburban, Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad and Navi Thaig will now, Navi Thapurg, get a total annual grant of ₹80,000.

Students studying in colleges and educational institutions in other district locations as well as within a radius of 5 kilometers from city corporation limits will receive a total annual grant of ₹57,000. Students pursuing higher education at taluka-level seats will receive a total annual grant of ₹50,000, which includes ₹30,000 food allowance, ₹13,000 accommodation allowance and ₹7,000 nutrition allowance.

Decision to increase the honorarium of staff working in 2,388 hostels for Scheduled Caste students, including 1,804 hostels for boys and 584 for girls, with a total student capacity of 99,852. In hostels located in metropolitan areas and also in ‘A’ and ‘B’ category municipal corporation areas, the honorarium for wardens will be increased from ₹ 10,000 to ₹ 20 ₹ 000, for cooks from ₹ 8,500 to ₹ 17,000, for helpers from ₹ 7,500 and ₹ 0,500 for watchmen. ₹7,500 to ₹15,000. For hostels in remaining areas of the state, the revised honorarium will be ₹15,000 for warden, ₹12,000 for cooks, ₹10,000 for helpers and ₹10,000 for watchmen.

Other cabinet decisions included announcing the Chief Minister Shaurya Medal to be awarded to officers and police personnel for risking their lives in the line of duty. This includes ₹50,000 in cash, a medal and a certificate. The awardees will be decided annually by a three-tier system of committees and will be announced every year on the eve of Maharashtra Day, May 1.

Published – 7 Oct 2026 01:35 IST