25 May,2026 09:37 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Maharashtra Higher and Technical Education Chandrakant Patil (File pic)
The Maharashtra Higher and Technical Education Department on Monday announced the rollout of an integrated scholarship system, âMaha scholarship', under the upgraded MahaDBT 2.0 portal, aimed at simplifying and digitising all post-Class 10 scholarship schemes from the academic year 2026-27.
An official statement said, the announcement was made by Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Dada Patil, who said the initiative will make the scholarship process "simpler, transparent and time-bound," ensuring that application, verification, renewal and benefit transfer are managed through a single digital platform.
A Government Resolution (GR) issued by the Higher and Technical Education Department, the system that has been developed by MahaIT will be implemented as a student-centric administrative reform. The objective is to consolidate scholarship-related services across departments and eliminate procedural delays.
Under the new framework, all scholarship schemes after Class 10 will be integrated into the MahaDBT 2.0 portal. At present, students must apply separately for schemes across departments, often submitting multiple forms and repeated documentation.
The upgraded system aims to resolve these challenges by bringing all services under one digital interface.
A key reform is the simplification of application forms. The number of data fields required from students has been reduced from over 130 to nearly 65. Wherever possible, information will be auto-fetched from Aadhaar, CET Cell, and other government databases, significantly reducing duplication, errors, and ineligible applications.
The existing four-level scrutiny process has been reduced to two levels, which is expected to accelerate approval timelines and ensure faster disbursal of scholarship funds. Beneficiaries will be able to track application status online, while approved amounts will be directly transferred to Aadhaar-linked bank accounts.
Officials further highlighted that the renewal process has also been simplified through pre-filled applications. Students will no longer need to resubmit full forms every year and will only be required to update fee details or changed information. For income-based schemes, income certificates submitted in the first year will remain valid for the entire course duration, reducing repeated documentation.
The official statement further clarified that while the administrative system is being upgraded, the eligibility criteria, financial limits, and scheme benefits will remain unchanged. Detailed guidelines will be made available on the MahaDBT 2.0 portal ahead of implementation.
Maharashtra's Higher and Technical Education Minister Patil said, "The initiative marks a significant step toward digital governance focused on students," adding that the reform will enhance speed, transparency, and efficiency in scholarship delivery across Maharashtra.
