Scholarships & Fee Waivers

Multiple government schemes can reduce or eliminate tuition fees for eligible medical students. Below is a guide to the main schemes, their eligibility, and where to apply.

Important disclaimer

Scholarship amounts are set annually by the respective government authority. Income ceilings and eligibility criteria may change each year. Always verify current amounts and rules with your institution and the relevant state social welfare department before applying.

EBC Freeship (Economically Backward Class)

MaharashtraLive

Administering authority

Maharashtra Social Justice & Special Assistance Department

MahaDBT — mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in

Eligibility

Maharashtra domicile
Annual family income below threshold set by state (verify current limit at MahaDBT portal)
Admitted to government or government-aided college in Maharashtra
Not already receiving another government scholarship for the same year

What it covers

Tuition fees, exam fees, and other prescribed charges. Amounts vary annually — set by state government each year.

How to apply

Apply on MahaDBT portal after admission. Upload income certificate, domicile, caste certificate (if applicable), and admission documents.

Scholarship amounts are revised annually by Maharashtra government. Verify current amounts at MahaDBT or with your college accounts office.

SC / ST Fee Waiver

Central + StateLive

Administering authority

Central: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment / State: Social Welfare Dept.

National Scholarship Portal — scholarships.gov.in

Eligibility

Valid SC or ST caste certificate from competent authority
Income below prescribed limit (central post-matric scholarship: no income limit for state govt colleges; income ceiling for central institutions — check NSP)
Admitted to recognised medical/dental/AYUSH college
Not already claiming from duplicate scheme

What it covers

Full tuition fee waiver at government colleges in most cases. Maintenance allowance and other components vary by scheme and institution type.

How to apply

Apply on National Scholarship Portal (NSP). State welfare departments may have supplementary schemes — check state portal.

Both central post-matric scholarship and state-level fee waivers may apply concurrently in some cases. Verify with college and state social welfare department.

OBC Corporation Scholarship

MaharashtraLive

Administering authority

Maharashtra OBC Financial Development Corporation (MSOBCFDC)

MahaDBT / MSOBCFDC — mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in

Eligibility

Maharashtra domicile
Belongs to OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) category as per Maharashtra list
Annual family income below NCL ceiling (verify current ceiling — set annually)
Enrolled in professional course (MBBS, BDS, AYUSH qualify)

What it covers

Partial tuition fee support and maintenance. Amounts vary annually.

How to apply

Apply through MahaDBT portal. Required documents: caste certificate, NCL certificate, income certificate, admission letter.

OBC NCL certificate for state scholarship differs from OBC-NCL certificate used for MCC AIQ counselling. Ensure you have the correct certificate type.

TFWS — Tuition Fee Waiver Scheme

Central / Institution-specificProposed

Administering authority

AICTE / Institution (verify for medical colleges)

AICTE portal / College admission office

Eligibility

TFWS is primarily applicable to AICTE-approved technical programs
Applicability to medical/dental/AYUSH programs must be verified with the specific college and regulatory body (NMC/AACCC)
Typically: annual family income below ₹8 lakh (verify current threshold)
Must be admitted through merit — not through management or NRI quota

What it covers

Full tuition fee waiver for eligible seats (typically 5% of approved intake). Hostel and other fees not covered.

How to apply

Apply at college admissions office at the time of admission. Seats are limited — TFWS eligibility and availability varies by college.

Medical colleges are regulated by NMC, not AICTE. TFWS applicability to MBBS/BDS/AYUSH is not uniform. Verify directly with the college and NMC before assuming eligibility.

EWS 10% Reservation

Central + StateLive

Administering authority

Central Government / State Governments

Applied at counselling stage — MCC / State authority

Eligibility

Annual family income below ₹8 lakh (current central threshold — verify annually)
Does not own more than 5 acres of agricultural land
Does not own a residential flat of 1,000 sq ft or more in notified municipalities
EWS certificate from competent authority (tehsildar/SDM/collector)
Not from SC, ST, or OBC categories (EWS is for general/UR candidates only)

What it covers

10% horizontal reservation in AIQ and state quota seats. Separate EWS merit list in counselling.

How to apply

Obtain EWS certificate before counselling starts. Upload certificate at MCC / state counselling portal during choice-filling.

EWS reservation is a quota, not a fee waiver. It ensures access to seats but does not reduce fees. Apply for fee waiver separately through applicable schemes.

MahaDBT — Maharashtra Government Scholarship Portal

Source: Maharashtra Government · EduPath verified Jun 2026

Visit official source

National Scholarship Portal — Central Government Schemes

Source: Ministry of Electronics & IT / Ministry of Education · EduPath verified Jun 2026

Visit official source

Scholarship amounts are set annually. Eligibility criteria, income ceilings, and application windows change each year. Always verify with your institution's accounts office and the relevant state social welfare department before relying on any scheme for fee planning. EduPath is not responsible for changes in scheme rules after the date of verification shown above.