Maharashtra Class 10, 12 exam fees waived for 82,074 students in drought-hit areas

The Maharashtra government has waived examination fees for 82,074 Class 10 and 12 students in Latur district, which has been declared entirely drought-hit. This measure is part of broader drought relief efforts announced by the state government on September 25, 2026, and September 30, 2026, covering students in 265 drought-affected talukas across Maharashtra.

The fee exemption applies to students appearing for the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) examinations scheduled for February-March 2027. The Latur Zilla Parshad’s education department has instructed headmasters not to collect examination fees from these eligible students.

Beneficiaries in Drought-Affected Regions

The fee waiver specifically targets students in areas severely impacted by inadequate rainfall, leading to drought declarations. Of the 82,074 beneficiaries in Latur district, 47,555 are Class 10 students and 34,519 are Class 12 students. Latur tehsil accounts for the highest number of beneficiaries within the district.

The Devendra Fadnavis government has declared drought in 265 of Maharashtra’s 358 talukas this year, representing nearly 74% of the state’s talukas. The Maharashtra Board has directed its divisional offices to start using this fee exemption and to inform schools and junior colleges accordingly. Also, 43 other talukas have been identified for potential extension of these relief measures.

Examination Schedule for 2027

The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has released the schedule for the upcoming Class 10 (SSC) and Class 12 (HSC) board examinations. The HSC Class 12 examinations are slated to commence from February 8, 2027, and conclude on March 16, 2027. The SSC Class 10 examinations will be held from February 15 to March 11, 2027.

Practical, oral, graded, and internal assessments for HSC students are scheduled from January 20 to February 6, 2027. For SSC students, these assessments will take place from January 28 to February 13, 2027. Students are advised to confirm with their respective schools that their application forms have been submitted within the regular-fee window to avoid any late charges, as eligible students will not be required to pay examination fees.

Application Process and Next Steps

The state government issued a Government Resolution (GR) on September 25, 2026, outlining these relief measures. The Maharashtra Board next directed its divisional offices to ensure putting in place the fee exemption and to communicate this information to all schools and junior colleges. Eligible students will not be required to pay examination fees when submitting their online application forms.

Students from newly identified drought-like areas should await an official notification from the state government or the Maharashtra Board to confirm their eligibility for the fee exemption. All students are encouraged to visit the official Maharashtra State Board website, mahahsscboard.in, for the complete SSC and HSC exam timetable and any further updates. Admit cards are expected in January 2027, and students must collect them from their schools and verify all details, reporting any errors immediately.

Further reading

• Maharashtra board waives exam fees for Class 10, 12 students in 265 drought-hit talukas
• Nanded university waives winter-2026 exam fees for students from drought-hit talukas
• PGD in Data Science colleges in Maharashtra 2026: courses, fees, admission, rank
• PGD Data Science in Maharashtra 2026: fees range from ₹65,000 to ₹2.75 lakh

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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