Nanded university waives winter-2026 exam fees for students from drought-hit talukas

Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University (SRTMUN) in Nanded district has announced a waiver of examination fees for the winter-2026 exams for eligible students from drought-affected talukas in Maharashtra. The decision, announced on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, aims to provide relief to students amidst drought conditions in the region.

This initiative follows instructions issued during a review meeting chaired by the state higher and technical education minister on October 1, 2026. The fee waiver applies to regular students across various courses, including undergraduate, diploma, postgraduate, professional, and non-professional programmes, at university campuses, sub-centres, and affiliated colleges.

Eligibility and Application Process

To avail themselves of the examination fee waiver, students must meet specific eligibility criteria. They are required to submit proof of residence in a taluka declared drought-affected by the Maharashtra government. Also, students must provide a certificate confirming their family’s annual income does not exceed Rs 8 lakh.

Students must also confirm that they have not received examination fee reimbursement under any other government educational concession. The university’s Board of Examinations and Evaluation has urged eligible students to contact their respective colleges with the necessary documents and a prescribed undertaking. Documents submitted by students will undergo scrutiny and verification at the college level to ensure only eligible candidates receive the waiver.

Scope of the Fee Waiver

The fee waiver specifically targets the winter-2026 examinations, which are scheduled to take place in November and December 2026. This measure extends to students enrolled in various courses offered by SRTMUN and its affiliated institutions. The relief is significant given that 265 of the 358 talukas in Maharashtra have been declared drought-affected by the state government.

The Maharashtra government’s Relief and Rehabilitation Department had issued a government resolution on September 25, 2026, declaring drought-like conditions in these 265 talukas and implementing various concessions, including exam fee waivers for school and college students. This university-level waiver aligns with broader state efforts to mitigate the impact of drought on students.

Broader Context of Student Relief Measures

This fee waiver by SRTMUN is part of a series of relief measures implemented by the Maharashtra government and educational bodies. The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education had also issued instructions on September 25, 2026, to waive exam fees for SSC (10th) and HSC (12th) students from drought-affected talukas for the February-March 2027 examinations.

Previously, the Maharashtra government had waived exam fees for higher education students in 282 disaster-hit talukas following the 2025 floods. SRTMUN itself has a history of student welfare initiatives, including the Student Welfare Assistance Scheme (SWAS), initiated in 2015. This scheme, funded by voluntary contributions from university staff and the public, has provided over Rs 14,00,000 in support to more than 500 students for tuition fees, living expenses, and essential stationery.

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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