Maha announces free higher education for girls from EWS, SEBC, OBC groups

The Maharashtra government on Monday said higher education for girls of the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBC) and OBCs will be free, the announcement being seen as a major women-oriented sop ahead of the assembly polls later this year. In the cabinet meeting headed by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, a decision was also made to waive tuition and exams fees for orphan students (male and female), as per a government resolution (GR). The decision will be implemented from academic year 2024-25 and is expected to cost Rs 906 crore, it added. A GR said female students seeking admission to recognised vocational courses through Centralised Admission Process in government colleges, aided private colleges and semi-aided private colleges and non-aided colleges, polytechnic, autonomous government universities, open universities can avail the facility. These include courses run by higher and technical education, medicine, pharmacy, agriculture, ..