Pune University: 65,200 Students Get Exam Fee Waiver Amid Drought
Pune, 19th October 2026: As many as 65,200 students of Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) have submitted examination forms without paying fees through the ‘zero-challan’ facility introduced by the Maharashtra government for students from drought-affected talukas.
Across the state, 2,40,365 students from 26 universities have benefited from the examination fee waiver so far. The government expects the number to exceed five lakh as the deadline to submit examination forms is October 30.
The initiative aims to ensure that students from drought-affected families do not face financial difficulties in continuing their education. The state government has directed universities not to collect examination fees from eligible students and has initiated refunds for those who had already paid.
The Relief and Rehabilitation Department issued a government resolution on September 25 identifying drought-affected talukas. The number of such talukas subsequently increased from 265 to 305. Following this, the Higher and Technical Education Department directed universities to implement the examination fee waiver.
Universities have issued circulars to implement the decision. Students who have not yet submitted their examination forms can use the zero-challan facility to apply without paying the examination fee.
SPPU, COEP and Tilak Maharashtra University Implement Relief
At SPPU, 65,200 students have benefited from the facility. COEP Technological University and Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth have also started the process of refunding examination fees collected earlier.
Meanwhile, 255 students of Deccan College, a deemed university in Pune, have submitted their examination forms without paying fees.
Among other institutions, the University of Mumbai has begun processing refunds for eligible students. The government said the implementation of the scheme was being reviewed regularly to ensure that eligible students received the benefit.
Dr Shailendra Deolankar, Director of Higher Education, is overseeing the implementation process. Students facing difficulties in obtaining the fee waiver have been advised to contact the helpline numbers provided by their respective universities.
Chandrakant Patil Says No Eligible Student Will Be Left Out
Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil said the government was committed to ensuring that drought did not interrupt students’ education.
“The government has taken this decision urgently so that students from drought-affected families do not face the financial burden of examination fees. By waiving examination fees for lakhs of students, the state government is standing firmly behind them. The process is underway, and no eligible student will be deprived of this benefit,” Patil said.
The fee waiver and refund process is continuing across participating universities, with the government expecting more students to benefit before the October 30 deadline.
