Maharashtra May Revert Scholarship Exams to Class 4 and 7 Amid Falling Registrations

Pune, 5th July 2025: Maharashtra’s education department is considering shifting scholarship examinations back to Class 4 and Class 7, after seeing a consistent drop in student registrations since the exam was moved to Class 5 and Class 8 in 2016. Previously, about 1.5 million students registered annually for the scholarship exams, but the number has now declined to around 1 million.

According to officials, holding the exams for Class 4 and 7 students was more effective and inclusive, encouraging a stronger competitive spirit at an earlier age. Therefore, a proposal to revert to the original class levels has been sent to the government, though a final decision remains pending.

The scholarship examinations, conducted annually by the Maharashtra State Examination Council, aim to build interest in competitive exams among school students. Each year, around 33,000 students receive scholarships under the program. Currently, Class 5 students get ₹5,000 per year, while Class 8 students receive ₹7,500.

The new academic year began on June 16, with students already resuming studies. However, the lack of a clear decision on the scholarship exams has created confusion among parents, teachers, and students. Education experts have also demanded that the government take a positive decision quickly, given the need to expand both the scope of the exam and the number of beneficiaries.

The provisional results of the Class 5 and 8 scholarship exams held on February 9, 2025, were released on April 25. However, the final merit list has still not been announced, leading to mounting inquiries at the Maharashtra State Examination Council. According to officials, the final results will be declared within the next eight days.