Maharashtra puts curbs on scholarships for marginalized students

The state of Maharashtra in India has revised the eligibility criteria for the Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj Scholarship Scheme, which supports students from marginalized communities to study abroad. The new rules require candidates to have scored 75% and above in their academic records, up from 60% previously, and impose an annual income limit of Rs 8 lakhs. This has raised concerns as the average income of SC and ST families is significantly lower. The scholarship amount is also capped at INR 30 lakh for Master's degrees and INR 40 lakh for PhDs, which is considered insufficient to cover the high costs of studying in countries like the US and the UK.
Students and advocates, deeply affected by these changes, are not sitting idle. They are rallying against the unnecessary barriers these new rules have created for first-generation learners and lower-middle-class students who were previously eligible. They are pointing out the contradiction between the new academic requirements and financial caps and the scheme's original intent to promote education among marginalized groups. Their efforts have culminated in legal action, with a public interest litigation filed in the Bombay High Court.
The situation has sparked debate about the adequacy of government support for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, especially when compared to international scholarship programs that offer more generous financial aid. There is a growing call for the government to reconsider these policies to ensure they genuinely facilitate access to higher education for all deserving students