The Maharashtra government has issued or implemented several important administrative decisions in October 2026 affecting students, property owners and families in drought-affected regions. These decisions cover examination-fee relief, rules for mortgaging certain properties built on government land, and overseas higher-education scholarships.
Government resolutions, commonly called GRs, are official documents used to communicate government decisions, instructions, policy changes and administrative procedures. Their practical effect depends on the wording of each order, its effective date and the people or institutions covered by it.
Here are the major recent developments, their key provisions and where citizens can check the original documents.
1. Examination Fees Waived for Students in Drought-Affected Areas
Department: Higher and Technical Education Department
Latest reported update: October 20, 2026
The Maharashtra government has directed universities not to charge examination fees to eligible students from drought-affected talukas. The measure is intended to prevent financial hardship from interrupting students’ education.
According to an Indian Express report published on October 20, 2,40,365 students across 26 state universities had used the zero-fee option while completing their semester-examination forms. The number of drought-affected talukas had increased from 265 to 305.
The University of Mumbai had also begun refunding examination fees amounting to approximately ₹3.5 crore. The department expected the total number of beneficiaries across the state to exceed five lakh.
What does the order provide?
The reported instructions require universities and colleges covered by the decision to:
- Accept eligible examination applications without collecting examination fees.
- Refund examination fees already collected from eligible students.
- Inform students about the exemption through university circulars and other communication.
- Follow the government’s directions on the fee waiver.
Reports have also stated that institutions could face action if they collect fees contrary to the instructions.
Who may benefit?
Students studying in drought-affected talukas who fall within the scope of the relevant government resolution may benefit. The exemption is not automatically applicable to every student in Maharashtra; eligibility depends on the notified areas and the precise terms of the order.
Students should contact their university’s examination department or designated nodal officer if a fee is still being demanded or a refund has not been processed.
What should students do?
Keep a copy of the examination-fee receipt, application form and any relevant university communication. Students who have paid the fee should ask their institution about the refund procedure and timeline.
Sources:
- Indian Express — Examination-fee waiver for 2.4 lakh university students
- Maharashtra State Board exam-fee exemption for Class 10 and 12 students
2. New Rules for Mortgaging Property on Certain Government Land
Department: Revenue Department
Reported order date: October 19, 2026
News publication date: October 20, 2026
A recent Maharashtra government order has clarified the requirements for mortgaging flats, shops and other properties situated on certain categories of government land.
The reported rules concern properties on land held under Occupancy Class II (Bhogwatadar Class II) or government lease arrangements. Such properties can have restrictions on transfer or other transactions, so owners should not assume that the same procedures apply as for unrestricted freehold property.
What are the reported mortgage charges?
According to Loksatta’s report on the Revenue Department order, the following charges apply to the loan amount:
| Purpose of the loan | Reported mortgage charge |
|---|---|
| Residential, educational, medical, cultural and social purposes, including specified cooperative housing purposes | 0.25% |
| Industrial and commercial purposes | 0.50% |
| Eligible mortgage transactions completed without prior permission and subsequently regularised | Twice the applicable prescribed charge |
For example, if the applicable loan amount is ₹20 lakh, a charge of 0.25% would equal ₹5,000, while 0.50% would equal ₹10,000. This is an illustration of the reported percentages, not a quotation for an individual property.
Is prior permission required?
The report states that the relevant District Collector’s prior permission is required before mortgaging a covered property. The prescribed charge must be paid before permission is granted.
The permission is linked to the approved loan amount. Owners should confirm the precise requirements with the Collector’s office before entering into a loan agreement or registering a transaction.
What about an existing mortgage completed without permission?
The reported order provides a route for regularising certain earlier mortgage transactions by paying twice the prescribed charge. Whether a particular transaction qualifies must be determined by the competent authority under the applicable rules.
What happens if the borrower defaults?
If a bank or financial institution wants to sell or auction the mortgaged property to recover an unpaid loan, the reported rules require prior permission from the District Collector. Details about the outstanding loan and expected sale value must be provided, and government dues may also have to be paid from the sale proceeds.
The land’s tenure does not automatically become freehold following the transaction; the reported rules preserve the applicable Occupancy Class II or government-lease status.
What about charges collected in earlier years?
The report says that mortgage charges assessed or collected from February 27, 2009, are treated as valid under the revised legal framework. It also describes restrictions on bringing fresh claims for refunds of those charges.
Because these provisions can affect property rights and financial liabilities, owners should read the original order and seek advice from the Revenue Department, District Collector or a qualified legal professional before taking action.
Source: Loksatta — Maharashtra government land mortgage fee rules
3. Overseas Higher-Education Scholarship for Economically Weaker Open-Category Students
Department: Higher and Technical Education Department
Government resolution date: October 1, 2026
Published by the Directorate of Technical Education: October 5, 2026
The Directorate of Technical Education, Maharashtra, has published a government resolution concerning the overseas higher-education scholarship for meritorious students from economically weaker sections of the open category for the 2026–27 academic year.
The scheme supports eligible students pursuing postgraduate degrees or postgraduate diplomas abroad.
What does the latest resolution do?
The October 1 resolution approves 21 selected students for the 2026–27 academic year under the scheme. The document states that 40 places are available for the relevant postgraduate scholarship category.
The resolution lists selected students, their courses and overseas universities. The selection process considered eligibility requirements and a selection committee’s assessment, including university ranking criteria.
What conditions apply?
The published order sets out requirements for scholarship beneficiaries, including:
- Compliance with the scheme’s eligibility rules and conditions.
- Verification of the information supplied in the application.
- Submission of the prescribed undertaking and supporting documentation.
- Attendance at the overseas university in accordance with the admission offer, subject to the scheme’s rules.
- Completion of the course within the permitted period.
The scholarship may be cancelled if verification reveals false information, and the government can seek recovery of funds where the conditions for the award are not met.
Can new applicants apply now?
The October 1 document is an approval order for selected students; it should not be interpreted as a new open application window. Students interested in applying in a future cycle should check the Directorate of Technical Education’s announcements for application dates, eligibility, financial limits and required documents.
Official documents:
- Directorate of Technical Education — Government resolutions, orders and circulars
- Official October 1, 2026 scholarship resolution (PDF)
4. Cabinet Amendments to Rules for Small Government Plots
Reported decision date: October 13, 2026
News publication date: October 15, 2026
The Maharashtra cabinet approved amendments to the Maharashtra Land Revenue (Disposal of Government Land) Rules, 1971, according to a Times of India report published on October 15.
The policy concerns small, unusable or inaccessible government land parcels that may be difficult to develop or use efficiently for public purposes.
Why is this decision relevant?
Small government plots can create administrative and land-management challenges when they cannot readily be used for development or public services. Revising disposal rules may provide a clearer process for dealing with such parcels.
The cabinet decision indicates a policy change, but the exact rights, eligibility conditions, valuation method, approval process and implementation dates depend on the detailed amended rules and any subsequent government resolution.
People who own adjoining land, occupy government land or are considering a land transaction should not assume that the amendment automatically grants them ownership or a right to purchase a plot.
Before making a financial or legal decision, check the official amended rules and obtain confirmation from the relevant Revenue Department authority.
Source: Times of India — Maharashtra cabinet expands policy for disposal of small government plots
5. Where to Find the Latest Maharashtra Government Circulars and GRs
The government issues orders through different departments, so there is no single short list that captures every current circular. The most reliable approach is to use the official government portal and the relevant department’s document page.
Official portals to check
1. Maharashtra Government Resolutions portal
Use the portal to search government resolutions by department, date, keywords or document reference number.
2. Directorate of Technical Education
Government resolutions, orders, letters and circulars
Useful for technical education, scholarships, admissions and related administrative decisions.
3. Directorate of Municipal Administration
Useful for municipal councils, Nagar Panchayats, urban local bodies, employee service matters and administrative instructions.
4. Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department
Government resolutions archive
Useful for Gram Panchayats, Zilla Parishads, rural development funding and local-government schemes.
5. Maharashtra Foreign Scholarship portal
Official scholarship information
Useful for scholarship advertisements, government resolutions, application information and selected-candidate notices across participating departments.
How to verify whether a circular is current
Before relying on a circular, check its issue date, department, reference number, applicability, effective date and whether a later order amended or cancelled it.
A news article can help explain a government decision, but the signed GR or official circular is the controlling document for determining the exact conditions.
Conclusion
The latest notable Maharashtra government decisions reported by October 20, 2026, include examination-fee relief for students in drought-affected areas, revised mortgage rules for certain properties on government land, approval of overseas scholarships for selected students and amendments concerning the disposal of small government plots.
These decisions affect different groups of people, and the eligibility requirements are not interchangeable. Students should contact their universities, property owners should consult the Revenue Department or District Collector, and scholarship applicants should use the official Directorate of Technical Education portal.
For anyone following Maharashtra government circulars, the key is to verify the original document before acting on a news summary.
Editorial note: This article summarises selected recent decisions identified in official listings and news reports. It is not a complete register of every government circular issued in Maharashtra. Check the original GR for legal wording and current applicability.
Leave a Reply