Exam fee waiver for college students in 35 drought-hit tehsils of four districts

Nagpur: There is relief for children of farming families battered by drought. The state government has declared 35 tehsils in four districts drought-affected, and it has been decided to waive the examination fees of eligible college students in these tehsils. Nagpur University has taken the step for the academic session 2026-27. The move will help students pursuing higher education amid financial hardship, and their families.

Students who have already paid their examination fees will get the money back. Those whose examination applications are in progress or have not yet begun will have their applications accepted without a fee. The move will ease the burden of education costs on farming families troubled by drought.

The decision was taken after discussion at an online meeting held on October 14. The meeting was chaired by the Minister for Higher and Technical Education and attended by the vice-chancellors of all the state's universities. Dr Anup Palsokar, director of the university's Board of Examinations and Evaluation, then issued a circular on the matter.

According to the circular, eligible students of various courses, including regular and former students, will get relief in examination fees. Colleges have been told to verify students' eligibility and then accept their examination applications.

To obtain refunds for fees already paid, colleges will have to fill in the correct information in the prescribed statement and submit it to the university. A deadline of 15 days has been set. Colleges have been directed to prepare details of eligible students in the prescribed format and send them to the university in time so that the refund process can be completed.

For examinations whose applications are in progress or yet to begin, the university's online system has been given a zero-fee challan facility. Eligible students will not have to pay a fee while filling in the application. However, before using it, colleges must confirm the students' eligibility. Only then can the applications be forwarded to the university.

The tehsils declared drought-affected include all 14 in Nagpur district, all 8 in Wardha district and all 8 in Gondia district. Of the 7 tehsils in Bhandara district, 5 are on the drought-affected list. Eligible college students in a total of 35 tehsils across the four districts will thus benefit from the fee waiver.

When drought hits farming and household income, meeting the cost of children's education becomes a challenge for farming families. In such a situation, waiving fees and refunding money already paid could be a big relief for students. Despite the financial difficulties, they will be able to continue their studies and examinations.