AI SummaryMaharashtra government is running the Maintenance Allowance to Backward Class Students in Sainik Schools scheme in 2026 to support VJNT and SBC students who are studying in recognised Sainik Schools across the state. Students in the three old Sainik Schools at Satara, Pune and Nashik get full reimbursement of lodging, boarding, clothing, uniform, horse riding, pocket money, tuition fees and examination fees, while students of other recognised Sainik Schools get a maintenance allowance of ₹15,000 per year.
Run by Social Justice and Special Assistance Department, Government of Maharashtra, this scholarship is meant to increase the number of backward class students in Sainik Schools so more of them get a fair shot at the National Defence Academy (NDA). Application is fully online through the MahaDBT portal. Also read: MahaDBT Scholarship Schemes 2026.
Maintenance Allowance for Sainik School Students Maharashtra 2026
This scholarship covers boys and girls from Vimukta Jatis (VJ), Nomadic Tribes (NT) and Special Backward Class (SBC) categories who are studying in classes 5th to 12th at any Sainik School recognised or approved by the Government of Maharashtra. Parents' yearly income should be within the limit set by the department, which is ₹2.50 lakh as per the latest MahaDBT rules.
Money is not handed over in cash. Full fee-based benefits go straight to the Sainik School for cadets of Satara, Pune and Nashik. For other recognised Sainik Schools, the yearly ₹15,000 amount is paid via DBT to the student's bank account linked with Aadhaar. Payment is done in two parts, and the second part comes only if the student has at least 60 percent attendance in the current academic year.
How to Apply on MahaDBT Portal
Apply date and last date change every academic year, so students should keep a watch on the notice section of the MahaDBT portal. The full process is online, and no offline form has to be sent to the department.
STEP 1 - Open the official MahaDBT portal at mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in and click on 'New Applicant Registration' on the top right of the homepage. Fill in your name, mobile number, email ID and set a password. An OTP will come on the mobile number for confirmation.
STEP 2 - After registration is done, go back to the login page and sign in using the username and password just created. First-time users are asked to complete Aadhaar authentication, so keep the Aadhaar number and Aadhaar-linked mobile number ready.
STEP 3 - Fill the applicant profile in full. This includes personal details, address, caste details, family income, bank account details linked with Aadhaar, and academic details of the class you are studying in.
STEP 4 - Go to the 'Apply for Scheme' section, pick 'Social Justice and Special Assistance Department', and select the scheme named 'Maintenance Allowance to Backward Class Students Studying in Sainik Schools'. Fill the scheme-specific form, upload the required documents and submit the application. Save the acknowledgement number for future tracking.
Key Details of Sainik School Maintenance Allowance Scheme
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Maintenance Allowance to Backward Class Students in Sainik Schools |
| Launched By | Government of Maharashtra |
| Department | Social Justice and Special Assistance Department |
| Eligible People | VJ, NT and SBC students in classes 5th to 12th |
| Benefit Amount | ₹15,000 per year (private Sainik Schools) / Full expenses covered (Satara, Pune, Nashik) |
| State | Maharashtra |
| Application Mode | Online via MahaDBT portal |
| Official Website | mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in |
Benefits Under the Scheme
The scheme has two levels of support based on which Sainik School the student is attending. This division is done because the three old Sainik Schools set up by the state itself already have a fixed fee structure and hostel setup, so the state directly pays those costs. Other schools are private, so a yearly cash-based scholarship is given.
- For Sainik Schools at Satara, Pune and Nashik: Full costs of lodging, boarding, clothing, uniform, horse riding, pocket money, tuition fees and examination fees are paid by the department directly to the school.
- For other recognised Sainik Schools: A maintenance allowance of ₹15,000 per student per year is paid to the student's bank account via DBT.
- Duration cap: Payment is made for a maximum of 10 months in an academic year, and second instalment needs 60 percent attendance to be released.
Who Can Apply
To get benefit from this scholarship, students should meet the following conditions set by the Social Justice department:
- Student should be a citizen of India and a permanent resident of Maharashtra.
- Student should belong to Vimukta Jatis (VJ), Nomadic Tribes (NT) or Special Backward Class (SBC) category.
- Student should be studying in classes 5th to 12th.
- Student must be enrolled in a Sainik School recognised or approved by the Government of Maharashtra.
- Parents' total yearly income should be within ₹2.50 lakh as per MahaDBT scholarship rules.
- Student should not be getting a similar scholarship from any other government scheme at the same time.
Documents Required
Applicants should keep the following documents scanned and ready before starting the online form, since MahaDBT does not allow partial saving after a session timeout:
- Aadhaar card of the student, linked with an active mobile number.
- Maharashtra domicile or permanent resident certificate.
- Caste certificate confirming VJ, NT or SBC category, issued by the competent authority.
- Caste validity certificate, if already issued.
- Bonafide certificate from the Sainik School showing current class and admission year.
- Marksheet of the previous class.
- Income certificate of parents issued by Tahsildar.
- Bank passbook copy showing name, account number, IFSC and Aadhaar seeding.
References
Official Guidelines | Frequently Asked Questions | User Manual | Definition of Sainik Schools
Related reading: Maharashtra Government Schemes for Students.
FAQ's
How much money is given under this Sainik School scholarship in 2026?
Students at the old three Sainik Schools of Satara, Pune and Nashik get full expenses covered for hostel, meals, uniform, horse riding, pocket money and school fees. Students of other recognised Sainik Schools get ₹15,000 per year paid to their bank account by DBT.
Who can apply for this scholarship?
Students from VJ, NT or SBC category, permanent residents of Maharashtra, studying in classes 5th to 12th in a recognised Sainik School, and with family income within ₹2.50 lakh per year can apply through the MahaDBT portal.
Where do I apply for this scheme?
Apply online at mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in under the Social Justice and Special Assistance Department scheme list. No offline application is accepted, so bank details linked with Aadhaar are a must.
Can students get this scholarship along with another scholarship?
No. Students getting a similar maintenance or fee-based scholarship from another central or state government scheme cannot claim this one at the same time.