The Jawaharlal Nehru University Scholarship is a Maharashtra state scheme. It is not a scholarship from Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi, although the university selects the student. The Directorate of Higher Education (DHE) runs it.
It gives one Maharashtra student at JNU on a Junior Research Fellowship a monthly amount plus a yearly contingency allowance. For 2026-27, applications go through the MahaDBT 2.0 portal. The official pages I could read do not give a last date for 2026-27.
What you get
The scheme page gives Rs. 8,000 a month plus Rs. 10,000 a year. The rate was revised from 2003-04 by a Government Resolution dated 5 February 2004, which the scheme page cites.
| Payment | Amount | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly scholarship | Rs. 8,000 a month | Revised rate from 2003-04 (GR dated 5 February 2004) |
| Yearly contingency allowance | Rs. 10,000 a year | Revised rate from 2003-04 (GR dated 5 February 2004) |
The official pages do not say whether these rates changed for 2026-27. A Government Resolution dated 2 August 2017 moved payment of these scholarships into each student’s Aadhaar-linked bank account from 2017-18, instead of paying the college. This scheme is item 9 in that resolution’s annexure.
Who can apply
- Applicants must be domiciled in Maharashtra and be Maharashtrian students who studied at JNU.
- Only students pursuing a Junior Research Fellowship qualify.
- The scheme is open to all categories.
- The quota is one student, decided by JNU.
Students who are not domiciled in Maharashtra, who are not at JNU, or who are not on a Junior Research Fellowship do not qualify. The official pages do not state marks, family income or age limits.
How to apply
- Fresh and renewal applications for 2026-27 are accepted only on the MahaDBT 2.0 portal. Go to mahadbt2.maharashtra.gov.in.
- Do not start from the “Login to apply” button on the older scheme page. That button links to the older portal’s login.
- Register as a new applicant or log in. The official help file for the portal, written for the older system, describes Aadhaar registration with an OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number, and a separate route for applicants without Aadhaar.
- Complete your profile. The profile covers personal details, address, parent details, current course, past qualifications and hostel details.
- Find the scheme under the All Schemes screen and apply. Applicants can apply from that screen or open the GR for the scheme.
- If the office sends your application back, the officer records the reason, and you can see it after logging in. Correct the profile and use the re-apply option. The re-apply button sits under My Applied Scheme.
Documents you need
- A fee receipt, a domicile certificate and the previous year’s mark sheet.
- A bank account linked to your Aadhaar. The portal says Aadhaar seeding is required to receive DBT benefits.
How students are selected
The university selects one student under the GR dated 7 May 1983. The official pages do not publish marks, criteria or a selection timeline.
Renewal
The renewal section on the official scheme page has no text. The 1983 Government Resolution that set up the scholarship says the tenure is four years. It can be extended by six months in deserving cases, and it continues on satisfactory progress. Check the MahaDBT 2.0 portal for 2026-27 renewal rules.
Important dates
- The older MahaDBT 1.0 portal stayed open from 10 to 30 September 2026 for pending applications from 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26.
- For 2026-27, fresh and renewal applications are accepted only on MahaDBT 2.0. I could not read an official opening or closing date for 2026-27, so check the portal before you apply.
Official sources
Checked against these official sources on 5 November 2026.
