Maharashtra Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Swadhar Yojana

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

The Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Swadhar Yojana provides financial assistance to eligible Scheduled Caste and Neo-Buddhist students in Maharashtra who qualify for government hostel admission but do not get a hostel seat. The scheme supports students studying in Class 11, Class 12 and eligible post-12 professional and non-professional courses and is implemented by the Social Justice and Special Assistance Department, Government of Maharashtra.

Under the Swadhar Yojana, students receive financial assistance for food, accommodation and subsistence expenses. The total assistance ranges from ₹38,000 to ₹60,000 for two semesters or 10 months, depending on the location of the educational institution. Students can also receive an additional ₹5,000 per year for educational materials if they study medical or engineering courses, while students in other eligible courses can receive ₹2,000 per year.

To apply for the Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Swadhar Yojana, the student must be a resident of Maharashtra and belong to the Scheduled Caste or Neo-Buddhist community. The student must meet the prescribed educational and income conditions, have a caste certificate, maintain an Aadhaar-linked bank account and meet the other eligibility requirements specified under the scheme.

Whereas, students from other reserved categories can apply under the schemes meant for their respective categories. Scheduled Tribe (ST) students can apply under the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Swayam Yojana, while Other Backward Class, Vimukta Jati, Nomadic Tribes and Special Backward Class students can apply under the Gyan Jyoti Savitribai Phule Aadhaar Yojana.

The scheme covers students whose educational institution is located in different areas of Maharashtra, including major cities, other divisional cities, municipal corporation areas, districts and taluka-level areas. The assistance amount changes according to the location of the institution, while eligible institutions located within 5 km of municipal corporation limits are also covered under the prescribed conditions.

Students can submit the Maharashtra Swadhar Yojana online application through the Hostel Management and Swadhar portal. Applicants first register on the portal and complete Aadhaar authentication. They then enter their personal, address, parent, current qualification and previous qualification details, select hostel preferences, provide bank details, upload the required documents and submit the application after reviewing the declaration.

Eligible students can continue receiving the benefit subject to the scheme's continuation conditions. They must maintain the required attendance, pass the academic year and satisfy the prescribed conditions for renewal. The scheme also sets maximum benefit periods and specific conditions for failed years, ATKT and education breaks.

Scheme Benefits

The scheme provides financial support to eligible students who cannot get admission to a government hostel. The assistance helps students manage accommodation, food and educational expenses while continuing their studies.

• Eligible students receive financial assistance for food and accommodation expenses.
• The scheme provides subsistence assistance to eligible students for their educational period.
• Students receive additional financial assistance for educational materials.
• Medical and engineering students can receive an additional ₹5,000 per year for educational materials.
• Students from other eligible courses can receive an additional ₹2,000 per year for educational materials.
• The financial assistance is transferred directly to the student's Aadhaar-linked bank account through DBT.

Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Swadhar Yojana Assistance Amount

The Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Swadhar Yojana provides annual financial assistance based on the location of the educational institution. The assistance covers food, accommodation and subsistence expenses for the prescribed academic period.

Additional Assistance for Educational Materials

• Medical and engineering students receive an additional ₹5,000 per year for educational materials.
• Students studying other eligible courses receive an additional ₹2,000 per year for educational materials.

The assistance mentioned above covers two semesters or 10 months. The Maharashtra Government Resolution dated 26 December 2024 specifies these revised assistance rates and the additional educational-material assistance.

Eligibility Requirements

Students need to meet the following eligibility conditions to apply for the Bharatratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Swadhar Yojana.

• The student belongs to the Scheduled Caste or Neo-Buddhist category and submits a valid caste certificate.
• The student is a resident of Maharashtra.
• The student is eligible for admission to a government hostel, applied for it, and did not get a seat due to lack of capacity.
• The student mentions Swadhar Yojana as an option while applying for the government hostel.
• The student links the Aadhaar number to an account in a nationalised or scheduled bank.
• The student's family income does not exceed ₹2.50 lakh a year, a limit that moves in line with the Centre's post-matric scholarship income ceiling
• The student studies in 11th standard, 12th standard, or in higher education after that.
• The student is not a local resident of the city, municipal area, or taluka where the college is located, including colleges within 5 km of a municipal corporation boundary
• The student scores a minimum of 50 percent marks or an equivalent grade or CGPA in the immediately preceding academic year
• The student is enrolled in a course of at least two years' duration that is itself eligible for government hostel admission
• Transgender students from the Scheduled Caste category are eligible for the scheme
• Divyang students from the Scheduled Caste and Neo-Buddhist categories get 3 percent reservation, with a disability certificate of over 40 percent from the District Civil Surgeon and a separate merit list at a 40 percent qualifying mark
• Women get 30 percent horizontal reservation under the scheme
• The student stays within a maximum age of 30 years and can avail the benefit for a maximum of 7 years, or 8 years for a professional course
• The student is enrolled in a full-time course only.

The following students cannot avail the benefit of this scheme.

• A student who already holds a government hostel seat and gives it up to claim Swadhar Yojana instead
• A student who has already availed the benefit for a degree or postgraduate course in one branch and takes admission in another branch's degree or postgraduate course
• A student who completes a professional course and then joins a non-professional degree or postgraduate course, such as an engineering graduate joining an M.A. programme
• A student who is employed or runs a business
• A student enrolled in a part-time course, a distance or external course, or a job-linked executive course
• A student who receives an ATKT or backlog for a second time in the same course
• A student who simultaneously avails a government hostel seat or the Vidyavetan Yojana stipend along with Swadhar Yojana.

Required Documents

Applicants need to keep the following documents ready before applying for the Bharatratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Swadhar Yojana.

• Caste certificate proving Scheduled Caste or Neo-Buddhist category
• Aadhaar card linked to a nationalized or scheduled bank account
• Notarized affidavit stating that the student lives on rent and is not a local resident
• Self-declaration certifying that the information submitted is true and accurate
• Certificate confirming that the student has not taken admission in any government hostel
• Rent receipt and rent agreement for the accommodation
• Proof of admission to the college or educational institution
• Marksheet of the previous qualifying examination showing the required minimum marks or CGPA
• Income certificate showing that the family income does not exceed the prescribed limit
• Domicile or residence proof of Maharashtra

Steps to Apply

Eligible students can apply for the Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Swadhar Yojana online through the Hostel Management and Swadhar portal. The application process includes registration, Aadhaar authentication, entering personal and educational details, selecting hostel preferences, uploading documents and submitting the application.

Follow these simple steps to complete the Swadhar Yojana online application:

1. Visit the HMAS portal to apply for the scheme.
2. Register on the portal by entering your username, password, mobile number and email ID, and verify your details through OTP and captcha.
3. Log in to your account using your registered username, password and captcha.
4. Complete Aadhaar authentication by entering your Aadhaar number and verifying it through the OTP received on your registered mobile number.
5. Select the required application details such as category, caste, income, college district, college taluka, service type, academic year and application type.
6. Enter your personal details including marital status, parent or orphan details, caste certificate details and domicile information.
7. Enter your current and permanent address and save the details to continue the application.
8. Enter your parent details including the required address and contact information.
9. Enter your current course details such as college, course, qualification level, admission year, year of study, admission date and other required educational information.
10. Enter your previous education details including course, board or university, passing year, result, percentage, CGPA, if applicable, and education gap details.
11. Provide the other required information related to maintenance allowance, disability, previous government hostel admission and course availability in your district.
12. Enter your bank account details and upload the required bank passbook.
13. Upload the required documents and check each uploaded document before proceeding with the application.
14. Preview your Swadhar Yojana application and verify all the details and documents carefully.
15. Accept the declaration and proceed to payment to complete the application submission process.
16. Check your application status after submission to track the application and hostel selection status. You can also download the application form and payment receipt from the application-status section.

Eligibility Conditions for Renewal of Benefits

Selected students must keep meeting the following conditions every year to continue receiving the Bharatratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Swadhar Yojana benefit.

• The student must pass the respective academic year to continue receiving the benefit.
• If the student fails, no Swadhar assistance will be provided for the failed academic period. The benefit can resume after the student passes, subject to the scheme conditions.
• The student maintains at least 75 percent attendance at the educational institution
• The student submits a quarterly attendance certificate from the institution to remain eligible for the next quarter's payment
• The student submits each semester's examination result to the concerned Grihapal within 15 days of the result being declared
• The student's academic progress, discipline and conduct remain satisfactory throughout the course
• The student gets only one exemption for an ATKT or backlog across the entire course, since a second ATKT ends further eligibility
• The student does not take up any job or business while availing the benefit
• The student continues in the same full-time course, as shifting to a part-time, distance, external or job-linked executive course ends eligibility
• The student stays within the overall cap of 7 years, or 8 years for a professional course, and within the maximum age limit of 30 years
• The student takes a break in education only once and only if it does not exceed 2 years, and remains within the scheme's age limit after resuming
• The student avoids continuing to draw the benefit without attending classes, without academic progress, or while doing a job or business, since this leads to recovery of the paid amount with 12 percent interest and possible legal action.

Relevant Links

• Maharashtra Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Swadhar Yojana Online Registration
• Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Swadhar Yojana Applicant Login
• Maharashtra Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Swadhar Yojana Guidelines.
• Maharashtra Social Justice and Special Assistance Department
• Maharashtra Swadhar Yojana Details

Contact Information

• Maharashtra Hostel Management System (For Grievance and Support)
  • Toll Free Number: 020-26127569
  • Email: [email protected]
• District-Wise Social Welfare Contact Details
• Social Justice and Special Assistance Department Contact Details