Aazan Manzoor
Srinagar, July 8: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has announced a full fee waiver for students belonging to Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families studying in government schools and government degree colleges across the Union Territory as part of its welfare measures aimed at ensuring equitable access to education.
According to two separate government orders issued by the School Education Department and the Higher Education Department, copies of which are with news agency JKNS, eligible students studying in Classes IX to XII in government schools and undergraduate Semester I to VIII in government degree colleges will be exempted from payment of all fees with immediate effect.
The orders state that the benefit shall be available only to students belonging to households covered under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and possessing a valid AAY ration card or any other document prescribed by the government.
For school students, the School Education Department has issued Government Order No. 26-JK(Edu) of 2026, sanctioning complete fee waiver in all government schools of Jammu and Kashmir.
Similarly, the Higher Education Department has issued Government Order No. 2-JK(HE) of 2026, extending the same benefit to undergraduate students studying from Semester I to VIII in all government degree colleges functioning under the administrative control of the department.
The government has clarified that while eligible students will be exempted from all fees levied by government institutions, any fee payable to outside statutory authorities or examining bodies shall continue to be governed by the existing rules unless separately waived by the competent authority.
In the case of undergraduate students, the order also specifies that the fee waiver shall be applicable only if the student is not receiving any other scholarship assistance.
Both departments have directed the Heads of Institutions and Drawing & Disbursing Officers (DDOs) to verify the eligibility of beneficiaries before granting the waiver and maintain proper records for audit, inspection and verification.
The orders further state that the financial implications arising from the implementation of the scheme will be worked out by the concerned Directorates and communicated to the Administrative Departments for reimbursement through the Finance Department.
The Director School Education, Jammu, Director School Education, Kashmir and Director Colleges, J&K have been directed to ensure strict implementation of the orders, including beneficiary verification, monitoring, maintenance of records and submission of periodic reports.
The decision has been issued with the concurrence of the Finance Department and approval of the competent authority as part of the Budget 2026–27 welfare announcements of the Jammu and Kashmir Government. (JKNS)
