India, Oct. 20 -- The government's decision to waive examination fees for students from drought-hit talukas has benefited 2,40,365 students across 26 universities in the state so far, officials said on Monday.

At Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), 65,200 students have benefited from the facility, while COEP Technological University and Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth have also begun refunding examination fees collected earlier.

The higher and technical education department implemented the waiver following a government resolution issued by the relief and rehabilitation department on September 25, which identified drought-affected talukas. The number of drought-hit talukas subsequently increased from 265 to 305. Under the decision, uni...