Kanyashree Prakalpa Scheme — K1, K2 & K3 Explained (2026)

What Is the Kanyashree Prakalpa Scheme

Kanyashree Prakalpa is a conditional cash transfer scheme launched by the Government of West Bengal in 2013, run by the Department of Women and Child Development and Social Welfare. The word "Kanyashree" translates loosely to "girl who flourishes like a creeper," reflecting the scheme's aim of helping adolescent girls grow and continue their education instead of being married off early.

The scheme has attracted international recognition for its scale and design, receiving the United Nations Public Service Award in 2017 from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA). It has also been cited by UNICEF and other international bodies as a model conditional cash transfer programme for girl-child welfare.

Kanyashree Prakalpa works through two main financial components, K1 and K2, plus a smaller K3 component for higher education, each targeting girls at a different stage of their schooling. Official digital portal tracking and school master lists are managed via wbkanyashree.gov.in.

Objectives of the Scheme

The overarching social and educational objectives of Kanyashree Prakalpa include:

• Prevent Early Child Marriage: Delay marriage until at least age 18, the legal minimum age for women in India, by making early marriage financially disadvantageous for families.
• Promote Secondary Education Retention: Keep girls enrolled in school through secondary and higher secondary education via a recurring financial incentive tied to continued, unmarried student status.
• Support Vocational & Higher Studies: Support higher education and vocational training for girls who complete school and wish to continue studying or training after turning 18.
• Social & Economic Inclusion: Improve the overall social and economic status of girls from low-income and disadvantaged families across West Bengal.

For complete guides tailored for local communities, read our Kanyashree Prakalpa essay in Bengali resource. Explore all Scholarship Schemes in West Bengal and Women Welfare Schemes for related welfare programs.

K1, K2 & K3 — Amount Details

Figures for this scheme are frequently misreported online, so here are the amounts as listed on the official Kanyashree Prakalpa portal (wbkanyashree.gov.in):

K1 — Annual Scholarship

• Amount: Rs. 1,000 per year.
• Paid every year to unmarried girls aged 13 to 18 years, enrolled in Class 8 through Class 12 (or an equivalent open school, vocational, or technical training course).
• Paid annually for as long as the girl remains unmarried and continues her education, up to age 18.
• Note: The K1 amount was originally Rs. 500 per year when the scheme launched in 2013–14 and 2014–15, and was later revised upward to Rs. 1,000.

K2 — One-Time Grant

• Amount: Rs. 25,000, paid once.
• Given to girls when they turn 18 years of age, provided they are still unmarried and are pursuing regular education, vocational/technical training, sports training, or are a registered inmate of a Juvenile Justice (J.J.) home.
• A one-time developmental grant, not a recurring payment, meant to support the transition into adulthood and higher education.

K3 — Higher Education Support

A smaller, additional component providing variable financial assistance for girls pursuing postgraduate or professional/technical studies after the K2 stage. The amount varies by course and stream (typically Rs. 2,000 per month for Science streams and Rs. 2,500 per month for Arts/Commerce or specialized courses), confirm current figures through your college or the official portal.

On the income limit: Kanyashree Prakalpa originally required family annual income below Rs. 1.2 lakh, with the cap waived for orphans, girls with 40% or higher disability, and inmates of registered J.J. homes. According to current information on the official Kanyashree portal, this income bar has since been withdrawn, meaning every eligible girl can apply regardless of family income. Since rules are occasionally revised, confirm the current income criteria at your school or on wbkanyashree.gov.in before applying.

Eligibility Criteria

For K1 (Annual Scholarship):

• Must be an unmarried girl aged 13 to 18 years.
• Must be a permanent resident of West Bengal.
• Must be enrolled in Class 8 to Class 12 (or an equivalent government-recognised open school, vocational, or technical training course).

For K2 (One-Time Grant):

• Must have turned 18 years of age.
• Must be unmarried at the time of application.
• Must be continuing education, vocational/technical training, or sports training, or be a registered inmate of a J.J. home.

For both components, applicants must have a bank account in their own name, since all payments are made through direct bank transfer (DBT).

Documents Required

Prepare photocopies of the following documents before submitting your K1 or K2 application:

• Birth certificate or a Madhyamik admit card / school record confirming date of birth.
• Proof of West Bengal residence (Aadhaar card, voter ID, or ration card).
• Bonafide certificate or admission proof from the current school/college.
• Bank passbook copy showing account number, IFSC code, and single account holder name.
• A signed declaration confirming unmarried status (signed by student and parent/guardian).
• Recent passport-size photographs of the student.

For K2 specifically, additional proof of ongoing education, training, or institutional enrolment is usually required.

How to Apply

1. Collect the application form: Form K1 (annual scholarship) or Form K2 (one-time grant), free of cost from your school, college, or nearest Kanyashree-designated institution. The forms are traditionally printed on different coloured paper for easy identification.
2. Fill in personal, educational, and bank details carefully, since the benefit is paid directly via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
3. Attach the required supporting documents listed above.
4. Submit the completed form to your school or college Kanyashree nodal teacher, who forwards it for portal entry and verification.
5. Verification happens at the block level (BDO office), while the district magistrate office acts as the sanctioning authority.
6. Once approved, the scholarship or grant amount is credited directly to the applicant's bank account.

Because the process runs through educational institutions, approach your school or college's Kanyashree nodal teacher or administrative office as the first point of contact for fresh applications and renewals.

How to Check Application Status

Applicants can track K1 or K2 application progress through the official Kanyashree Prakalpa status-check page on the portal (wbkanyashree.gov.in), entering details such as the application year, scheme type (K1 or K2), Applicant ID, and date of birth to view current status, under verification, sanctioned, or disbursed.

If your status hasn't updated for an extended period, follow up with the block or district office handling your application, since delays are usually procedural rather than a rejection.

To check your Kanyashree application status step-by-step, see our dedicated guide.

Institutional Verification Workflow and Nodal Teacher Role

The administration of Kanyashree Prakalpa relies heavily on educational institutions across West Bengal to ensure transparent beneficiary management:

• School Nodal Teachers: Every recognized high school and higher secondary institution designates a Kanyashree Nodal Teacher responsible for distributing Form K1/K2 and assisting students during submission.
• Digital Data Entry: Nodal teachers digitize paper forms onto the portal at wbkanyashree.gov.in, verifying student attendance and unmarried declarations against school registers.
• Block & District Approval: Submitted files are verified by the Block Development Officer (BDO) and formally sanctioned by the District Magistrate's office prior to IFMS fund release.

Special Coverage for Vulnerable Categories

To ensure complete social inclusion, Kanyashree Prakalpa incorporates special relaxation provisions:

• Juvenile Justice Home Inmates: Resident girls in government-registered J.J. homes are eligible for K1 and K2 grants with age relaxation and simplified documentation.
• Differently-Abled Students: Girls with 40% or higher physical or intellectual disability receive priority processing and automatic fee waivers across technical courses.
• Orphaned Girls: Orphaned applicants are exempted from guardian income declarations upon certification by local social welfare officers.

Frequently Asked Questions

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