What are the main scholarship schemes in West Bengal?

Key scholarships include Kanyashree Prakalpa (girls), Shikshashree (SC/ST, Class 5–8), Oasis Scholarship (SC/ST/OBC, Class 9 to postgraduate), and Aikyashree (minority community students).

Can I apply for more than one scholarship at the same time?

Generally no, most schemes, including Oasis, allow only one scholarship award per student per year, even if you're technically eligible for multiple schemes.

Do I need to reapply for these scholarships every year?

Yes, in most cases, scholarships like Shikshashree and Oasis require a fresh application or renewal each academic year after the student is promoted to the next class.

What income limit applies to these scholarships?

It varies by scheme: Oasis sets a Rs. 2.5 lakh/year ceiling for SC/ST students and Rs. 1 lakh/year for OBC students. Kanyashree Prakalpa's income bar has reportedly been withdrawn according to the official portal, so check current rules before assuming you don't qualify.

How are scholarship amounts paid?

Almost all of these schemes use Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), crediting the amount directly to the student's own Aadhaar-linked bank account.

Is there a scholarship specifically for minority community students?

Yes: Aikyashree Scholarship covers minority community students (Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi) across pre-matric, post-matric, and merit-cum-means components.

West Bengal Scholarship Schemes 2026: Full List & Guide

What Are West Bengal's Scholarship Schemes

West Bengal runs several category-specific scholarship programmes aimed at reducing dropout rates and supporting continued education for girls, SC/ST students, OBC students, and minority community students. Most of these scholarships are income-tested (family income must fall below a set ceiling), category-specific (tied to caste, community, or gender), and disbursed through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) directly to the student's own bank account rather than routed through the school.

This page brings together West Bengal's main scholarship schemes, grouped by the category of student they serve, along with how their amounts and eligibility criteria compare. Explore all Student Schemes operating across the state.

Girl Student Scholarships

Targeted incentives promoting female literacy and delaying early marriage:

Kanyashree Prakalpa: For unmarried girls aged 13–18 studying Class 8–12: an annual K1 scholarship of Rs. 1,000, followed by a one-time K2 grant of Rs. 25,000 at age 18 for those continuing education, training, or sports. A smaller K3 component supports postgraduate/professional study after K2. Winner of the United Nations Public Service Award in 2017. See also our Women Welfare Schemes hub.

SC/ST Scholarships

Pre-matric and post-matric financial assistance for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students:

Shikshashree Scheme: Pre-matric scholarship for SC and ST day scholars in Class 5–8, paying Rs. 750/year (SC, Classes 5–7), Rs. 800/year (SC, Class 8), or a flat Rs. 800/year (ST, all classes). Formed by merging the older Book Grant and Maintenance Grant schemes under the Backward Classes Welfare Department.
Oasis Scholarship: Covers SC and ST students from Class 9 through postgraduate level, with amounts varying by course and hosteller/day-scholar status. Requires a family income under Rs. 2.5 lakh/year. ST applicants must complete a mandatory One-Time Registration (OTR) on the National Scholarship Portal before applying on oasis.gov.in.

OBC Scholarships

Dedicated educational support for Other Backward Classes (OBC):

Oasis Scholarship (OBC Component): Covers OBC students from Class 9 through postgraduate level, with a lower family income ceiling of Rs. 1 lakh/year compared to the SC/ST components. Pre-Matric OBC scholarships pay around Rs. 4,000/year, while Post-Matric OBC scholarships can go up to around Rs. 20,000/year for higher professional course groups.
Medhashree: A closely related scheme offering financial assistance (₹800/year) to OBC day scholars in Classes 5–8 under the same Backward Classes Welfare framework.

Minority Community Scholarships

Financial security for students from notified religious minorities:

Aikyashree Scholarship: West Bengal's dedicated scholarship programme for students from minority communities (Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi), covering pre-matric, post-matric, and merit-cum-means components across different education levels. Check our Minority Schemes hub for complete details.

Comparing Amount & Eligibility Across Schemes

Overview of key scholarship categories, target groups, and financial benefits:

Scheme	Category	Class/Age Range	Approx. Amount
Kanyashree Prakalpa	Girls (unmarried)	Age 13–18, Class 8–12	Rs. 1,000/yr (K1), Rs. 25,000 one-time (K2)
Shikshashree	SC/ST	Class 5–8	Rs. 750–800/yr
Oasis (Pre-Matric)	SC/ST/OBC	Class 9–10	~Rs. 1,000–4,000/yr
Oasis (Post-Matric)	SC/ST/OBC	Class 11–PG	Up to ~Rs. 20,000/yr
Aikyashree	Minority community	Pre-matric to PG	Varies by component

Because income ceilings, class eligibility, and exact amounts are revised periodically and can vary by specific component within each scheme, treat this table as a quick comparison rather than a final figure, always confirm current details on the individual scheme's page or the relevant official portal before applying.

How to Apply for These Scholarships

Follow these standard application and verification guidelines across West Bengal scholarship programs:

School/College-Based Schemes (Kanyashree, Shikshashree): Collect the physical application form directly from your educational institution, which handles verification and forwards it to the department.
Portal-Based Schemes (Oasis, Aikyashree): Register directly on the scheme's official online portal (oasis.gov.in for Oasis), completing caste/community certificate verification as part of registration.
Documents Needed Across Most Schemes: Caste/community certificate (where applicable), income certificate, Aadhaar card, school/college enrolment proof, and bank account details for DBT.
Annual Renewal Requirement: Most of these scholarships require a fresh application or renewal submission each academic year after promotion to the next class; they are not automatically carried forward.
One Scholarship Per Year Rule: For schemes like Oasis, a student can generally receive only one scholarship per year, even if technically eligible for more than one scheme.

Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means (SVMCM) Scholarship Framework

For high-performing students pursuing higher secondary, undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral studies in West Bengal:

Merit Criterion (60%+ Marks): Students scoring 60% or higher marks in Madhyamik, Higher Secondary, or undergraduate degree examinations qualify for merit-based financial stipends.
Monthly Financial Support Rates: Grants range from ₹1,000 per month for Higher Secondary students up to ₹5,000 per month for M.Phil and Ph.D. scholars across general, technical, and medical streams.
Bikash Bhavan Web Portal (svmcm.wbhed.gov.in): Applications are submitted directly on the official Higher Education Department portal with digital mark sheet verification.

Income Certificate Issuance Guidelines for Scholarship Applicants

Since most state scholarships require proof of family income below specific annual ceilings (₹1.0 Lakh to ₹2.5 Lakh), applicants must submit valid revenue certificates:

Competent Issuing Authorities: Income certificates must be issued by a Block Development Officer (BDO), Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), Joint BDO, or Executive Officer of a Municipality/Corporation.
Pradhan / Councillor Recommendations: Certificates issued by Gram Panchayat Pradhans or Municipal Councillors serve as preliminary recommendations and must be countersigned by BDO/SDO officers.
e-District Digital Certificate Portal: Applicants can request digital income certificates online through the West Bengal e-District portal (edistrict.wb.gov.in) using Aadhaar authentication.

Audit and Physical Document Verification Protocols

To ensure transparent disbursement and prevent duplicate claims across multiple portals:

Institutional Level Verification (Level 1): School headmasters and college principals verify candidate mark sheets, caste certificates, and admission receipts before institutional portal approval.
District Welfare Officer Inspection (Level 2): District Inspectors of Schools (DI) and Backward Classes Welfare officers conduct sample physical document audits prior to treasury fund release.
Single Scholarship Rule Compliance: Automated cross-checking across Oasis, Aikyashree, and SVMCM database servers blocks duplicate disbursements for the same academic year.

Hosteller vs. Day Scholar Maintenance Rates Comparison

Scholarship amounts under state portals like Oasis and Aikyashree differentiate between day scholars and students residing in recognized hostels:

Day Scholar Allowances: Cover basic tuition fees, book purchases, and routine school transportation, ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹5,500 per annum across secondary and degree levels.
Hosteller Maintenance Rates: Provide enhanced monthly maintenance stipends (up to ₹1,200/month or ₹14,400/year) to cover mess charges and hostel accommodation expenses for students residing away from home.

Special Disability Reader Allowances and Special Equipment Support

Students with benchmark disabilities (40% or higher) receiving state scholarships qualify for additional supportive allowances:

Reader Allowance for Visually Impaired Trainees: Visually impaired scholars receive additional monthly allowances (₹1,000 to ₹2,000/month) to compensate reader assistants.
Escort and Prosthetic Device Support: Orthopedically or hearing-impaired students receive one-time grants for purchasing hearing aids, wheelchairs, and specialized learning devices under Social Welfare Department guidelines.

Timely Application Renewal and Help Desk Channels

To maintain uninterrupted annual scholarship disbursements, students must submit online renewal applications immediately after passing end-of-year board or university examinations. For technical support, password resets, or bank account update queries, candidates can visit their institution's scholarship desk or call the Department of Higher Education toll-free helpline at 1800-102-8014.