Shikshashree Scheme — SC/ST Scholarship for Class 5–8 (2026)

What Is the Shikshashree Scheme

Shikshashree (also written Sikshashree) is a pre-matric scholarship scheme run by the Government of West Bengal for students from the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities studying in Classes 5 to 8. The scheme was launched in the financial year 2014-15 by the Backward Classes Welfare and Tribal Development Departments, Government of West Bengal, formed by merging two older, smaller schemes: the Book Grant and the Maintenance Grant.

The earlier grants were considered too small and their selection process too cumbersome, so the state government consolidated them into a single, simplified scholarship to make support more transparent and easier to access for eligible families.

A closely related scheme, Medhashree, offers the same financial assistance amount to OBC (Other Backward Class) students under the same Backward Classes Welfare framework, the two schemes differ only in caste-category eligibility (SC/ST for Shikshashree, OBC for Medhashree).

Objective of the Scheme

The primary educational and social inclusion goals of Shikshashree include:

• Financial Support for School Essentials: Provide financial assistance to SC and ST students in Classes 5 to 8 to help cover books, stationery, uniforms, and other education-related expenses.
• Reduce Upper Primary Dropout Rates: Reduce dropout rates at the upper primary level, a stage where many children from economically weaker SC/ST families face pressure to leave school.
• Promote Girl Child Education: Encourage school attendance and participation, particularly among girl students from these communities.
• Streamlined DBT Disbursement: Simplify and modernise the earlier Book Grant and Maintenance Grant system into one transparent, DBT-based scholarship.

Explore all Scholarship Schemes in West Bengal and all Student Schemes in West Bengal for additional student aid options.

Shikshashree Scholarship Amount

The scholarship amount varies slightly by class level and category:

• SC Students, Class 5, 6, and 7: Rs. 750 per year.
• SC Students, Class 8: Rs. 800 per year.
• ST Students, Class 5 to 8 (Flat Rate): Rs. 800 per year for all classes.

The scholarship is fully funded by the West Bengal State Government and is transferred directly to the student's bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), so families don't need to visit a bank or collect the amount in cash.

While Rs. 750–800 per year is a modest amount, it's intended to offset recurring costs like books, stationery, and school supplies at a stage of education where even small financial pressure can push a family toward pulling a child out of school. For minority scholarship opportunities, see the Aikyashree Scholarship.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for Shikshashree, student applicants must satisfy the following conditions:

• The applicant must be a permanent resident of West Bengal.
• The applicant must belong to the Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, supported by a valid SC/ST caste certificate.
• The applicant must be studying in Class 5 to Class 8 in a Government, Government-aided, or Government-recognised school in West Bengal.
• The applicant must be a day scholar, students staying in government hostels are not covered under Shikshashree, since separate hostel-based welfare benefits apply to them instead.
• The applicant's annual family income must not exceed Rs. 2.5 lakh.
• The applicant should not be receiving any other scholarship or stipend for the same period.
• Students must submit a fresh application every academic year after being promoted to the next class; the award isn't automatically carried forward without renewal.

Documents Required

Prepare photocopies of the following documents before submitting your application to the school office:

• Valid SC/ST caste certificate (issued by Sub-Divisional Officer or competent authority).
• Proof of West Bengal residence/domicile (Aadhaar card, Ration card, or EPIC).
• Income certificate confirming annual family income is within Rs. 2.5 lakh (signed by BDO, Panchayat Pradhan, or Councillor).
• School admission or enrolment proof confirming Class 5–8 day scholar status.
• Bank passbook details (showing account number, IFSC code, and student's or joint guardian account name for DBT).
• Recent passport-size photograph of the student.

How to Apply

Shikshashree is an entirely offline, school-based scheme, there is no option for students to apply independently online:

1. Collect Application Form: Collect the application form from your school at the start of the academic year.
2. Fill & Attach Documents: Fill in your personal, category, and family income details, attaching your SC/ST certificate and other required documents.
3. Submit to School Nodal Teacher: Submit the completed form to your school, which handles verification at the institutional level.
4. OASIS Portal Processing: The school forwards verified applications through the department's system, many recent applications are processed via the official OASIS Scholarship Portal (oasis.gov.in), used by the Backward Classes Welfare Department for registration, application submission, renewal, and status tracking.
5. DBT Disbursement: Once approved, the scholarship amount is credited directly to the student's bank account.
6. Annual Renewal: Reapply each year after promotion to the next class, since the scholarship is not automatically renewed without a fresh application.

Because the process is managed entirely through the school, the fastest way to apply, check status, or resolve an issue is to speak with your school's administrative office rather than attempting to apply independently online.

Bank Account NPCI Seeding and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)

Smooth disbursement of the Shikshashree scholarship requires accurate banking data alignment under National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) protocols:

• Aadhaar-Seeded Single Bank Account: The student (or joint account with a parent/guardian) must have an active bank account linked and seeded with their Aadhaar number to receive DBT credits.
• Zero-Balance Student Savings Accounts: Public sector banks across West Bengal facilitate zero-balance basic savings bank deposit (BSBD) accounts specifically for scholarship beneficiaries.
• Public Financial Management System (PFMS) Verification: Institutional entries are cross-verified via PFMS to eliminate duplicate payments across multiple state student schemes.

Institutional Master Mapping on OASIS Portal

The Backward Classes Welfare Department enforces strict quality checks across government and aided schools during annual processing:

• School User ID & Password: Every recognized upper primary school is assigned dedicated OASIS credentials to upload student lists and verify caste certificates.
• District Inspector of Schools Verification: Uploaded application batches undergo secondary auditing at the office of the District Inspector (D.I.) of Schools before final sanction.
• Grievance Resolution for Delayed Sanctions: Parents can query scholarship disbursement status through the OASIS helpline or visit the local Block Development Office (BDO) Backward Classes Welfare section.

Frequently Asked Questions

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