West Bengal Student Schemes — Complete List (2026)

What Are West Bengal's Student Schemes

West Bengal runs a wide network of education-linked welfare schemes, covering everything from free transport to school, to scholarships for reserved-category students, to vocational training for those who leave school early. Most of these schemes are administered through students' own schools or colleges rather than requiring an independent application, and payments are typically made via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to a student's own bank account.

This page organises the state's major student-focused schemes by what stage of education they apply to, so families can quickly identify which ones are relevant to their child. Explore all Social Welfare Schemes operating across West Bengal.

School-Level Schemes (Class 5–12)

Direct educational support and mobility incentives for primary and secondary students:

• Sabooj Sathi Scheme: Provides a free bicycle to students in Classes 9–12 at government, government-aided, or government-sponsored schools and madrasahs, helping reduce dropout rates linked to difficult daily commutes. Check out the Sabooj Sathi login portal guide for school distribution status.
• Shikshashree Scheme: Pre-matric scholarship for SC and ST day scholars in Classes 5–8, providing Rs. 750–800 per year to help cover books and school supplies.

Girl Student Welfare Schemes

Specialized financial aid preventing child marriage and encouraging higher education among female youth:

• Kanyashree Prakalpa: West Bengal's flagship scheme for unmarried girls aged 13–18 in Classes 8–12, providing 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 or training. The scheme has been recognised internationally with a United Nations Public Service Award.

Scholarship Schemes for SC/ST/OBC Students

Targeted financial assistance for reserved community students at pre-matric and post-matric levels:

• Oasis Scholarship: Covers SC, ST, and OBC students from Class 9 through postgraduate studies, with amounts varying by class, category, and hosteller/day-scholar status. Run through the dedicated oasis.gov.in portal.
• Shikshashree Scheme: Functions as an upper-primary pre-matric scholarship for SC/ST students in Classes 5–8.

For a broader listing of all scholarship-specific schemes (not limited to school-age students), see the dedicated Scholarship Schemes hub.

Skill Development & Beyond School

Job-oriented vocational training and technical education integration:

• Utkarsh Bangla: Free, placement-linked vocational skill training for youth and school dropouts, covering sectors from agriculture to IT. Also connects trained candidates to employment platforms like the Rojgar Seva Portal and the West Bengal Apprenticeship Scheme. Class 11–12 Kanyashree students specifically get access to career-centric technical training with a daily stipend under this scheme.

Which Scheme Applies to Which Student

Use this summary matrix to quickly check eligible schemes based on student profile:

• A boy or girl in Class 9–12 at a government/aided school: Eligible for Sabooj Sathi (free bicycle).
• An SC/ST student in Class 5–8: Eligible for Shikshashree (annual pre-matric scholarship).
• An unmarried girl aged 13–18 in Class 8–12: Eligible for Kanyashree Prakalpa (K1 annual scholarship, then K2 grant at age 18).
• An SC/ST/OBC student in Class 9 through postgraduate level: Eligible for Oasis Scholarship.
• A school dropout or unemployed youth wanting job-ready skills: Eligible for Utkarsh Bangla vocational training.

Because eligibility conditions (class, category, income, residency) can overlap or exclude each other depending on the specific scheme, students and families should check the individual scheme page for exact criteria before assuming automatic eligibility.

How to Apply for These Schemes

Application routing depends on the nature of the education scheme:

1. Through Your School or College: Sabooj Sathi, Kanyashree, and Shikshashree applications are almost always processed by the educational institution itself, so the first step is usually talking to your school's administrative office.
2. Through Official Online Portals: Oasis Scholarship (oasis.gov.in) and Utkarsh Bangla (via PBSSD/district portals) require direct online registration by the student or candidate.
3. Aadhaar-Linked Bank Account: Required across all of these schemes for receiving scholarship amounts or stipends via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
4. Annual Renewal Requirement: Several of these schemes (Shikshashree, Oasis) are not automatically carried forward; a fresh application or renewal submission is typically required each academic year after promotion to the next class.

West Bengal Student Credit Card Scheme (WBSCC)

For students pursuing higher education, professional degrees, or competitive exam preparation, the state government provides accessible financial credit:

• Collateral-Free Loan up to ₹10 Lakh: Students studying in Class 10 pass onward can obtain education loans up to ₹10,00,000 at a nominal 4% simple interest rate, guaranteed entirely by the Government of West Bengal without requiring third-party collateral or property security.
• Flexible Moratorium & Repayment: A 15-year repayment period begins 1 year after completing higher education courses or securing employment.
• Coverage for Domestic & Overseas Institutions: Covers tuition fees, hostel expenses, laptops, and study materials for undergraduate, postgraduate, engineering, medical, and competitive coaching courses across India and abroad.

Aikyashree Scholarship Framework for Minority Students

Administered by the West Bengal Minorities' Development and Finance Corporation (WBMDFC), Aikyashree supports students belonging to Buddhist, Christian, Jain, Muslim, Parsee, and Sikh communities:

• Pre-Matric & Post-Matric Stipends: Financial assistance ranging from ₹1,100 to ₹10,200 per year for students studying from Class 1 through Class 12, ITI, and polytechnics.
• Merit-cum-Means (MCM) Scholarship: Professional and technical degree students (B.Tech, MBBS, MBA, MCA) receive up to ₹33,000 per year to cover course fees.
• Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means (SVMCM) Integration: High-performing minority students obtaining 60%+ marks in board examinations qualify for enhanced stipends up to ₹60,000 per year.

Banglar Shiksha Portal Integration and School Nodal Verification

To prevent scholarship payment delays and streamline student data management, West Bengal utilizes unified educational technology infrastructure:

• Banglar Shiksha Student ID (BSID): Every enrolled student is assigned a unique 14-digit Banglar Shiksha ID linking academic progress, attendance records, and welfare scheme eligibility across schools.
• School Nodal Officer Verification: Designated teacher-in-charge officers inspect Aadhaar details, mark sheets, and single-operated bank accounts before uploading institutional recommendations onto state scheme portals.
• Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) Payouts: Scholarship amounts are transferred directly into verified student bank accounts via IFMS automated clearing system.

Taruner Swapno Scheme (Free Tablet / Smartphone Grant)

To bridge the digital divide and support online learning for higher secondary students across West Bengal:

• ₹10,000 Direct Cash Assistance: Enrolled Class 11 and Class 12 students in government and government-aided schools receive a one-time grant of ₹10,000 directly into their bank accounts to purchase a smartphone, tablet, or PC.
• Digital Classrooms & E-Learning Access: Facilitates access to online lectures, digital textbooks on Banglar Shiksha portal, and competitive exam preparation modules.

Medhashree Scholarship for OBC Students (Classes 5–8)

Launched by the Backward Classes Welfare Department, Medhashree fills the pre-matric financial gap for Other Backward Class (OBC) students:

• Annual Stipend of ₹800: OBC day scholars in Classes 5 to 8 receive an annual stipend of ₹800 to meet essential stationery, uniform, and book expenses.
• Simplified Family Income Limit: Available to OBC students with family income under ₹2.5 Lakh per annum, registered through the OASIS web portal.

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