Comprehensive information about government schemes for school and college students in West Bengal
Both the Central Government and the West Bengal State Government offer numerous schemes to support school students.
Kanyashree is a flagship West Bengal government scheme aimed at preventing child marriage and encouraging girls' education. It provides financial incentives to unmarried girl students aged 13–18 to remain in school. There are two components:
Kanyashree won the United Nations Public Service Award in 2017 for its impact on girls' empowerment.
Sabooj Sathi (meaning "Green Companion") is an initiative launched in 2015 to provide bicycles to students in classes IX–XII in West Bengal. Under this scheme, every student (boys and girls) in classes 9–12 studying in government, government-aided, or madrasa schools is eligible for a free bicycle.
By 2023, over 10 million bicycles had been distributed since scheme inception. The impact has been significant – the state education department observed a 20–25% drop in school dropout rates in rural areas after Sabooj Sathi's launch.
Shikshashree is a West Bengal government stipend for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in classes V to VIII. Introduced in 2014, it merged earlier book grant and maintenance grants into a single direct benefit transfer.
SC and ST students who are day-scholars in classes 5–8 are eligible, provided their family income is within ₹2.5 lakh per year. The stipend is ₹800 per year directly credited to the student's bank account.
The Backward Classes Welfare Department of West Bengal, with central assistance, provides a range of pre-matric and post-matric scholarships for SC, ST, and OBC students. These are generally applied through the OASIS portal.
Aikyashree is an umbrella scholarship program launched in 2019 for minority community students in West Bengal. It is run by the West Bengal Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (WBMDFC) and covers students from Class 1 up to Ph.D. belonging to Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Parsee, and Jain communities.
The scholarship amounts under Aikyashree vary by class:
Commonly known as the Bikash Bhavan scholarship, SVMCM is a West Bengal government scheme for meritorious students from economically weaker families. It covers higher secondary level, undergraduate, and postgraduate education.
Students must have passed the Madhyamik (Class 10 board) with high marks to apply in Class XI, or passed Class XI annual exam with high marks to renew/apply in Class XII. Currently, a minimum of 60% aggregate in the last exam is required for Higher Secondary level.
For Higher Secondary students, the scholarship provides ₹1,000 per month as financial aid.
Nabanna Scholarship is a financial assistance scheme under the West Bengal Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF). It provides a one-time grant to students who have passed out from Class X or Class XII and are in need of support for further studies.
The scholarship amount is ₹10,000 (one-time) for the selected student, regardless of course.
NMMS is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched in 2008 to prevent dropouts after Class VIII by rewarding meritorious students from economically weaker sections.
Each selected student receives ₹12,000 per year (₹1,000 per month) from Class IX up to Class XII, as long as they continue their studies in a government or aided school.
NSIGSE is a central scheme targeting girl students to promote their enrollment in secondary education, especially among underprivileged groups.
Each eligible girl gets ₹3,000 deposited as a fixed deposit in her name when she enters Class IX. She can withdraw this amount (with interest) when she turns 18 and has passed Class X.
The Government of India runs various Pre-Matric and Post-Matric scholarship schemes for disadvantaged groups nationwide. In West Bengal, these are mostly accessed through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) and routed via state authorities.
The CBSE Merit Scholarship for Single Girl Child is a central scheme exclusively for girls who are the only child in their family. Selected single girl students receive ₹500 per month for two years (i.e., ₹6,000 per annum in Class XI and ₹6,000 in Class XII).
NTSE is a prestigious national-level scholarship program conducted by NCERT. An NTSE scholar receives a scholarship of ₹1,250 per month in Class XI–XII. The scholarship continues at ₹2,000 per month during undergraduate and post-graduate studies.
Different schemes kick in at different class levels. For instance, mid-day meals and free textbooks start from Class I. Shikshashree is available from Class V. Kanyashree and Sabooj Sathi from Class VIII/IX. NMMS selection happens in Class VIII for aid from Class IX onwards.
One student can often be eligible for multiple schemes that cater to different needs, and combining these benefits can greatly enhance the support they receive. The rule of thumb is: you can't take two scholarships that serve the same purpose, but you can take a mix of scholarships and incentives that target different aspects.
The landscape of student welfare schemes in West Bengal is rich and continually updated. As of 2025, initiatives like Kanyashree (for girls), Shikshashree and post-matric scholarships (for SC/ST/OBC), Aikyashree (for minorities), and Sabooj Sathi (for free transport) form a safety net that covers most school-going children under one criterion or another. By being aware of application timelines and combining these opportunities, a deserving student in West Bengal can get significant financial aid and logistical support throughout their schooling.