Sikhashree Scholarship 2025 | Scholarship for Bright Students

The Sikshashree scholarship is a government initiative for the education of Handicapped, Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in West Bengal.The purpose was to provide an economic safety net to help decrease dropout rates to the students coming from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The objective of the Sikshashree programme is to reach students from economically disadvantaged families where students are in Class V to VIII in government-recognized schools.

The scheme rolled out to combine stipends and a book grant into a single scheme.

The scheme’s aim is to promote inclusion and equal opportunity for learning. Students can apply and receive funding directly into their bank account. The Sikshashree scheme is part of the broader government intention also to uplift immensely marginalized communities via education.

Benefits

The Sikshashree Scholarship is a substantial welfare scheme initiated by the Government of West Bengal to assist the education of students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). The Sikshashree Scholarship is aimed at students in classes V to VIII, who are studying in government schools or in government aided schools. The result of the framework, in terms of money provisioning, is to give direct assistance to the students to help alleviate basic costs of schooling and increase the likelihood of students, particularly from economically weaker sections, achieving attendance, and declining dropout rates. By absorbing the prior stipend and book grant processes, Sikshashree attempts to ensure a sustained monetary benefit to students in a systematic way that encourages the families and students to give priority to education.

Benefits Delivered Under the Sikshashree Scheme

1. Annual Financial Assistance:

• The SC and ST students will receive a fixed annual amount as scholarship which support the students in meeting worth school-related expenses corresponding to books, uniforms, and stationery.

2. Direct Bank Transfer (DBT):

• The amount of scholarship is credited directly into the bank account of the student or their guardian to promote transparency, quick disbursement of scholarship, and reduce the risk of mismanagement.

3. Educational Continuity Support:

• Reducing the financial burden on families is intended to keep these students in school and not drop-out of school especially in rural or underdeveloped areas.

4. Stipend and Book Grant to Integrated Stipend and Book Grant:

• The Sikshashree scheme has integrated the existing, fragmented book grant and stipend systems by uniting both the stipend and book grant into one unified scholarship.

5. Promotion of Inclusive Education:

• The Sikshashree Scheme illustrates the Government's inclusive development agenda by ensuring equal access and academic support for children from marginalized communities.

Eligibility

The Sikshashree Scholarship seeks to aid the improvement and sustainance of Scheduled Caste (SC) students in West Bengal through financial assistance for their primary and middle school education. The Sikshashree scheme also aims to reach the most deserving cases through financial aid in the form of specific eligibility conditions laid down by the government as a way to identify and allow the most deserving to receive the aid, while simultaneously enhancing fairness, transparency, and the whole purpose of the scheme.

Key Eligibility Requirements:

1. Community Requirement

• The Applicant must belong to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community as described by the Government of West Bengal.

2. Class and School Type

• The Applicant must be studying in classes V to VIII in a government school/govt aided school or a school recognized by the government of West Bengal.

3. Residential or Day Scholar,

• The only eligible candidates for this scholarship are day scholars residing in West Bengal permanently.

4. Income Limit

• The total annual family income of the applicant should not be more than ₹2.5 lakhs from all sources.

5. No Duplicate Scholarships

• The applicant should not be receiving any other scholarship or stipend in the same academic session. If found, the awarded amount shall be returned.

6. Bank Account

• The student must have a bank account in a nationalized bank with core banking facilities since the scholarship is given in the form of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

Application Process

Applying for the Sikshashree Scholarship is a simple process that aims to allow eligible SC students in West Bengal to easily access financial assistance. The application process is coordinated through schools and successful applications depend on documentation and submission.

Steps to Apply:

Step 1: Collect the Application Form

• The Sikshashree application form is issued from the head of your school, or by download from the Backward Classes Welfare Department, West Bengal official website (if available).

Step 2: Fill in the Details

• Fill in the application form correctly, and please ensure your personal, academic and bank details are accurate. Make sure you have not left any part unanswered or there are no errors.

Step 3: Attach Documents Required

• All documents required must be submitted; caste certificate, income certificate, school enrollment proof, copy of your bank passbook, etc.

Step 4:Submit to School authorities

• Submit the filled form and documents to the head of your institution. Then the school will verify all details and send the application to the respective government department.

Step 5: Verification and Approval

• Then, the application is verified by district/block level officers/general administration and approval process will take place. Eligible candidates will be finalized after verification process is complete.

Step 6:Scholarship credited via DBT

• After the approval stage, the scholarship amount is directly transferred to the bank, as per the scholarship format established by the government department.

Documents Required

For completion and successful submission of the Sikshashree Scholarship application, students must submit valid and authentic documents which demonstrate their eligibility. These documents are to verify the applicant's caste, eligibility net income, stage of education/year of study and bank details. If the applicant submits a messy or incorrect documents during application submission, the application could easily be rejected.

Documents Essentials:

1. Caste Certificate:

• Got to show/go and submit proof that the applicant belongs to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community, from a competent authority.

2. Income Certificate:

• This must submit and valid income certificate showing that the family's annual income is less than ₹2.5 lakhs.

3. Proof of studying:

• This would/could be a certificate or a letter from the school that the student is currently studying in classes V to VIII.

4. Bank Passbook Copy:

• Photocopy of the student (or guardian's) bank passbook that clearly shows all the information - account number, IFSC code, bank details etc.

5. Passport-size Photograph:

• A clear recent photo of the applicant to be attached to the application form.

6. Previous Year's Marksheet or Promotion Certificate:

• To show it is promoting to the current class, and being able to be eligible for scholarship for that academic year.