Azim Premji Foundation Scholarship: ₹30,000 a Year for Girls, Chhattisgarh Launch Kicks Off 18-State Rollout
₹2,250 crore, 2.5 lakh girls, one simple promise: don’t let money stop college
The Azim Premji Foundation has opened one of India’s largest private scholarship drives for young women: ₹30,000 a year for girls from government schools who enter higher education. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai rolled it out from his Raipur residence on September 10, 2025, calling it a practical push to keep daughters in college. The scale is big—2.5 lakh students across 18 states in 2025–26—backed by an estimated ₹2,250 crore in direct transfers.
The idea is straightforward. Most government and public institutions already reduce or waive tuition for girls. But the real pinch comes from everyday costs—bus fare, hostel rent, books, uniforms, exam fees, even a basic smartphone. Anurag Behar, CEO of the foundation, said the grant is designed to cover these essentials that quietly derail many students after Class 12.
The money goes straight into the student’s bank account, twice a year. There are no spending restrictions. If you need to pay for a monthly pass, buy a lab coat, or cover exam forms, use it. If you need warm clothes for a hostel in a hill state, use it. The foundation is treating students as adults who know what they need most.
CM Vishnu Deo Sai framed it in simple terms: “When daughters are educated, entire generations are uplifted.” The launch in Chhattisgarh also ties in with the Union government’s Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao push, but this programme sits firmly in the everyday reality of college life—helping girls get to class, stay enrolled, and graduate.
The pilot last year reached more than 25,000 girls in Madhya Pradesh and select districts of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Jharkhand. The results were encouraging enough to go national in phases. For 2025–26, the coverage spans 18 states with deep government-school enrolments and long commutes to colleges.
Here’s the current state list:
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Assam
- Bihar
- Chhattisgarh
- Jharkhand
- Karnataka
- Madhya Pradesh
- Manipur
- Meghalaya
- Mizoram
- Nagaland
- Odisha
- Rajasthan
- Sikkim
- Telangana
- Tripura
- Uttar Pradesh
- Uttarakhand
Eligibility is broad by design. To qualify, a student must be a girl who completed Class 10 and 12 in a government school and has secured a seat in a recognized higher education programme—degree, diploma, or professional course. The grant is not merit-based and there’s no family income cap. The foundation points out that a large majority of government-school students come from disadvantaged backgrounds anyway, so a simple rule helps reach the right cohort fast.
Support lasts for the full course if the student continues to make academic progress. That means a four-year Bachelor of Science (Nursing) student will receive ₹1.2 lakh across the programme. A three-year BA or BCom student would net ₹90,000 over the degree, and a two-year diploma would see ₹60,000—paid in two instalments per academic year.
Applications for the 2025–26 cycle opened in September 2025. The process is built to be light-touch. Students will be asked to show they studied in a government school, share proof of admission to an eligible institution, and provide bank details for direct transfers. Colleges and local education offices are being looped in to spread the word so students don’t miss deadlines.
Chhattisgarh is treating this as a state-wide outreach drive. The CM has told schools and colleges to publicize the scheme in classrooms, morning assemblies, notice boards, and student groups. The target is simple: no eligible girl should skip applying because she didn’t hear about it in time.
How does this fit with what states already do? Many universities and state departments waive tuition or offer hostel subsidies to girls. This grant stacks on top of those benefits and plugs the small but stubborn gaps that cause dropouts—like a ₹1,800 monthly commute, a ₹1,200 lab manual, or the cost of a basic data plan needed for assignments. The money is flexible because needs are different across districts.
The foundation says the annual grant will be sent in two chunks—timed around the start of term and mid-year—so students can plan for both fixed and surprise expenses. There’s no penalty for using the money for daily needs. If a student needs to cover a family emergency in mid-semester, she can still keep her studies on track without going into debt.
The programme’s early footprint suggests it could influence the Class 12-to-college transition. In districts where families are on the fence about sending daughters to a distant college, a guaranteed ₹30,000 a year can tilt the decision toward enrollment. It won’t solve every barrier, but it reduces the most common one—cash flow at the start of term.
Officials and college principals who have seen similar grants before say the test is retention, not just admission. That’s why the multi-year design matters. By continuing the grant every year until graduation (subject to progress), the scheme aims to carry students past the second-year dip, when many drop out due to mounting costs or household pressure.
There’s also a quiet culture shift here. When girls can pay for their own bus pass or hostel mess bill on time, they’re less dependent on borrowing or delaying fees. That independence often leads to better attendance, more time in labs and libraries, and fewer missed exams. Parents who see steady support flowing may be more willing to let daughters stay in college and pursue longer programmes like nursing or teacher training.
The foundation plans to expand coverage to the rest of the country in the next phase. For now, the 18-state rollout tries to cover diverse terrains—hills, tribal belts, flood-prone districts—where transport and housing costs spike. The institution list includes general degree colleges, polytechnics, nursing and teacher education colleges, and recognized professional institutes.
For students, the checklist is simple: secure your admission, keep your grades on track, and make sure your bank details are correct for direct benefit transfers. Keep copies of your Class 10 and 12 mark sheets, admission letter, and ID proofs ready—these are usually required across scholarships and help avoid delays during verification.
For parents, the budgeting math is clear. If tuition is already waived, this grant can cover commute, study material, uniforms, and exam fees. If the college is in another city, it can support hostel rent and mess charges for part of the year, easing the burden when other seasonal expenses hit the household.
For colleges, the ask is communication: make announcements, display notices, and help students complete applications early. The earlier forms go in, the smoother the first installment hits accounts, and the fewer first-semester dropouts you see.
At its core, the Azim Premji Foundation scholarship does one thing many schemes don’t: it trusts students to decide how to spend. That dignity, plus predictable funding, can change how a semester feels—less scrambling, more studying.
At a glance: what’s on offer and who gets it
- Amount: ₹30,000 per year, sent in two installments directly to the student’s bank account.
- Who’s eligible: Girls who studied Class 10 and 12 in government schools and have admission to a recognized higher education programme (degree, diploma, professional).
- Scale in 2025–26: Up to 2.5 lakh students across 18 states; estimated outlay around ₹2,250 crore.
- Use of funds: No restrictions—cover transport, books, uniforms, hostel, exam fees, or essentials.
- Duration: Continues for the full course if the student maintains successful academic progress.
- Pilot data: 25,000+ girls supported in 2024–25 across parts of MP, UP, Rajasthan, and Jharkhand.
- Application window: Opened September 2025; schools and colleges asked to publicize details widely.
The launch in Raipur may be the headline today, but the real story will show up on campuses next month—more girls in classrooms, fewer empty seats after the first fee cycle, and a little less stress on the long road from Class 12 to a degree.
About Author
Hello, I'm Aarav Khatri, a seasoned expert in the field of employment and news. I have a particular passion for exploring the Indian job market and analyzing the latest trends. As a writer, I love to share my insights and findings through engaging articles and blog posts. My goal is to help job seekers navigate the rapidly changing landscape of employment opportunities in India, and empower them with the knowledge they need to succeed.
