Delhi Opens Scholarships for 130,000+ Disadvantaged Students

Students from disadvantaged backgrounds in Delhi just got a major boost to achieve their educational dreams, with the government opening applications for scholarships worth thousands to lakhs of rupees.

The Delhi government announced five state-funded scholarship programs on Monday for students from Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, and Other Backward Classes communities for the 2025-26 academic year. Students can apply through the e-district portal until April 30.

The programs cover everything from elementary school through doctoral studies abroad. For families earning up to Rs 3 lakh annually, the government will reimburse all tuition and compulsory fees for students in Classes 1 through 12 at recognized Delhi schools.

Merit scholarships for professional and technical courses offer Rs 8,000 to Rs 24,000 per year, depending on the level of study and whether students live on campus or commute. Students need at least 60 percent marks from the previous year to qualify.

The Mukhyamantri Vidyarthi Pratibha Yojana provides Rs 5,000 annually for Classes 9 and 10 students, and Rs 10,000 for Classes 11 and 12. Top performers in each university discipline will receive the Dr. B R Ambedkar State Topper Award of Rs 25,000.

The most ambitious program funds international higher education. SC students pursuing master's or PhD programs abroad can receive up to Rs 5 lakh per year, with total caps of Rs 10 lakh for master's degrees and Rs 20 lakh for doctoral studies.

The Ripple Effect

These scholarships do more than help individual students. They create pathways for entire families to break cycles of economic disadvantage. When one student pursues higher education or specialized training, they often become the first in their family to access professional careers, lifting their whole community's prospects.

The programs recognize that financial barriers shouldn't determine who gets to learn. By covering costs from primary school through international PhDs, Delhi is investing in talent that might otherwise go undiscovered.

Thousands of students across Delhi now have until the end of April to apply for support that could transform their futures.