Government Scholarships for the Girl Child in India (2026)
The Indian government offers several scholarships and schemes to financially support a daughter's education. These are designed to encourage girl child education, health, and overall development. Here's a list of important schemes.
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana
This is a savings scheme (not a scholarship) that opens a high-interest account in a daughter's name, building long-term savings that can be used for her education or marriage expenses. Eligible for girls under 10 years old.
National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education (NSIGSE)
For SC/ST category girls enrolling in Class 9, this provides a fixed deposit incentive that can be withdrawn at age 18 after completing Class 10.
CBSE Udaan Scheme
For girl students preparing for engineering entrance exams (JEE) — offers free study material and online classes to increase girls' representation in STEM fields.
State-level scholarships
- Kanya Vidya Dhan (Uttar Pradesh) — financial assistance for girls who've passed Class 12
- Bhagyashree Scheme (Maharashtra) — for girl children of BPL families
- Ladli Laxmi Yojana (Madhya Pradesh) — for a girl child's education and marriage
- Apni Beti Apna Dhan (Haryana) — a savings scheme from birth
How to apply
- Check the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in)
- Check your state's education department website
- Many scholarships are also applied for through schools — ask a teacher
- Keep documents ready: income certificate, caste certificate (if applicable), Aadhaar, bank details
Eligibility and amounts change regularly, so verify the latest details on official government portals before applying.