Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana – Eligibility, Benefits and Application Process

Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana is a financial assistance programme launched by the Higher Education Department, Government of Odisha. The official notification for the academic year 2026–27 will be released in August (tentative) on the State Scholarship Portal. The scheme is available to students from general, OBC, SC, ST, SEBC and EBC categories, based on the annual family income. 

The Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana provides annual financial assistance to students enrolled in graduate and postgraduate courses in Odisha. Under this scheme, eligible students receive ₹20,000 per year to support their education expenses and continue their studies without financial difficulty. The scheme is implemented annually to support students pursuing higher education within the state.

Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana Important Date

The official notification is generally released by the Government of Odisha on their scholarship portal in August. The tentative application schedule for the academic year 2026-27 is as follows:

Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana Application Dates 2026-27

Events	Dates
Release of Notification	August 2026
Application Start Date	September 2026
Application Last Date	November 2026

Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana Eligibility Criteria

As per the Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana eligibility criteria only students who belong to Odisha can apply for the scholarship. Here is the detailed eligibility of the scholarship: 

• HIV/AIDS affected family (either parent or both)
• Households without shelter
• Destitute or living on alms
• Manual scavengers
• Particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTG)
• Legally released bonded labourers
• Single mother family (widowed, divorced or unmarried mother with dependent children)
• The applicant must be a permanent resident of Odisha
• The student must be enrolled in regular mode UG/PG courses (Technical, non-technical or professional) from recognised colleges, institutes or universities located in Odisha
• The annual family shall not exceed ₹2.5 lakh per annum

Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana Application Process

The application process is completely online through the State Scholarship Portal, Government of Odisha. 

Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana Registration Process

Step 1: Visit the official website: https://scholarship.odisha.gov.in/

Step 2: Click on “Registration”.

Step 3: Read the instructions and declaration carefully.

Step 4: Select the checkbox and click on “I Agree”.

Step 5: Enter Aadhaar number, mobile number, name, gender, date of birth and email ID, then click on “Register”.

After successful registration, login credentials will be sent to the registered mobile number and email ID.

Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana – Application Procedure

Step 1: Go to the official website and click on “Login” and then on  “Student Login”.

Step 2: Login using the credentials received.

Step 3: Click on “Schemes and Scholarship” and select “Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata       Yojana” from the dropdown list.

Step 4: Fill in the online application form and upload the required documents in the prescribed format.

Step 5: Submit the application and take two printouts of the form.

Step 6: Submit the hard copies along with documents to the Principal / Head of Institution for further verification.

Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana Benefits

The Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana provides the following benefits to selected students.

• Eligible students receive financial assistance of ₹20,000 per annum.
• The scholarship is provided for the normal duration of the course and is renewed every year until course completion.
• Students can avail this scholarship even if they are already receiving financial assistance from other scholarship schemes.

Documents Required for Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana

• Passport-size photograph 
• Aadhaar card 
• College ID card 
• Resident certificate
• Income certificate of the parent/guardian
• Medical certificate regarding suffering from HIV/AIDS (if required)
• Certificate relating to households without shelter from the competent revenue authority (if required)
• Certificate towards being a single mother from the district social welfare officer (if required)
• Certificate of being a destitute / living-on-alms from the local sarpanch / urban local body authority (if required)
• Certificate of being a manual scavenger from the competent authority (if required)
• Certificate of being from a particularly vulnerable tribal group from the district welfare officer (if required)
• Certificate of being a legally released bonded labourer from the district welfare officer/ district labour officer/ any competent authority (if required)
• Bank passbook of the student (Student name, account No. and IFSC code must be clearly visible)

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply for the Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana?

Students from Odisha belonging to specific disadvantaged family categories and enrolled in regular graduate or postgraduate courses with a household income below ₹2.5 lakh per annum can apply for Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana.

Can I apply if I am already receiving another scholarship?

As per the Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana scholarship guidelines, students can avail this scheme even if they are receiving financial support from other scholarships.

Do I need to be studying in Odisha to apply for this scholarship?

Yes, the student must be enrolled in a recognised college, institute or university located within the state of Odisha to apply for Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana.

What are the documents required during application?

The students require ID proof, resident and income certificates, bank passbook and category-specific certificates such as HIV/AIDS, Particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTG), single mother if applicable while filling the application form.

How do I track the status of my application?

You can log in to the State Scholarship Portal and check your application status under the 'Track Application' or 'Student Dashboard' section.