Kanyashree Important Highlights
Before starting the scholarship application process, it is essential for students to understand the key details of the scheme.
Kanyashree Scholarship Overview
| Name of the Scholarship Programme | West Bengal Kanyashree Prakalpa
(পশ্চিমবঙ্গ কন্যাশ্রী প্রকল্প) |
| State | West Bengal |
| Name of Department | Department of Women Development and Social Welfare (DWD & SW), Government of West Bengal
[মহিলা উন্নয়ন ও সমাজকল্যাণ বিভাগ, পশ্চিমবঙ্গ সরকার] |
| Scholarship Type | State Government scheme |
| Method of Application | Online/Offline |
| Official Website | www.wbkanyashree.gov.in |
| Session | 2025-26 |
Kanyashree Key Dates 2025
Female students intending to apply for the Kanyashree Prakalpa Scheme should be aware of all key dates associated with the application process. The online scholarship application form must be submitted before the specified deadline to ensure successful participation.
| Events | Date (Tentative) |
| Application Start Date | May/June every academic year |
| Application Closing Date | October/November every academic year |
| Renewal of Application | Remains open until December |
Kanyashree Current Statistics 2025
The Kanyashree Prakalpa Scheme has made a significant impact in promoting girls’ education and delaying early marriages across West Bengal. By providing financial support and encouragement, the scheme has empowered countless young girls to continue their studies and shape a better future. Below are the statistics as of 25/06/2025.
Kanyashree Prakalpa cumulative statistics (As of 25/06/2025)
| Particulars | Uploaded Statistics |
| Registered Institutions | 18,183 |
| Enrolled Applications | 3,06,29,754 |
| Sanctioned Applications | 3,03,63,097 |
| Unique Beneficiaries | 90,89,310 |
Kanyashree Types of Schemes
The Department of Women Development and Social Welfare, Government of West Bengal, offers three key components under the Kanyashree Scholarship Programme to support the education of girls and prevent early marriage. These components are structured according to the age and educational level of the beneficiaries:
Annual Scholarship (K1)
One-Time Grant (K2)
The K2 scheme offers a one-time grant of ₹25,000 to girls aged between 18 and 19 years who are unmarried and pursuing education, vocational training, or similar developmental activities. It serves as an incentive for girls to remain in education beyond secondary school and avoid early marriage.
Kanyashree Scholarship (K3)
The K3 scholarship supports higher education by providing monthly financial assistance to girls pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate studies in recognized institutions. It is available to students who previously benefited from K1 or K2 and aims to make college education accessible for girls from financially disadvantaged backgrounds.
Kanyashree Eligibility Criteria
The Kanyashree Prakalpa Scheme is available only to girls who meet the following general criteria:
- Must be residents of West Bengal.
- Must be enrolled in and regularly attending an educational institution.
- Must be unmarried.
- Must belong to families with an annual income not exceeding ₹1,20,000.
- However, exceptions are made for girls who are specially-abled (with 40% or more disability), residing in Child Care Institutions registered under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000, or those who have lost both parents. These students are eligible to apply even if their family’s income exceeds ₹1,20,000 per year.
Annual scholarship (K1 Level)
- The applicant must be a female student aged between 13 and 17 years.
- The student must not have completed 18 years of age; crossing this age limit makes her ineligible for the annual scholarship and eligible only for the one-time grant (K2).
- She must be enrolled in Class VIII to Class XII in a government-recognized regular school, or in an equivalent vocational or technical training course.
One-Time Grant (K2 Level)
- The applicant must be a female student aged between 18 and 19 years.
- The applicant female student must be enrolled in and regularly attending an Institution of Higher Education or Training.
Kanyashree Scholarship (K3)
- Only students previously registered under the K2 scheme are eligible for the K3 scheme.
- There is no maximum age limit to apply.
- The student must have passed an undergraduate degree with at least 45% marks.
- They must have secured admission to any postgraduate course at any University.
Kanyashree Rewards 2025
The scheme offers two major financial benefits to the eligible female students:
- An annual scholarship (K1) of ₹750, awarded to girls aged 13 to 18 years who are enrolled in Class VIII or above and remain unmarried while continuing their education each academic year.
- A one-time grant (K2) of ₹25,000, provided to girls after they turn 18, on the condition that they are unmarried and actively pursuing academic or vocational studies at the time of application.
- For pursuing postgraduate studies (K3), each beneficiary receives:
- ₹2,000 per month for PG studies in Arts and Commerce
- ₹2,500 per month for PG studies in Science
Kanyashree Benefits of the Scholarship Programme
Beyond financial assistance, the Kanyashree Scholarship serves several broader social and educational goals. This initiative:
- Encourages girls to continue their education over a longer duration.
- Promotes the delay of early marriages.
- Helps prevent child marriage by increasing enrolment in secondary education, vocational training, or sports programmes.
- Aims to reduce dropout rates, especially among girls from economically weaker families who may not benefit from other scholarship schemes
- Supports disadvantaged girls in accessing higher education opportunities.
Who are the target beneficiaries? The Kanyashree Prakalpa Scheme is designed to support a wide group of female students in West Bengal, particularly:
- Approximately 3.5 lakh girls each year who receive the one-time grant upon turning 18 (on or after 1st April 2021).
- Around 18 lakh girls annually receive the annual scholarship for being enrolled in classes VIII and above.
- Girls residing in Child Care Institutions registered under the Juvenile Justice Act.
Kanyashree Application Procedure
Before proceeding with the application for the Kanyashree Prakalpa Scheme, eligible students are required to have a bank account in their own name. This account can be opened either with the help of the student’s parents or guardians, or with assistance from the educational institution.
Important points to remember before applying:
- Application forms must be collected from the institution where the student is currently enrolled. All eligible schools, colleges, and training institutes provide Kanyashree forms to female students.
- Ensure the correct form is used:
- The K1 form (Annual Scholarship) is printed on light green paper.
- The K2 form (One-Time Grant) is printed on light blue paper.
- For renewal (K1 recipients under 18): Students who have already received the K1 scholarship and are still under 18 must contact the Head of Institution, who will verify their unmarried status and age and process the renewal accordingly.
- For upgradation (K1 recipients who have turned 18): Students who have turned 18 and previously received K1 must collect a pre-printed K2 Upgradation form from their institution. Only this specific form should be filled and submitted. Filling out the standard blue K2 form may result in the application being treated as a duplicate.
To complete the application process offline (K1 and K2), the following steps must be followed:
1. Fill out the application form
- The student or her parents must carefully fill in all the required details in the application form.
- If unsure about any section, assistance can be sought from teachers or the Head of Institution.
- Multiple signatures are required across the form. Refer to page 3 of the application for details.
2. Ensure accuracy of key information
- The student’s name entered in the form must match exactly with the name in the bank account.
- Enter the mobile number correctly, as all important updates regarding the application will be sent via SMS.
3. Sign the form properly
- The student must sign on pages 1, 2, and 3 of the form.
4. Attach necessary documents
- Submit all required supporting documents along with the application.
5. Collect the acknowledgement receipt
- The application form contains a tear-off section on page 3, titled “Acknowledgement”.
- Once the filled form is submitted, the Head Teacher will complete this section, sign and stamp it, and return it to the applicant.
- Keep the acknowledgement slip safely as it contains the Form Number, student’s name, and other essential details. This serves as proof of submission.
6. Track the application status
- After submission, the institution uploads the application onto the Kanyashree Portal.
- The status can be tracked online using the Form Number provided on the acknowledgement slip.
7. Receive the scholarship amount
- Once approved, the scholarship amount is directly credited to the student’s bank account.
- An SMS confirmation will be sent to the registered mobile number.
- Students may also visit the bank to check the transaction.
- If the amount is not credited within two months of application submission, students should take necessary action by visiting the Grievance Section on the portal to lodge a complaint.
To complete the application process online (K3), the following steps must be followed:
- Visit the official Swami Vivekananda Merit Cum Means Scholarship website. The application for Kayanshree is done through this website.
- Click on “Registration” present at the top corner of the homepage.
- Click on “Non-topper”.
- Scroll down the page and tick the checkbox “This is to declare that I have read the instructions properly and I agree to abide by them”. Then click on the Proceed for Registration option.
- From the given option, click on the relevant scholarship.
- Fill in all the required details that are given in the form provided below:
- Click on the “Register” tab.
- After successful registration, an Applicant ID will be generated. Click on the “Login”tab by visiting the homepage,
- Enter the applicant ID and password and click “Login”.
- After logging in, a dashboard will open, Click on Edit Profile/Application tab.
- Fill out the application form with the required details and click on “Submit”.
Kanyashree Documents Required
Applicants must submit photocopies of the following documents while applying for the Kanyashree Prakalpa Scheme:
- Birth certificate: If applying for the Annual Scholarship (K1) and a birth certificate is not available, the Head of Institution may certify the student’s age based on school records.
- Declaration of unmarried status: A signed statement from one of the applicant’s parents confirming that the student is unmarried.
- Family income certificate: A statement confirming that the annual family income does not exceed ₹1,20,000.
- Bank account proof: A photocopy of the passbook page showing the applicant’s name, address, and account number, or a bank-issued certificate verifying these details.
- Exemptions from income certificate: If the applicant falls under any of the following categories, an income certificate is not required:
- Specially-abled students (with 40% or more disability): Submit a copy of the disability certificate.
- Orphaned students (lost both parents): Submit a statement signed by the legal guardian along with death certificates of both the parents.
- Residents of Child Care Institutions registered under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000.
How to Track Kanyashree Application Status?
To track the Scholarship Online Application Form, the student must follow the below steps:
- Visit the official website of Kanyashree Prakalpa.
- Click on the Track Application option on the main page.
- Select the year and the type of scheme from the drop-down menu. Enter the Date of Birth, Application ID and the CAPTCHA image.
- Click on the Submit.
- The student will be able to see the Kanyashree Prakalpa application status.
FAQs
What makes the Kanyashree Prakalpa Scheme different from other scholarships for girls in India?
Unlike many generic scholarships, Kanyashree not only offers financial aid but directly addresses child marriage and school dropouts. It strategically supports a girl's educational journey from adolescence to postgraduate studies. Its three-tier structure (K1, K2, K3) ensures continuous assistance at every academic stage.
Can a student who moves out of West Bengal after enrolling continue receiving Kanyashree benefits?
No. The Kanyashree scheme is exclusively for permanent residents of West Bengal. If a beneficiary permanently relocates outside the state and stops attending a West Bengal-recognized institution, her benefits under the scheme will be discontinued.
What happens if a K1 beneficiary turns 18 but continues education? Can she switch to K2 automatically?
Not automatically. When a student who was receiving K1 benefits turns 18, she must collect and submit a pre-printed K2 Upgradation form from her institution. Using the standard blue K2 form instead of the pre-printed version may lead to delays or duplication issues.
Is the scholarship amount different based on the field of study in postgraduate education?
Yes. Under the K3 component, financial assistance varies by discipline: ₹2,000/month for Arts and Commerce, ₹2,500/month for Science. This differentiation reflects the typically higher resource requirements of Science programs.
What if a student does not receive the scholarship amount within two months of applying?
If the scholarship amount is not credited within two months, the student must visit the Grievance Section of the Kanyashree Portal and lodge an official complaint. This ensures the application is re-checked, and the scholarship disbursal is not further delayed.