Scholarships for BPL Students – For students hailing from families classified as Below Poverty Line (BPL), pursuing higher education can seem like an insurmountable challenge due to availability of limited financial resources. However, amidst these challenges, there is a hope in the form of scholarship programs dedicated to empower BPL students.
These scholarship programs provide crucial financial assistance. It enables deserving individuals an access to quality education, empowers them to pursue their dreams and break the vicious cycle of poverty.
Below Poverty Line (BPL) is an economic benchmark indicator. It is used to identify individuals and households who are economically disadvantaged, often characterised by limited financial resources.
This article explores the various scholarship programs available for the BPL students. It sheds light on the opportunities that can transform their lives and help them come out of the vicious cycle of poverty.
List of Scholarships for BPL Students
Scholarships for BPL Students – Colgate Keep India Smiling Foundational Scholarship & Mentorship Programme
About the Scholarship Program: The Colgate Keep India Smiling Foundational Scholarship & Mentorship Programme aims to offer essential assistance to promising individuals who possess great potential but may have been facing financial constraints in pursuit of their aspirations.
In addition to financial aid, this scholarship initiative places a significant emphasis on delivering mentorship and career guidance to its recipients as and when required.
The scholarship initiative supports students currently enrolled in Class 11 and 12 and those pursuing a three-year graduation program or a Bachelor of Surgery (BDS) course.
Colgate Keep India Smiling Foundational Scholarship & Mentorship Programme for 3-Year Graduation
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must have passed their Class 12 Board Exam
- They must have secured a minimum of 60% marks in their Class 12 Board Exam
- They must be enrolled in a 3-year graduation programme in a recognised institution in India
- Annual family income of the applicants should be less than ₹5 lakh
Benefits:
- ₹30,000 per year for three years
Documents:
- Passport-sized photograph
- Valid ID proof, which can include one of the following:
- Aadhaar Card
- Driving Licence
- Voter ID Card
- PAN Card
- Income proof, such as Income Certificate, BPL Certificate, Food Security Certificate, or any other income certificate issued by a competent government authority
- Class 12 Marksheet
- Fee Receipt, Admission Letter, College ID Card, or Bonafide Certificate
- Disability Certificate (if applicable, in case of any physical disability)
Colgate Keep India Smiling Foundational Scholarship & Mentorship Programme for Class 11
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must have passed Class 10 board examination
- They must be enrolled in Class 11 at a recognised school in India
- They must have secured at least 75% marks in their Class 10 Board Exam
- Annual family income of the applicants should be less than ₹5 lakh
Benefits: ₹20,000 per annum for two years
Documents:
- Passport-sized photograph
- Valid ID proof, which can include one of the following:
- Aadhaar Card
- Driving Licence
- Voter ID Card
- PAN Card
- Income proof, such as an Income Certificate, BPL Certificate, Food Security Certificate, or any other income certificate issued by a competent government authority
- Class 10 Marksheet
- Fee Receipt, Admission Letter, College ID Card, or Bonafide Certificate
- Disability Certificate (if applicable, in case of any physical disability)
Colgate Keep India Smiling Foundational Scholarship & Mentorship Program for BDS Course
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must have passed their Class 12 Board Exam
- They must have secured a minimum of 60% marks in their Class 12 Board Exam
- They must be enrolled in the 1st year in any of the recognised Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) colleges in India
- Annual family income of the applicants should be less than ₹5 lakh
Benefits: ₹50,000 per annum for 4 years
Documents:
- Passport-sized photograph
- Valid ID proof, which can include one of the following:
- Aadhaar Card
- Driving Licence
- Voter ID Card
- PAN Card
- Income proof, such as an Income Certificate, BPL Certificate, Food Security Certificate, or any other income certificate issued by a competent government authority
- Class 12 Marksheet
- Fee Receipt, Admission Letter, College ID Card, or Bonafide Certificate
- Disability Certificate (if applicable, in case of any physical disability)
Terms and Conditions:
- This scholarship program is designed for applicants from economically weaker sections or below the poverty lines (BPL). The required documents for eligibility requirements will be as per the statutory norms, and it is open to candidates/individuals who have all the necessary documents at the time of application.
- The data collected during the registration process will be solely used for shortlisting candidates for the scholarship program. This will not be used for any commercial purposes.
- Meeting the eligibility criteria and submitting the application for the scholarship program does not guarantee selection. The selection process involves multiple steps and may take several months.
- Colgate will not engage in any correspondence with regard to non-selection of candidates.
- Upon successful selection for the program, Colgate or its technology implementation partner will contact the candidate.
- Relevant supporting documents will be required before, on, or after the allocation of the applicable scholarship amount. The scholarship program for specific categories will strictly adhere to the mentioned duration for each category respectively.
- Colgate reserves the right to conduct internal due diligence to verify the documents submitted by the candidate.
- Colgate, at its sole discretion and to the fullest extent permitted by law, reserves the right to:
- reject or disqualify any application
- modify, suspend, terminate, or cancel the scholarship
- alter the program-based learning, as deemed appropriate
- If at any point during the scholarship period or thereafter, it is discovered that any information provided in the application is false, misleading, or that the candidate has intentionally withheld material facts, Colgate reserves the right to withdraw the scholarship awarded to such candidates.
- Colgate will regularly evaluate the program. Terms and conditions may be modified, withdrawn, or cancelled at the discretion of the selection panel of the Colgate Keep India Smiling Foundational Scholarship Programme and Colgate’s CSR committee.
- Candidates should acknowledge that Colgate does not commit to employing any of the successful candidates.
- Candidates are not required to pay any registration or application fee to participate in the program. Purchasing Colgate products is not mandatory for participation.
- Colgate reserves the right to use the photograph/profile of scholarship applicants/beneficiaries for future publications, disclosures, communication with Colgate’s stakeholders, submissions to various authorities and interested parties, corporate brochures, websites, social media, archives, and other publicity materials, if any, related to its activities, without any monetary compensation to any applicants and without any restrictions on frequency or use.
- Colgate will not be held liable or responsible for any communication delays or failures due to internet, telecom, SMS, and email service providers. Correspondence in this regard will not be entertained.
- Employees of the company, its affiliates, and their family members are ineligible to participate in the program.
- The company’s decision with regard to the program and the declaration of winners is final and binding.
- Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in Mumbai.
Also Read: Mastering the Scholarship Search: Key Points to Remember
Scholarships for BPL Students – Mukhya Mantri Hamari Betiyan Yojna, Rajasthan
About the Scholarship: The ‘Mukhya Mantri Hamari Betiyan Yojna’ is a scholarship program offered by the State Government of Rajasthan. Under this scheme, students of government schools in Rajasthan who excel in the Class 10 Board Exams conducted by the Rajasthan Secondary Education Board, Ajmer, are entitled to receive financial assistance.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Two meritorious female students who secure the first and second positions in each district in Class 10 with a minimum score of 75%.
- One meritorious female student from the Below Poverty Line (BPL) family who secures the first position in each district in Class 10 with a minimum score of 75%.
- One meritorious female orphan student who secures the first position in each district in Class 10 with a minimum score of 75%.
Awards: The eligible students receive financial assistance for their regular studies up to the postgraduation level. The Balika Shiksha Foundation is the responsible nodal agency.
Details of the benefits under the scheme are as follows:
| Class | One-Time Assistance | After Submitting Bills for Hostel/Coaching |
| 11th and 12th Grade | ₹15,000 | ₹1 lakh (Maximum annual award) |
| Graduation and
Postgraduation |
₹25,000 | ₹2 lakh (Maximum annual award) |
Application Process:
- The applicants should get the application submitted through the Principal of the school to the District Education Officer (Secondary).
- After verification and approval by the District Education Officer as per the rules and, application is forwarded to the Balika Shiksha Foundation in Jaipur.
- The Balika Shiksha Foundation then releases the payments to the candidate’s bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Documents Required: For applying to the Mukhya Mantri Hamari Betiyan Yojna, the applicant must have the following documents:
- Copy of the Bank Passbook
- Copy of the Educational Qualification Mark Sheet/Certificate
- Copy of the Aadhaar Card
Also Read: Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities
Scholarships for BPL Students – BPL Scholarship for College Students, Chhattisgarh
About the Scholarship: The ‘BPL Scholarship Scheme for College Students’ is the initiative of the Government of Chhattisgarh. The Department of Higher Education, Chhattisgarh, has been implementing the program since 2005.
The primary objective of this scheme is to provide financial assistance to academically talented students who belong to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. The scheme helps applicants cover part of their day-to-day expenditures while pursuing their higher education.
Eligibility Criteria: To qualify under the BPL Scholarship scheme, students must meet the following criteria:
- The applicants must be enrolled in a government college under the Higher Education Department in Chhattisgarh.
- Their guardian must possess a Below Poverty Line (BPL) card.
- They should not be benefiting from any other scholarship program.
- The applicants must have passed their annual examination in their first attempt.
- They must have maintained regular attendance throughout the academic year.
Awards: The scholarship awards are as follows:
- ₹500 per month for postgraduate (PG) level students.
- ₹300 per month for undergraduate (UG) level students.
Application Procedure:
- Applicants can submit the application for scholarships on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
- The last date of application is published on the National Scholarship Portal.
- For those applying for the scholarship program for the first time, they must register themselves on the portal as fresh applicants.
- This registration process involves the provision of accurate and authenticated information in the ‘Student Registration Form’ as mentioned in their documents.
- Before proceeding with registration on the National Scholarship Portal, applicants are advised to ensure the availability of the following documents:
- Educational documents of the student
- Bank Passbook
- Aadhaar Card Number
- A Valid Mobile Number
- An Active Email Address
- It is strongly recommended that the mobile number remains unchanged for the duration of the application for the scholarship program.
- Once the registration is complete, the NSP portal can be accessed for scholarship applications.
- Second-year and third-year students who have received a BPL scholarship in the first year should apply under the ‘Renewal’ category.
Note:- To read the official notification for the ‘BPL Scholarship Scheme for College Students,’ click here.
Scholarships for BPL Students – FAQs
What is the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category?
Below Poverty Line (BPL) is an economic benchmark indicator. This is used to identify individuals and households who are economically disadvantaged. They are often characterised by availability of limited financial resources.
Which scholarship programs are meant for the students from BPL category?
This article highlights several scholarship programs meant for the students hailing from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. They are as under:
- Colgate Keep India Smiling Foundational Scholarship & Mentorship Programme
- Mukhya Mantri Hamari Beti Yojna in Rajasthan
- ‘BPL Scholarship Scheme for College Students’ in Chhattisgarh.
However, there are many other similar scholarships available. The applicants are advised to visit the website of Buddy4Study for accurate information.
What is the Colgate Keep India Smiling Foundational Scholarship & Mentorship Programme?
The Colgate Keep India Smiling Foundational Scholarship & Mentorship Programme is the initiative designed to offer financial assistance and mentorship to promising students from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. It supports students in pursuing their studies in Class 11 and 12, three-year graduation programs, and courses on Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS).
What are the eligibility criteria for the students pursuing their 3-Year graduation under the Colgate Keep India Smiling Foundational Scholarship programme?
To become eligible under this scholarship program, candidates must have passed their Class 12 with a minimum of 60% marks. They must be enrolled in a recognized 3-year graduation program in India. The annual family income of the applicants must be less than ₹5 lakh. Other required documents include a valid ID, income proof, and Class 12 mark sheet.
Can the students of Class 10 apply for the Colgate Keep India Smiling Foundational Scholarship programme?
Yes, Class 10 students can apply for this scholarship programme if they meet the eligibility criteria. The applicants must have scored at least 75% marks in their Class 10 Board Exam and they should have an annual family income of less than ₹5 lakh.
What are the benefits provided under the Colgate Keep India Smiling Foundational Scholarship programme for BDS Course?
The scholarship offers INR 50,000 per annum for 4 years to students enrolled in the 1st year of any recognized Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) college in India. Eligibility criteria for the applicants are the following: They must have passed their Class 12 exam with a minimum of 60% marks. They should have an annual family income below ₹5 lakh.
What is the Mukhya Mantri Hamari Betiyan Yojna in Rajasthan?
The Mukhya Mantri Hamari Betiyan Yojna is a scholarship program of the State Government of Rajasthan. It supports meritorious female students in government schools. It provides financial assistance up to postgraduation level to those securing top positions in Class 10, with specific criteria for BPL and orphan students.
How can students apply under the Mukhya Mantri Hamari Betiyan Yojna programme?
Students can get their application submitted to the District Education Officer with the help of the principal of their school, who forwards approved applications to the Balika Shiksha Foundation. Scholarship amount is released through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the candidate’s bank account.
What is the BPL Scholarship Scheme for College Students in Chhattisgarh?
The BPL Scholarship Scheme for College Students is the initiative of the Government of Chhattisgarh. It provides financial assistance to academically talented students hailing from BPL families and enrolled in government colleges managed by the Higher Education Department.
How can students apply under the BPL Scholarship Scheme in Chhattisgarh?
Students can apply on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), ensuring that they meet the eligibility criteria. The application involves providing accurate information. Other requirements include educational documents, bank passbook, Aadhaar card, and a valid mobile number. Renewal of application is available for second and third-year students.