Swami Vivekananda Scholarship (SVMCM) – A Merit-cum-means based scheme

Swami Vivekananda Scholarship (SVMCM), also known as Bikash Bhavan Scholarship is a merit-cum-means based scholarship scheme for the meritorious and economically backward students of West Bengal studying at the higher secondary level, undergraduate level, postgraduate level and above. Revamped in the year 2016, the Swami Vivekananda Scholarship now comes with a significantly increased number of seats and enhanced rewards. Administered by the Government of West Bengal, the sanctioned amount of scholarship from this year onwards has been increased from INR 45 Crore to INR 2,000 Crore.

This article comprises detailed information about Swami Vivekananda Scholarship, its eligibility, its key dates, its application process, its awards and benefits, its selection procedure and its renewal. Furthermore, if you have any doubts or query related to the scholarship information or application, you can contact the provider at the given contact details.

Latest Update: The last date to apply for Swami Vivekananda Scholarship for Minority communities students is 15th December 2021. Click here to apply!

Swami Vivekananda Scholarship – What it is?

Announced with a view to assisting the meritorious students of West Bengal state who belong to economically backward sections of the society, the Swami Vivekananda Scholarship benefits students of class 11^th, 12^th, undergraduate level, postgraduate level, doctoral level and Kanyashree (K-2) recipients. Functional under the Government of West Bengal, this scholarship is an initiative to encourage studies at UG/PG/M.Phil. /Doctoral level within the state.

Swami Vivekananda Scholarship (SVMCM) – Key dates to remember

Which are the important dates to apply for Swami Vivekananda Scholarship? When does the application process start? When does the application process close? Get the answer to all the questions related to the timeline of Swami Vivekananda Scholarship (Bikash Bhavan Scholarship) in the table given hereunder.

Swami Vivekananda Scholarship – Key dates

*The above-mentioned dates are tentative which may change on the discretion of the scholarship provider.

#The applications for students belonging to the minority community are currently open for which the students can apply through https://wbmdfcscholarship.org/.

Swami Vivekananda Scholarship (SVMCM) – Eligibility criteria

Which are the key conditions that you need to follow to be eligible for Swami Vivekananda Scholarship? The general eligibility criteria that imply to this scholarship include –

• You must be a resident of West Bengal.
• You must be pursuing studies at the post-madhyamik level and onwards at an educational institute in West Bengal after passing out from a state board, the council of secondary/higher secondary, Madrasah education or a state university.
• Institutions must also be located in West Bengal.
• The family income of your family should not be more than INR 2.5 Lakh.

Note: Another variant of this scholarship is also open for Minority community students including Buddhists, Muslims, Christians, Jain, Sikh and Parsi. 

Besides these, there are some course-specific eligibility criteria too that you need to follow. Find out complete details about them in the table given below.

Swami Vivekanand Scholarship – Specific Eligibility

Also Read: SVMCM Scholarship Criteria Revised – Minimum 60% Marks Required

Swami Vivekananda Scholarship (SVMCM) – How to apply?

The applications for Swami Vivekananda Scholarship are accepted online through its official website’s homepage – SVMCM (V3.0). Depending on the category for which you are applying, the applications can be made on their respective hyperlink. However, for students belonging to minority communities, the applications are accepted through the official website of West Bengal Minorities’ Development & Finance Corporation. Also, you should keep this fact in mind that no hard copies of the applications are acceptable under this scheme.

Here is a step-by-step guide to the online application for Swami Vivekananda Scholarship through SVMCM (V3.0) –

Step 1: Registering for the scholarship

To register as a new user, you need to visit the official website and click on the respective category for which you want to apply.

Step 2: Logging into your account

Once registered successfully, you can log in to your account through your registered user id and password.

Step 3: Filling the required details

Once you have logged into your account, you can access the scholarship application form. Fill in all the fields that are marked as mandatory. Make sure you enter the correct information, as any kind of discrepancy in the information can lead to rejection.

Step 4: Uploading the supporting documents

You need to update all the documents that are required in support of your online application. Make sure you upload the correct documents in specified format and size.

Step 5: Final submission of application form

Once you have updated the Institute verification form duly attested by the head of the institution, you can finally submit the online application form. Your form will only be considered complete if you have uploaded the duly attested institute verification form.

Swami Vivekananda Scholarship (SVMCM) – Important documents

While you apply for Swami Vivekananda Scholarship or Bikash Bhavan Scholarship, you necessarily need to support your application with some mandatory documents, without which your application may get rejected. The list of important documents that you must upload with your online application include –

• The front and back side of your mark sheet for the last examination passed
• Admit card of Madhyamik or equivalent examination
• Income certificate (in the format specified)
• Income affidavit (in the specified format)
• The first page of your bank passbook that clearly mentions your account number and IFSC details
• Aadhaar card/Ration card/Voter ID card
• Recent photograph with size not more than 10 -50 KB
• Institute verification form (in the prescribed format) duly authenticated by the HOI (Head of Institution) (Note: The students can obtain institute verification form online from the portal after the submission of online application. Get it authenticated by the HOI and finally upload to the portal).

Swami Vivekananda Scholarship (SVMCM) – Selection Process

Since Swami Vivekananda Scholarship is a merit-cum-means based scholarship, it takes both your academic merit and financial need into consideration for the selection process. The selection of the scholars is made through following steps –

• The applications made online under different categories are initially arranged in descending order based on the marks you have obtained in the qualifying examination and income criteria.
• Once the merit list is prepared, the scholarship is disbursed to students in their respective accounts, subject to the availability of all documents.

Swami Vivekananda Scholarship (SVMCM) – Awards & Benefits

The amount of award that you will receive under Swami Vivekananda Scholarship scheme majorly depends upon the course or level of study you are currently pursuing. Generally, this scholarship amount may vary from INR 1,000 per month to INR 5,000 per month. How much amount of scholarship will you get? Find out detailed information about the awards and benefits rendered under this scheme in the table given below. It contains course-wise details of the scholarship amount that a student can receive.

Swami Vivekananda Scholarship – Course-wise awards

Swami Vivekananda Scholarship (SVMCM) – Renewal

Every year, the winners of Swami Vivekananda scholarship (Bikash Bhavan Scholarship) have to apply for its renewal. Applicable only for some particular level of studies, the renewal cases are subject to your decent academic performance. The minimum score for renewal that you should obtain at the promotional level during your transition from higher secondary level to UG and Diploma level is 60% marks. However, to get a renewal at postgraduate level, you need to obtain minimum 50% marks at the promotional level. Furthermore, you should pass/clear all semester examinations in the first attempt to be eligible for renewal.

How can you apply for the scholarship renewal? Is the renewal process different from the general application procedure? No, the process of renewal is more or less similar to the general application procedure. Here is how can you apply for Swami Vivekananda Scholarship renewal –

Step 1: Visit the online application portal for Swami Vivekananda Scholarship.

Step 2: Click on the “Renewal Application” button.

Step 3: Log in using your registered Login ID and password.

Step 4: Fill in all required details and upload all supporting documents.

Step 5: Finally, submit the renewal application.

Important documents to be submitted for renewal

• Mark sheet of the first and second semester for 2nd-year renewal and mark sheet of the third and fourth semester for 3rd-year renewal at UG level.
• Mark sheet of the first and second semester for 2nd-year renewal at PG level.

Swami Vivekananda Scholarship (SVMCM) – FAQs

Q. What is the last date to apply for Swami Vivekananda Scholarship? 

The applications for Swami Vivekananda Scholarship are invited in the month of September to November. The last date to apply for the academic year 2020-21 is 15th February 2021. However, the last to apply for Swami Vivekananda Scholarship for Minority students is 15th March 2021.

Q. How can a student check the scholarship status? 

The students who have applied for Swami Vivekananda Scholarship can check their application status online only after logging into their user dashboard.

Q. How can a student renew the scholarship? 

To renew the Swami Vivekananda Scholarship, the applicants have to follow a similar process as that of the fresh application. They don’t have to register again on the portal. Rather, they can log in using their registered email id and password and proceed with the renewal application.

Q. What are the documents required to apply for Swami Vivekananda Scholarship? 

The key documents required to apply for Swami Vivekananda Scholarship include academic mark sheets, income certificate, Aadhaar card, income affidavit, a recent photograph of the applicant, etc.

Swami Vivekananda Scholarship – Contact details

Furthermore, if you have any query or doubts related to Swami Vivekananda Scholarship details, application procedure or any other information, feel free to contact at –

Higher Education, Science & Technology and Biotechnology Department

Bikash Bhavan, 6th Floor, Salt Lake, Kolkata 700091

Swami Vivekananda Scholarship helpline number – 1800-102-8014 (Toll-Free Number)

Email id – helpdesk.svmcm-wb@gov.in

Read more about West Bengal Scholarships.

List of State Scholarship portal are as follows: