Aikyashree Scholarship is the primary financial assistance program for students from religious minority communities (Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, and Parsi). Managed by the West Bengal Minorities’ Development and Finance Corporation (WBMDFC), it encompasses several sub-schemes tailored to different educational levels.
1. Key Aikyashree Scholarship Schemes
- Pre-Matric Scholarship: For students from Class 1 to 10. Provides an annual stipend ranging from ₹1,100 to ₹11,000, depending on the class and hostel status.
- Post-Matric Scholarship: For students from Class 11 to PhD level (general courses). Benefits range from approximately ₹10,200 to ₹16,500 per year.
- Merit-cum-Means (MCM) Scholarship: For students pursuing technical or professional courses (e.g., Medical, Engineering, Law, CA). Beneficiaries can receive up to ₹33,000 annually.
- Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means (SVMCM) for Minorities: High-merit scholarship for students (Class 11 to PG) with at least 60% marks in the previous exam. It provides up to ₹60,000 per year.
- Talent Support Programme (TSP): Stipend for students (Class 11 to PhD) who secured less than 50% marks in their previous examination.
2. General Eligibility Criteria
- Domicile: Applicant must be a permanent resident of West Bengal.
- Academic Performance: Minimum 50% marks in the last qualifying exam for most schemes (not required for Class 1 or TSP).
- Family Income:
- Up to ₹2 lakh per annum for Pre-Matric and Post-Matric.
- Up to ₹2.5 lakh per annum for MCM and SVMCM.
- Exclusivity: Only one scholarship scheme can be availed per academic year.
3. Application Process & Deadlines
- Online Application: All fresh and renewal applications must be submitted via the Aikyashree Portal (wbmdfcscholarship.in).
- Deadline for 2025-26: The final date for submission of applications is currently February 28, 2026.
- Required Documents:
- Aadhaar Card and Student’s Bank Passbook (Aadhaar-linked preferred).
- Income Certificate (issued by a Gazetted Officer or Joint BDO).
- Caste/Community Certificate and Last Exam Marksheet.
- Bonafide/Institution Verification Certificate.
4. Status Tracking
Once submitted, students can monitor their application progress (e.g., “Pending,” “Approved,” or “Disbursed”) using the Track Application feature on the official WBMDFC portal by entering their Application ID and District.