Karnataka Announces Deepika Scholarship for Girl Students in Higher Education

The Higher Education Department has announced the Deepika Scholarship Scheme for 2026–27 to support girl students from government schools in pursuing higher education and to curb dropout rates after Class 12.

Under the initiative, eligible students will receive financial assistance of Rs 30,000 per year until the completion of their degree courses. The scholarship amount can be utilized for tuition fees or other educational expenses. To qualify, students must have completed their Class 10 and Class 12 education in government schools or colleges and be enrolled in a general degree, professional degree, or post-PU diploma program across government, aided, or private institutions.

The scholarship structure includes two components, with the Azim Premji Foundation providing 37,000 scholarships annually, and the state government extending the identical Rs 30,000 benefit to eligible applicants beyond that count.

For the current academic year, the Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board identified 51,399 eligible girls who passed Classes 10 and 12 in government institutions. The department has sent SMS notifications to those enrolled in higher education programs, directing them to apply. Additionally, the department instructed 440 government first-grade colleges and 421 aided first-grade colleges to notify eligible students.

In the 2025–26 academic year, 14,262 students received Rs 30,000 each, with 6,700 applications remaining under scrutiny.

Fresh applications for the first round will be accepted from August 10 to August 31, followed by a renewal application window from September 15 to October 30. A second round for fresh applications will run from January 10 to January 31, 2027. Applicants must provide Class 10 and 12 marks cards, admission receipts, bonafide certificates, photographs, signatures, Aadhaar cards, and Aadhaar-linked bank passbooks.