West Bengal scholarship is meant for students who are domicile of the state at both school and college levels. The scholarships for West Bengal aim at supporting meritorious, deserving, and underprivileged students of the state. They are run by the government of West Bengal and its subsidiary departments. Moreover, the state is also home to various reputed institutions of higher education like the Indian Institute of Management (Kolkata), Indian Institute of Technology (Kharagpur), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (Kolkata), and National Institute of Technology (Durgapur) which makes the education for students of West Bengal easier and hassle-free.
This article pertains to detailed information about the scholarships for West Bengal, their eligibility, the application process, and the application period.
Latest Update – The last date to apply online for the West Bengal Post Matric Scholarship is 15 December 2023, and the Pre-Matric is 30 November 2023.
West Bengal Scholarship 2023-24 – Key Dates
| Name of Scholarship | Application Deadline | Provider Name |
| Swami Vivekananda Merit Cum Means Scholarship for Minorities, West Bengal | 15 December 2023 | Government of West Bengal |
| West Bengal Post-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST/OBC | 15 December 2023 | Backward Classes Welfare Department, Government of West Bengal |
| West Bengal Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC ST Students | 30 November 2023 | Backward Classes Welfare Department, Government of West Bengal |
| Bigyani Kanya Medha Britti Scholarship (senior and junior) | 31 July 2023 | Jagadis Bose National Science Talent Search (JBNSTS), Kolkata |
| West Bengal Talent Support Stipend Programme | 15 December 2023 | West Bengal Minorities Development and Finance Corporation |
| West Bengal Merit Cum Means Scholarship | 15 December 2023 | West Bengal Government |
| JBNSTS Scholarship Program (senior and junior) | 31 July 2023 | West Bengal Government |
West Bengal Scholarship 2023-4 – Complete Details
Here is a list complete list that carries the top scholarships for students of West Bengal. The list comprises scholarships for West Bengal students including both central government-funded and state government-funded.
Swami Vivekananda Merit Cum Means Scholarship for Minorities, West Bengal
- This is one of the most popular merit-cum-means based scholarships for students of West Bengal that covers the education of students from Class 11 onwards.
- It is applicable only to minority community students.
- This scholarship offers financial assistance of up to INR 8000 per month depending on the course or level of the student’s study.
- This scholarship is disbursed to students considering their academic merit and financial need.
West Bengal Post-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST/OBC
- This scholarship for West Bengal runs with the objective to provide financial assistance to SC/ST/OBC students studying post-matriculation or post-secondary level, helping them complete their education.
- Functional under the Backward Classes Welfare Department, students of Classes 11th, 12th, graduation, and post-graduation are eligible to apply for this scholarship.
- The amount of scholarship that students can receive under this program may range from INR 160 to INR 1200.
West Bengal Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST Students
- It is implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.
- It is run by the Backward Classes Welfare Department, Government of West Bengal.
- It is a centrally sponsored Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for SC and ST students studying in Class 9 and 10.
- The scholarship offers variable financial assistance ranging from INR 150 per month to INR 750 per month.
- Also, the selected scholars get an additional ad-hoc grant of up to INR 1000 per annum.
Bigyani Kanya Medha Britti Scholarship (Senior and Junior)
- This scholarship is exclusively meant for girl students who have passed class 12th from any board and are currently pursuing an undergraduate degree program in Basic Science/Medicine/Engineering at any institute in West Bengal.
- The objective of this program is to promote girls’ higher education and conserve their scientific talent.
- The girl students residing in West Bengal are eligible to apply for this scholarship.
- The selected students will receive a sum of INR 3000 per month.
- In addition to this, the scholarship also comprises an annual book grant of INR 2000.
West Bengal Talent Support Stipend Programme
- West Bengal Talent Support Stipend Programme 2023 offers financial aid to Class 11 to Ph.D. students of West Bengal belonging to the minority community.
- The scholarship aims to provide financial assistance to needy students to continue their studies.
- Financial assistance as per the available fund is given to the selected students.
West Bengal Merit Cum Means Scholarship
- West Bengal Merit Cum Means Scholarship 2023 is an initiative for minority students belonging to minority communities and economically weaker sections of West Bengal.
- The scholarship aims to provide adequate financial assistance to students pursuing technical or professional courses.
- The selected candidates will receive up to INR 33,000 per annum.
Jagadis Bose National Science Talent Search( JBNSTS) Scholarship Program (Senior)
- JBNSTS Senior Scholarship Program 2023 is an initiative for students who have passed the Higher Secondary or equivalent examination and are currently pursuing undergraduate courses.
- This program aims to work for the development of creative undergraduate students in registered institutions in West Bengal.
- The students qualifying for the scholarship test can avail of a scholarship worth INR 4,000 per month with other benefits.
Jagadis Bose National Science Talent Search( JBNSTS) Scholarship Program (Junior)
- JBNSTS Junior Scholarship Program 2023 is an initiative for students who have passed their 10th standard or equivalent examination and are currently pursuing a science stream in 11th standard in West Bengal.
- The students qualifying for the scholarship test can avail of a scholarship worth INR 1,000 per month with other benefits for two years.
West Bengal Scholarship 2023-24 – Key eligibility
The key condition to be eligible for WB scholarship is that one should be a permanent resident of West Bengal state or be a domicile of the state. Besides this, there are several other criteria too that one needs to follow concerning one’s academic qualification, academic merit, financial need, etc. These criteria may differ from scholarship to scholarship.
Here are the detailed eligibility criteria for all West Bengal scholarships–
1. Swami Vivekananda Merit Cum Means Scholarship for Minorities, West Bengal
- One must be a domicile of West Bengal.
- If studying at the higher secondary level or diploma, one must have scored at least 75% marks in Class 10th.
- If studying at the undergraduate level, one must have scored at least 75% marks in Class 12th.
- If studying at the PG level, one must have scored at least 53% marks in graduation (for general education) or 55% marks (in case of engineering)
- The annual family income of the family should not exceed INR 2.5 Lakh.
2. West Bengal Post-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST/OBC
- One should have a domicile of West Bengal and belong to SC/ST/OBC category.
- One must be studying in Class 11, 12, Graduation, or Postgraduation.
- The family income for SC/ST students should not exceed INR 2 Lakh to INR 2.5 Lakh per annum.
- The family income for OBC students should not exceed INR 1 Lakh per annum.
3. West Bengal Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC ST Students
- Must be a domicile of West Bengal.
- One should belong to SC or ST category.
- One must be currently a student of Class 9 or 10.
- The annual income of the family should not exceed INR 2 Lakh per annum from all sources.
4. Bigyani Kanya Medha Britti Scholarship
- The candidate must be domicile of West Bengal belonging to the SC/ST/OBC category.
- Students studying at Class 10 and Class 12, graduation, or postgraduation level are only eligible for this scholarship program.
- The annual family income should not exceed 2.5 lacs. (for SC and ST)
- The annual income for OBC families should not exceed 1 lakh.
5. West Bengal Talent Support Stipend Programme
- The students must be residents of West Bengal and have secured less than 50% of marks.
- They must have qualified in the previous exam.
- This application is applicable to minorities students only (Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, Jain, Parsee)
6. West Bengal Merit Cum Means Scholarship
- The students must be a domicile of West Bengal
- The applicants must be studying a technical or professional course such as medical, engineering, management, law, CA, etc.
- The family income should be less than INR 2.5 lakh per annum.
- The students must belong to the minority community of West Bengal.
- They must have scored at least 50% marks in Higher Secondary or Graduation examination.
7. JBNSTS Scholarship Program (senior and junior)
- An applicant must be a permanent resident of India
- The candidate must have passed this Higher Secondary or equivalent examination.
- An applicant must be pursuing BSc, in engineering for medical at the undergraduate level.
- The candidates must be pursuing undergraduate courses from any institution that is registered in West Bengal
How To Apply for West Bengal Scholarship 2023-24?
Once a student is clear of the eligibility criteria that he/she needs to fulfil, one can proceed further to apply for the respective scholarship. Of course, every scholarship has its distinctive approach to application. While some scholarships invite applications offline through post or by hand, many scholarship providers have adopted the online approach for students’ applications. In fact, the Government of West Bengal also operates its distinctive scholarship portal named OASIS Scholarship Portal for the convenience of students. Find out how one can apply for the WB scholarship in the table given below.
1. Swami Vivekananda Merit Cum Means Scholarship for Minorities, West Bengal
Apply online through West Bengal Minorities Development & Finance Corporation’s online portal for Swami Vivekanand Scholarship
2. West Bengal Post-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST/OBC
Apply online through the OASIS scholarship portal
3. West Bengal Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC ST Students
Apply online through the OASIS scholarship portal
4. Bigyani Kanya Medha Britti Scholarship
- Students who wish to apply for the Bigyan Kanya Scholarship can fill out an online form from the official website of JBNSTS and fill out all the details after paying a fee of Rs 100/- online or through e-challan.
- If online is not comfortable, the students can download the application form, fill out all the details and post it to the address- 1300 Rajdanga Main Road, Sarat Park, Rajdanga, Kasba, Kolkata – 700107, West Bengal.
Note: Incomplete applications will be rejected.
5. West Bengal Talent Support Stipend Programme
Apply online through the official website of wbmdfc.
6. West Bengal Merit Cum Means Scholarship
Apply online through the official website of wbmdfc.
7. JBNSTS Scholarship Program
Apply online through the official website of wbmdfc.
Track Application Status
- As per the application, visit the Scholarship Portal
- Click on the Track Application available on the homepage
- When the page opens, enter the application number
- Fill the Captcha in the Captcha Box
- Click on Track Application
West Bengal Scholarship 2023-24 – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is eligible for the Vivekananda scholarship?
Apart from belonging to the minority community of West Bengal, the students need to clear 12th class with at least 75% marks to qualify for the Swami Vivekananda Merit Cum Means Scholarship Scheme for Minorities, West Bengal. Their annual family income should be less than INR 2.5 lakhs.
What is the amount of SC scholarship?
It should note that only those students can take benefit from SC Post Matric Scholarship 2023 whose parent's income from all sources does not exceed INR 8,00,000.
How to Apply for Hindi Scholarship Scheme, West Bengal?
Apply offline through -Scholarship & Stipend Section of Education, Directorate, West Bengal, Bikash Bhaban, North Block, 9tn Floor Bidhannagar, Kolkata-700091
What are the eligibility criteria for JBNSTS Scholarship 2022?
Girl students who have passed 10th std. Board Exam in 2022 with at least 75 % marks/ equivalent CGPA in aggregate and currently studying Science in Class 11 in any institution in West Bengal. Selection will be made through Junior Talent Search Test.