The Odisha State Scholarship Portal, launched by the Government of Odisha, serves as a crucial online platform to help students from various backgrounds access financial assistance for their education. This portal streamlines the application process for numerous scholarship schemes, making it easier for eligible students to continue their studies despite financial constraints.
Overview of the Odisha State Scholarship Portal
The Odisha State Scholarship Portal (scholarship.odisha.gov.in) is a digital initiative designed to simplify and centralize scholarship applications. It offers a user-friendly interface for students to apply for scholarships, track their application status, and check payment details. The portal aims to provide financial support directly to the bank accounts of beneficiaries, ensuring transparency and efficiency.
Key features of the portal include:
- Centralized Application: A single platform to apply for multiple scholarship schemes.
- Application Tracking: Students can easily monitor the status of their submitted applications.
- Payment Details Access: Beneficiaries can check their payment disbursement information.
- Simplified Process: The portal offers a straightforward application form, making it accessible to a wide range of students.
- Accessibility: The portal is accessible anytime, anywhere, enhancing convenience for applicants.
Objective of the Odisha State Scholarship Portal
The primary objective behind the creation of the Odisha State Scholarship Portal is to provide financial opportunities to students who face difficulties in pursuing their education due to economic hardship. By offering a wide array of scholarships, the government aims to:
- Promote Educational Equity: Ensure that financial limitations do not hinder meritorious and deserving students from accessing education.
- Reduce Dropout Rates: Encourage students from economically backward sections to continue their studies beyond primary and secondary levels.
- Empower Disadvantaged Groups: Support students from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC/SEBC), Economically Backward Classes (EBC), and Persons with Disabilities (PWD) in achieving their educational aspirations.
- Facilitate Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): Ensure that financial assistance reaches the beneficiaries directly and efficiently.
Statistics on Beneficiaries and Impact
The Odisha State Scholarship Portal has significantly impacted the educational landscape by supporting a large number of students. While exact figures for 2025 are still being compiled, recent data indicates the substantial reach of these schemes.
- The portal supports over 11 lakh beneficiaries annually.
- In recent years, this has included 6.36 lakh ST students and 5.54 lakh SC students, highlighting the targeted support for these communities.
- Overall, nearly 6 lakh students have benefited from these schemes, with annual disbursements exceeding ₹600 crore.
- The e-Medhabruti scheme alone aims to award 14,500 scholarships every year, with specific allocations:
- Undergraduate Merit (U.G. Merit): 6,000 scholarships
- Postgraduate Merit (P.G. Merit): 2,500 scholarships
- Technical & Professional Merit: 6,000 scholarships
These scholarships play a vital role in:
- Providing Financial Relief: Covering tuition fees, examination fees, maintenance allowances, and other educational expenses.
- Increasing Enrollment: Boosting participation of students from marginalized communities in higher education and professional courses.
- Fostering Social Mobility: Equipping students with the necessary education and skills for better employment opportunities and improved socio-economic status.
Types of Scholarships Under the Odisha State Scholarship Portal
The portal hosts a diverse range of scholarships catering to different academic levels and socio-economic backgrounds. Here’s a detailed look at some of the major schemes:
Merit-Based Scholarships
- Junior Merit Scholarship (Medhabruti):
- Provider: Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Government of Odisha.
- Eligibility: Must have completed Higher Secondary Education with a minimum of 60% in HSC, annual family income not exceeding INR 6 Lakh, apply in the first year of a regular +2 course.
- Award: INR 3,000 annually for two years.
- Senior Merit Scholarship (Medhabruti):
- Provider: Higher Education Department, Government of Odisha.
- Eligibility: Enrolled in a recognized institution for a three-year undergraduate course, annual family income not exceeding INR 6 Lakh, passed +2 with at least 60% marks from CHSE, Odisha, or equivalent, apply in the first year.
- Award: INR 5,000 annually for two years.
- Post Graduate Merit Scholarship (Medhabruti):
- Provider: Higher Education Department, Government of Odisha.
- Eligibility: Pursuing a postgraduate degree from a recognized institution, annual family income not exceeding INR 6 Lakh, scored at least 60% in graduate degree, apply in the first year.
- Award: INR 10,000 annually for two years.
- Technical and Professional Merit (Medhabruti):
- Provider: Higher Education Department, Government of Odisha.
- Eligibility: Annual family income maximum INR 6 Lakh, apply in the first year of a technical or professional undergraduate or integrated course recognized by AICTE, MCI, DCI, etc., scored at least 60% in last qualifying exams.
- Award: INR 10,000 annually for two years.
- Scholarship to Meritorious Students under Central Sector Scheme:
- Provider: Council of Higher Secondary Education, Government of India.
- Eligibility: Cleared regular annual Higher Secondary Examination conducted by CHSE, Odisha, continuing higher studies as a full-time regular student, total annual family income not more than INR 6 Lakh.
- Award: INR 10,000 per annum for the first three years of undergraduate courses, INR 20,000 per annum for postgraduate courses, and INR 20,000 per annum in 4th and 5th years for professional/integrated courses.
Category-Specific Scholarships
- PRERANA- Post-Matric Scholarship for SC:
- Provider: ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department, Government of Odisha.
- Eligibility: Permanent resident of Odisha, continuing post-matriculation studies in government or government-recognized private institution, maximum annual family income of INR 2.5 Lakh for Group I, II, III, and IV.
- Award: Covers actual tuition/course fee, admission fee, library and sports fee, plus a maintenance allowance (up to INR 550 for day scholars, up to INR 1200 for hostellers).
- PRERANA- Post-Matric Scholarship for ST:
- Provider: ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department, Government of Odisha.
- Eligibility: Permanent resident of Odisha, annual family income not exceeding INR 1 Lakh, minimum 50% marks in previous examination, pursuing post-matriculation studies in any listed course, enrolled in government or private institution.
- Award: Covers actual tuition/course fee, admission fee, library and sports fee, plus a maintenance allowance (up to INR 550 for day scholars, up to INR 1200 for hostellers).
- PRERANA- Post-Matric Scholarship for OBC/SEBC:
- Provider: ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department, Government of Odisha.
- Eligibility: Permanent resident of Odisha, annual family income not exceeding INR 1 Lakh, minimum 50% marks in previous examination, pursuing post-matriculation studies in any listed course, enrolled in government or private institution.
- Award: Covers actual tuition/course fee, admission fee, library & sports fee, and a maintenance allowance (up to INR 350 for day scholars, up to INR 750 for hostellers).
- PRERANA- Post-Matric Scholarship for EBC:
- Provider: ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department, Government of Odisha.
- Eligibility: Applicable only to EBC of the General category, permanent resident of Odisha, annual family income not exceeding INR 1 Lakh, minimum 50% marks in previous examination, pursuing post-matriculation studies in any listed course, enrolled in government or private institution.
- Award: Covers actual tuition fee/course fee, admission fee, library & sports fee, and a maintenance allowance (up to INR 350 for day scholars, up to INR 750 for hostellers).
Scholarships for Persons with Disabilities
- Pre-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities:
- Provider: Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Government of Odisha.
- Eligibility: Annual family income less than INR 2.4 Lakh, minimum 40% disability, resident of Odisha, at least 5 years old, not receiving other government pensions, studying at pre-matric level.
- Award: INR 350 per month for day scholars and INR 600 per month for hostellers for 10 months, plus additional allowances for visually impaired, transport, escort, and mentally challenged students.
- Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities:
- Provider: Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Government of Odisha.
- Eligibility: Annual family income less than INR 2.4 Lakh, minimum 40% disability, resident of Odisha, at least 5 years old, not receiving other government pensions, studying at post-matric level.
- Award: Maintenance allowance, additional allowance based on disability, and reimbursement of compulsory non-refundable fees.
Other Notable Scholarships
- Prof. Ghanshyam Dash Scholarship for Higher Education:
- Provider: Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys Limited, Odisha (IMFA).
- Eligibility: Annual family income less than INR 2 Lakh, pursuing engineering, medicine, or liberal arts, resident of Odisha, not availed other financial help. Preference given to SC/ST and physically disadvantaged applicants.
- Award: Waiver of 90% of academic fees and other expenses for 4-year course duration, up to a maximum of INR 1 Lakh per annum.
- Vidyadhan Scholarship Program (Odisha) (1st and 2nd year):
- Provider: Sarojini Damodaran Foundation.
- Eligibility: Passed 10th grade/BSE examination with minimum 80% marks, annual family income not exceeding INR 2 Lakh.
- Award: Maximum of INR 6,000 per annum.
- Vyasakabi Fakir Mohan Senapati Scholarship:
- Provider: Higher Education Department, Government of Odisha.
- Eligibility: Resident of Odisha, qualified Higher Secondary or B.A. (Arts) with Odia as Hons./Major, scored at least 90% in Odia paper in Higher Secondary Examination, and at least 80% in degree examination.
- Award: Maximum of INR 20,000 per annum.
- Financial Assistance to Sportspersons:
- Provider: Sports and Youth Services Department, Government of Odisha.
- Eligibility: Resident of Odisha, represented districts/state/universities in sports, meets SAI and NSNIS eligibility criteria for academic courses.
- Award: For BPL category: 100% fee waiver + INR 10,000 (diploma/long-term) or INR 5,000 (6-week certificate). For Non-BPL category: 75% fee waiver + INR 5,000 (diploma/long-term) or INR 2,500 (6-week certificate).
Eligibility Criteria: General Requirements
While specific criteria vary for each scholarship, some general requirements apply across the board:
- Residency: The applicant must be a permanent resident of Odisha state.
- Income: Most scholarships target students from economically backward sections, with varying annual family income ceilings (ranging from INR 1 Lakh to INR 6 Lakh, depending on the scheme and category).
- Academic Performance: A minimum percentage of marks in the previous qualifying examination is often required (e.g., 50% or 60%).
- Enrollment: Applicants must be enrolled in a recognized educational institution.
- Course Level: Scholarships are available for pre-matric, post-matric, undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional courses.
Documents Required for Application
To ensure a smooth application process, students should have the following documents ready:
- Recent passport-size photograph of the applicant.
- Caste certificate (if applicable).
- Income certificate.
- Copy of Aadhaar card.
- The first page of the applicant’s bank account passbook (showing account number and IFSC code).
- A copy of the domicile certificate issued by a competent authority.
- Resident proof issued by the employer (if applicant’s parents are Odisha State Government employees).
- Mark sheets and certificates of the last qualifying examination, as required by the specific scholarship.
How to Apply for Odisha State Scholarship
The application process for scholarships through the Odisha State Scholarship Portal is entirely online and user-friendly:
- Visit the Official Portal: Go to the official Odisha State Scholarship website: scholarship.odisha.gov.in.
- Student Registration: Click on the “Student Registration” link on the homepage.
- Fill Registration Form: Provide necessary details like name, email ID, mobile number, and date of birth.
- Complete Registration: Click “Submit” and verify your mobile number with the OTP received.
- Login to Portal: Log in using your registered email ID and password.
- Access Application Form: Navigate to the scholarship application form.
- Fill Application Details: Enter personal information, academic details, and bank account information accurately.
- Upload Documents: Upload all required supporting documents.
- Submit Application: Review all details carefully and click the “Submit” button.
- Print Acknowledgment: Take a printout of the submitted application form for future reference.
Odisha State Scholarship Portal Login
For existing users, logging into the portal is a simple process:
- Visit Official Website: Go to scholarship.odisha.gov.in.
- Click on “Online Login”: Locate and click the “Online Login” option on the homepage.
- Enter Credentials: A new window will appear; fill in your registered email ID/username and password.
- Submit: Click the “Submit” button to access your dashboard.
Tips for a Successful Application
To maximize the chances of a successful scholarship application, students are advised to:
- Read Instructions Carefully: Thoroughly understand the instructions and eligibility criteria for each scholarship.
- Gather All Documents: Ensure all required documents are prepared and ready for upload.
- Adhere to Guidelines: Follow all application guidelines, especially submission deadlines.
- Review Before Submission: Double-check the application form for any errors before final submission.
- Provide Accurate Information: Always provide correct and verifiable information.
Contact Details of Odisha Scholarship Portal
For any queries or assistance, applicants can reach out to the Odisha State Scholarship Portal through their helpline:
- Helpline (Toll-Free): 155335, 1800-345-6770