AI SummaryWest Bengal government has approved Bhagini Nivedita Scheme to pay ₹50,000 to unmarried women studying in college. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced it after a state Cabinet meeting on 5 October 2026, and payments will start from January 2027.
Students will get the amount in three parts across three years of study. This scheme doubles the one-time ₹25,000 that unmarried college girls got under Kanyashree Prakalpa K2.
Bhagini Nivedita Scheme amount and payment
Payment is split year-wise. A student gets ₹17,000 in the first year, ₹17,000 in the second year and ₹16,000 in the third year.
Each installment is paid after the student completes that year of study, directly into her bank account. Girls who took college admission in 2026 will also be covered once the scheme starts.
Who can apply for Bhagini Nivedita Scheme
Cabinet decision covers unmarried women in higher education. West Bengal Budget 2026-27, presented by Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta on 22 June 2026, was more specific about the type of college. Going by both announcements, a student needs to meet these conditions:
- She must be unmarried.
- She should be in an undergraduate (degree) course at a college run or aided by the West Bengal government.
Age limit, family income limit, minimum marks and the list of courses covered are not announced yet. Students in private colleges should wait for the final rules before assuming they qualify.
Bhagini Nivedita Scheme application form
Application form, official website and document list have not been released. West Bengal government will publish them in a separate notification. Until then, no website can register students for the scheme, and any page asking for a fee should be ignored.
Students can keep these papers ready, since most West Bengal student schemes ask for them:
- Aadhaar card and a bank account in the student's own name
- College admission receipt or college ID card
- Class 12 marksheet
- Unmarried declaration, which Kanyashree K2 also asks for
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Bhagini Nivedita Scheme |
| State | West Bengal |
| Approved On | 5 October 2026 (state Cabinet) |
| Who Can Get It | Unmarried women in undergraduate courses at government and government-aided colleges |
| Benefit Amount | ₹50,000 over three years (₹17,000 + ₹17,000 + ₹16,000) |
| Starts From | January 2027 |
| Replaces | Kanyashree K2 one-time grant of ₹25,000 |
FAQ's
Is Bhagini Nivedita Scheme the same as Kanyashree?
No. Kanyashree K1 pays ₹1,000 a year to girls aged 13 to 18 studying in class 8 to 12, while Bhagini Nivedita Scheme starts at the college stage.