Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana

Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana is a financial support scheme run by the Higher Education Department of the government of Odisha. It gives ₹20,000 every year to students from poor and at-risk families who are studying in undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Applications for the 2026-27 academic year are expected to open on the Odisha State Scholarship Portal in October 2026.

This scheme is made to raise the gross enrollment ratio and help students from economically weak and socially at-risk families complete their higher education without money problems. Managed by the Higher Education Department, it supports students who are enrolled in regular graduate and postgraduate courses in recognised institutions across Odisha.

Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana - Introduction

Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana assists students from economically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds to access higher education across Odisha. The scheme provides a financial grant of ₹20,000 every year to eligible students enrolled in regular graduate and postgraduate courses, including technical, professional and non-professional programmes.

The scheme is part of the Mukhyamantri Medhabi Chhatra Protsahan Yojana umbrella, which also includes the E-Medhabruti scheme. It targets students from vulnerable families such as those affected by HIV/AIDS, manual scavengers, households without shelter, and single-mother families. The grant is renewed every year for the full duration of the course until completion.

For the 2026-27 academic year, the state scholarship portal has announced the opening of fresh and renewal applications. Eligible students should keep checking the portal for the exact opening and closing dates so that they do not miss the application window.

Key Information

Benefits

Eligible students can get the following benefits under Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana:

• Receive an annual financial grant of ₹20,000 to cover educational expenses for graduate and postgraduate studies.
• Get this scholarship even if support is already being received from other ongoing government schemes, since the scheme works as a supplement to other scholarships.
• Continue receiving this assistance for the entire duration of the regular course, with the grant renewed every year until course completion.

Eligibility

To qualify for this financial support, the applicant must belong to one of the vulnerable family categories listed below and meet the conditions set by the Higher Education Department:

• Families affected by HIV/AIDS, where the father or mother is affected.
• Households without shelter, confirmed by the competent revenue authority.
• Destitute families or those living on alms, confirmed by the local sarpanch or urban local body authority.
• Manual scavengers, confirmed by the competent authority.
• Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups, confirmed by the district welfare officer.
• Legally released bonded labourers, confirmed by the district welfare officer or district labour officer.
• Single mother families, where the mother is widowed, divorced or unmarried with dependent children, confirmed by the district social welfare officer.

Additionally, the applicant must be a permanent resident of Odisha, the annual family income must not exceed ₹2.5 lakh, and the student must be enrolled in a regular graduate or postgraduate programme at a government-recognised institution located in Odisha.

Application Process

The application process is fully online through the Odisha State Scholarship Portal. Follow the steps below to register and submit the application.

STEP 1 - Visit the official Odisha State Scholarship Portal and click on the Registration option on the homepage.

STEP 2 - Read the instructions and declaration carefully, select the checkbox and click on "I Agree". Enter the Aadhaar number, mobile number, name, gender, date of birth and email ID, then click on Register. Login credentials are sent to the registered mobile number and email ID.

STEP 3 - Login using the received credentials and click on "Student Login". Go to the Schemes and Scholarship module and select Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana from the dropdown list.

STEP 4 - Fill in the online application form carefully and upload the required documents in the prescribed format. Submit the form and take two printouts of it.

STEP 5 - Submit the hard copies along with the required documents to the Principal or Head of the Institution for further verification. The institution then forwards the application for approval.

Documents

Keep the following documents ready before starting the application so that the process goes smoothly:

• Passport-size photograph of the student
• Aadhaar card of the student
• College ID card
• Resident certificate of Odisha
• Income certificate of the parent or guardian
• Caste or category-specific certificates for the target groups, such as HIV/AIDS, manual scavenger, single mother, PVTG or bonded labour certificates
• Bank passbook of the student with the account number and IFSC code clearly visible

References

For detailed rules and official guidelines, refer to the official scheme guideline page on the Higher Education Department website. The official scheme guidelines PDF and the guideline and application format page are also available for reference.

FAQ's

Which department manages Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana?

The Higher Education Department of the government of Odisha manages this scheme.

How much financial support can I receive?

Eligible students receive ₹20,000 per annum for the duration of their course, renewed every year until completion.

What is the income limit for this scheme?

The annual family income from all sources must not exceed ₹2.5 lakh.

Can I apply if I am already receiving another scholarship?

Yes, the scheme can be availed even if support is already being received from another scholarship programme, as it supplements other scholarships.

Is there an age limit to apply?

No, there are no age-related restrictions for applying to this scheme.

Can I apply offline?

No, the application should be submitted exclusively through the online Odisha State Scholarship Portal.

When will applications open for 2026-27?

Applications for the 2026-27 academic year are expected to open in October 2026. The exact dates will be announced on the state scholarship portal.