Goa Cyberage Scheme 2026 - Free Laptop for Class 11 Students, Eligibility and Apply Process

Directorate of Education (DoE) in Goa runs Cyberage Scheme for Class 11 students every academic year, giving free laptops to students of higher secondary schools across the state. Under the revised rules, these laptops stay as school property instead of belonging to the student, and get passed on to the next batch once a student finishes school.

Goa introduced this laptop scheme back in 2002 under then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, making it one of the first states in the country to give free laptops to higher secondary and professional college students. More than two decades later, Class 11 students from arts, science and commerce streams still get a laptop through this scheme, and in some years Class 12 students have also been covered.

Goa Cyberage Scheme 2026 - How to Apply for Free Laptop

Application for cyberage laptop happens through school, not through any separate online portal. Class 11 students need to collect application form from their own school and submit it along with required documents.

STEP 1 - Visit school office or approach Class 11 class teacher and ask for cyberage scheme application form. Schools release this form once the batch is confirmed by Directorate of Education.

STEP 2 - Fill the form with personal and academic details and attach photocopies of required documents like proof of birth in Goa and previous year mark sheet.

STEP 3 - Submit completed form along with documents to school office before last date given by school.

STEP 4 - Wait for school to verify details and hand over laptop as per batch-wise distribution plan set by school administration.

Who Can Apply - Eligibility for Cyberage Scheme

Free laptop scheme is applicable to all Class 11 students studying in Goa, from every stream, whether arts, science or commerce. Basic eligibility points are given below.

• Student should be studying in Class 11 in a school recognised by Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education.
• Student or at least one parent should be born in Goa, or student should be a domiciled resident of the state as per school records.
• Student needs to be regularly enrolled and attending the school where laptop is being allotted, since ownership of laptop stays with that school.

Revised Rules - Laptop Now Belongs to School, Not Student

Directorate of Education had submitted a revised cyberage student scheme proposal to state government for approval, after some students were found selling their allotted laptops online instead of using them for studies. Manohar Parrikar, during his last term as Chief Minister, had spoken about this misuse and said the scheme needed a review.

Under revised structure, laptop given to a Class 11 student stays registered as property of the school, not the individual student. Once that student completes schooling, laptop goes back to school and gets reused for the next batch. This helps government save on the recurring cost of buying fresh laptops for every new batch of students. Exact rollout dates for each academic year are not published centrally, so students should confirm current status with their own school or Directorate of Education, Goa.

Even with laptop staying in school ownership, students continue to get full use of the device through their two years in Class 11 and Class 12, including for online classes, project work and exam preparation.

Cyberage Scheme 2026 Highlights

Detail	Information
Scheme Name	Cyberage Student Scheme (Revised)
Launched By	Directorate of Education, Government of Goa
Year Started	2002
Beneficiaries	Class 11 students of Goa (Class 12 covered in some years)
Benefit	Free laptop for use during higher secondary schooling
Laptop Ownership	Belongs to school, reused for next batch after student completes school
Application Mode	Offline, through respective school
Official Website	dhe.goa.gov.in

Documents Required

Schools generally ask for basic identity and academic documents while processing cyberage laptop applications. Keep these ready before submitting the form.

• Birth certificate or school leaving certificate showing student or parent born in Goa.
• Class 10 mark sheet issued by Goa Board.
• Aadhaar card or other photo ID proof of student.
• Passport size photograph, if asked by school.

Related Scheme - Free Laptop for SC/ST Students (Class 10)

Apart from cyberage scheme, Info Tech Corporation of Goa (ITG) also runs a separate free laptop scheme for meritorious Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students who have passed Class 10 from Goa Board in their first attempt with at least 70 percent marks. Top 5 boys and top 5 girls from SC/ST community in every taluka get a free laptop under this scheme, and applications open online each year at infotech.goa.gov.in. This scheme is separate from cyberage scheme and runs under Department of Information Technology, Goa.

Official Website and Helpline

For Class 11 cyberage scheme related queries, students can reach out to Directorate of Higher Education, Goa at dhe.goa.gov.in or contact their own school directly. For SC/ST laptop scheme, official portal is infotech.goa.gov.in and support is available at topper.helpdesk@gmail.com. Complete list of state schemes for Goa is also available on Goa Government Schemes List page.

References

Goa Cyberage Student Scheme Source / Reference Link - https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/in-cyberage-scheme-revamp-schools-may-be-given-laptops/articleshow/70210398.cms

FAQ's

Do Class 11 students get to keep the laptop after finishing school?

No. Under revised rules, laptop stays registered as property of the school. Student gets to use it through Class 11 and Class 12, and it goes back to school for reuse once schooling is complete.

Which students are eligible for cyberage scheme?

Class 11 students studying in a Goa Board recognised school, from arts, science or commerce stream, are eligible. Application is done through the school, not online.

Is there a separate laptop scheme for SC/ST students in Goa?

Yes. Info Tech Corporation of Goa runs a separate scheme for meritorious SC/ST students who clear Class 10 with 70 percent or more marks, with online applications at infotech.goa.gov.in.