AI SummaryWest Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari launched the Sarathi cycle scheme on 29 September 2026 at Madhusudan Pal Chowdhury High School in Bhatra, Howrah. In the 2026-27 financial year, 12.59 lakh school students will get free bicycles under it.
Sarathi is the new name of Sabooj Sathi, the bicycle scheme started in 2015, which has given cycles to more than 1.2 crore students so far. Status check, student login and the complaint form are still on wbsaboojsathi.gov.in. That portal has not been renamed yet.
Sarathi scheme latest update
Sarathi cycles are saffron instead of blue, and a new logo replaces the Biswa Bangla emblem that used to sit on the front basket. As per the state government, every cycle went through a three-tier quality check of tyres, lights and road safety.
Right now the cycle is given in Class 9. From the next academic year, Class 8 students will get it too. This year's distribution covers 8,228 schools in 334 blocks and 125 municipalities and municipal corporations.
Before any cycle is handed over, the headmaster must log in to the Sarathi portal and verify each Class 9 student's profile. Address, phone number and any earlier cycle received are all checked. Students do not fill any form themselves.
At the launch, the CM said ₹300 crore has been set aside as a composite grant for schools under Sarathi. He also offered land to companies that set up cycle factories in Bengal, with the state buying cycles from them. In a separate change, higher secondary students will no longer get ₹10,000 for a phone or tablet under Taruner Swapno. A bigger amount for learning materials will replace it.
How to check Sarathi cycle distribution status
Distribution status is shown school-wise, so keep the district, block and school name ready.
STEP 1 - Go to the official website at wbsaboojsathi.gov.in.
STEP 2 - Click "Tracking of Bi-Cycle Distribution Status" under "Quick Links", or open the tracking page directly. This page opens:
STEP 3 - Pick the district, block, school, phase and class, then click "Search a Beneficiary" to see which students have got their cycle.
For totals by district, use the wbsaboojsathi.gov.in district wise record.
Sarathi student login
Students can see their own profile through the "Students Corner - Profile View of Schoolgoer from classes 9th to 12th" link under "Quick Links", or on the student login page.
Enter the applicant ID and date of birth, then click "Login". If a detail is wrong, ask the headmaster to fix it before the school finishes verification.
Sarathi complaint form
Complaints go through the "Please Submit Any Grievance related to Sabooj Sathi" link under "Quick Links", or through the grievance form.
Fill in the complainant's name, mobile number, email ID and grievance type, write the complaint, attach a file if needed and click "Send".
Who can get a Sarathi cycle
Eligibility is the same as under Sabooj Sathi, with one addition from next year.
- Students of Class 9 to 12 in government, government-aided and government-sponsored schools and madrasahs of West Bengal.
- Class 8 students in these schools, starting from the next academic year.
- Only students who have not got a cycle earlier under Sabooj Sathi, since the school checks past benefits during verification.
- Girls and boys both get the cycle, although girls were the main focus when the scheme started.
Sarathi scheme highlights
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Sarathi (earlier Sabooj Sathi) |
| Launched By | West Bengal government |
| Launch Date | 29 September 2026, Howrah |
| Who Gets It | Class 9 to 12 students (Class 8 from next academic year) |
| Target for 2026-27 | 12.59 lakh students in 8,228 schools |
| Benefit | Free saffron bicycle |
| Application Mode | Through school, no separate form |
| Main Department | Backward Classes Welfare Department |
| Official Website | wbsaboojsathi.gov.in |
FAQ's
Is Sabooj Sathi scheme closed?
No. It continues as Sarathi, with the same portal and the same school-based process.
Will Class 8 students get a Sarathi cycle this year?
No. Class 8 is covered from the next academic year. In 2026-27, cycles go to Class 9 students whose profiles the school has verified.