Students of forward communities whose family’s annual income doesn’t exceed Rs 4 lakh could apply for the Vidya Samunnathi scholarship 2022–23. The online applications should be submitted within 20 November.
The applicants should do one-time registration in the data bank on the website to generate a number, which should be used while applying. Besides, the scanned copies of the required documents too should be uploaded. The hard copies of the application need not be sent via post.
The scholarship is awarded to Keralites who do not enjoy reservation benefits. There is age limit for the applicants to avail the scholarship. Those who are studying in the government, aided and self-financing private colleges and research and scientific institutes approved by the universities in Kerala can apply for the scholarship.
Students who got admission in institutes outside Kerala by qualifying the All–India level entrance exams too are eligible; however, such candidates are not eligible if they have qualified the entrance test of the respective institutes.
The applicants should have account in a nationalised/scheduled bank. Those who are already receiving other government scholarships/stipends will not be considered. Students who got the scholarship in the previous years should apply again using the old registration number.
The applications cannot be renewed.
The scholarships are distributed via the Kerala State Commission for the Economically Backward Classes among the Forward Communities.
The scholarship categories
Graduation
Students who are studying for professional/non-professional graduate courses in the government/aided/self-financing private colleges in Kerala can apply.
In all 3,500 students of professional courses would get an annual scholarship of Rs 8,000 per head and 10,000 students of non-professional courses would get Rs 6,000 per head annually. They should have scored at least 70% marks for Plus-Two.
Those who got admission for medical courses in other states after qualifying NEET too can apply.
Post-graduation
This is for students who are studying for professional and non-professional post-graduate courses in the government/aided/self-financing private colleges in Kerala. Totally, 250 students of professional post-graduate courses will get an annual scholarship of Rs 16,000 per head, while 1,960 post-graduate students of non-professional courses would get Rs 10,000 per head annually.
The applicants should have scored at least 60% marks in Science streams for graduation. Meanwhile, those who have studied arts, commerce, management, law, medical and technical streams should have scored 55% for graduation.
Courses at national-level institutes
Seventy-eight students who are studying in national-level institutes like IITs, IIMs, AIIMS, JIPMER, Indian Institute of Science, National Law School, NIT, Film Institutes and NIFT would get up to Rs 50,000 as annual scholarship.
CA, CS and Cost Accountancy
Ninety candidates who have completed Charted Accountancy, Cost Accounting (Intermediate) and Company Secretary (Executive) within four years will get an annual scholarship of Rs 10,000 each.
Diploma/certificate courses
Thousand candidates who are studying in approved institutes in Kerala will get Rs 6000 as annual scholarship. They should have scored 60% marks for Secondary School Leaving Certificate exams or B grade.
Higher secondary
In all 10,500 students of classes 11 and 12 studying at government/aided schools will get an annual scholarship of Rs 4,000 per head. They should have scored 70% marks for SSLC or B+ grade.
Research
Annual scholarship of Rs 25,000 each for ten MPhil and PhD scholars. They should have passed PG with at least 55% marks (Even though MPhil courses have been discontinued as per clause 11.10 of the National Education Policy 2020, the corporation may have announced the scholarship for those who haven’t completed the programme).
Detailed information about each course is available on the website. Those who have doubts should contact the Corporation. Address: L2, Kuleena, TC 9/476, Jawahar Nagar, Kowdiar, Thiruvananthapuram – 695 003; Phone: 6238170312; Email: kswcfc@gmail.com; website: www.kswcfc.org.