Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana, Odisha 2026-27

About This Scholarship

The Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana (गोपबन्धु शिक्षा सहायता योजना) is a scholarship scheme by the Higher Education Department, Government of Odisha, designed specifically for students from vulnerable and marginalized family backgrounds. This is not a general scholarship open to all students. To be eligible, a student must belong to one of ten specific vulnerable family categories defined by the government, such as families affected by HIV/AIDS, homeless households, destitute families, manual scavenger families, Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), legally released bonded laborers, single mother families, orphans, transgender students, and girls rescued from child marriage.

The scheme falls under the larger umbrella of the Mukhyamantri Medhabi Chhatra Protsahan Yojana. Under this scholarship, each eligible student receives Rs. 20,000 per annum as financial assistance. The amount is credited directly to the student’s Aadhaar-linked bank account through DBT. One of the most significant features of this scheme is that students can avail this scholarship even if they are already receiving financial assistance from other scholarship programmes. This stacking benefit is rare among government scholarships and makes the Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana particularly valuable for students who qualify.

The scholarship is provided for the normal duration of the course and is renewed every year until course completion, provided the student continues to meet the eligibility criteria. Applications are accepted online through the Odisha State Scholarship Portal at scholarship.odisha.gov.in.

Scholarship Details

Eligibility Criteria

The most important eligibility requirement for this scholarship is that the student must belong to one of the following ten vulnerable family categories. This is not optional: if the student does not fall under any of these categories, they cannot apply, regardless of their income or academic performance.

The ten eligible categories are: (a) HIV/AIDS affected family, where either the father or mother or both are affected. (b) Households without shelter (homeless families). (c) Destitute families or families living on alms. (d) Manual scavenger families. (e) Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). (f) Legally released bonded laborer families. (g) Single mother families, meaning a mother who has dependent children and is widowed, divorced, or unmarried. (h) Specially Cared Child, referring to orphan students who do not have any biological, adoptive, or legal parents. (i) Students belonging to the transgender community. (j) Girl students rescued from child marriage by the Department of Women and Child Development who continue to stay in a shelter home for rehabilitation or hostel.

Beyond the category requirement, the student must be a permanent resident of Odisha and must be enrolled in a regular mode (full-time) UG or PG course, whether technical, non-technical, professional, or non-professional, at a college, institute, or university in Odisha that is recognized by the state government or set up by the statute of the union or state government. Distance education and correspondence courses are not covered under this scheme.

The annual family income from all sources must not exceed Rs. 2.50 Lakh. This scholarship is open to students across all caste categories, including SC, ST, OBC, SEBC, EBC, and General, as long as they belong to one of the ten vulnerable categories and meet the income criterion.

Benefits and Key Features

Each selected student receives Rs. 20,000 per annum as financial assistance. The scholarship amount is credited directly to the student’s Aadhaar-linked bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer.

The assistance is provided for the normal duration of the course. This means if a student is enrolled in a 3-year degree programme, the scholarship will be available for all three years, provided the student meets the eligibility criteria each year and applies for renewal.

The most distinctive feature of this scheme is that students can avail the Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana even if they are already receiving financial support from other government scholarship programmes. This is explicitly stated in the scheme guidelines and is a rare benefit. Most other scholarships require the student to choose only one scheme, but GSSY can be stacked on top of existing assistance.

Required Documents

The documents required for this scholarship include both general documents and category-specific certificates. The category certificate is the most critical document because it proves the student belongs to one of the ten eligible vulnerable categories.

1. Proof of Age: Aadhaar card, birth certificate, or matriculation certificate.

2. Family Income Certificate: Must be issued by a competent Revenue Officer not below the rank of Tahasildar or Additional Tahasildar, confirming that the annual family income from all sources does not exceed Rs. 2.50 Lakh.

3. Resident Certificate: Proof of permanent residency in Odisha.

4. Bank Passbook: Aadhaar-linked bank account details for DBT disbursement.

5. Marksheet and Certificate of Last Qualifying Examination.

6. Category-Specific Certificate (mandatory, based on applicable category): HIV/AIDS medical certificate (for category a), Household Without Shelter certificate from the Revenue Officer (for category b), Destitute/Living on Alms certificate from the Sarpanch (for category c), Manual Scavenger certificate (for category d), PVTG certificate (for category e), Bonded Labor Release certificate (for category f), Single Mother certificate from the District Social Welfare Officer (for category g), Specially Cared Child (Orphan) certificate from the District Protection Officer (for category h), Transgender certificate issued from the National Portal of Transgender Persons (for category i), or Certificate from the District Social Welfare Officer regarding the girl rescued from child marriage and her stay in a rehabilitation home (for category j).

How to Apply

The application process has both an online and a physical component. The online application is submitted through the Odisha State Scholarship Portal at scholarship.odisha.gov.in, and a physical copy must also be submitted to the institution.

To begin, visit the portal and click on “Registration.” Read the instructions and declaration carefully, select the checkbox, and click “I Agree.” Enter your Aadhaar number and mobile number to proceed. Fill in the mandatory fields including name, gender, date of birth, and email ID. You will receive a User ID and Password on your registered mobile number or email.

After receiving your credentials, click on “Student Login” and enter your User ID and Password. From the menu, select “Schemes and Scholarship” and choose “Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana” from the dropdown. Fill in the complete application form with your student details, academic background, family income information, and bank account details. Upload all required documents including the category-specific certificate.

After reviewing your filled application carefully, click “Submit” and download the acknowledgment. You must then print two copies of the submitted application, attach all supporting documents, and submit them to the Principal or Head of your institution for verification. This physical submission step is mandatory and must not be skipped.

Apply Now on Odisha State Scholarship Portal

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this scholarship open to all students in Odisha?

No. This scholarship is specifically for students belonging to one of ten defined vulnerable family categories, such as HIV/AIDS affected families, homeless households, destitute families, manual scavengers, PVTGs, bonded laborers, single mother families, orphans, transgender students, and girls rescued from child marriage. Simply being from a low-income family is not enough to qualify unless the family falls under one of these ten categories.

What is the income limit for this scholarship?

The annual family income from all sources must not exceed Rs. 2.50 Lakh. The income certificate must be issued by a Revenue Officer not below the rank of Tahasildar or Additional Tahasildar.

Can I receive this scholarship if I am already getting another scholarship?

Yes. This is one of the unique features of the Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana. Students can avail this scholarship even while receiving financial assistance from other government scholarship programmes. This stacking benefit is explicitly stated in the scheme guidelines.

Are distance education or correspondence students eligible?

No. Only students enrolled in regular mode (full-time) UG or PG courses at government-recognized institutions within Odisha are eligible. Distance, correspondence, or part-time courses are not covered.

Which caste categories are eligible?

All caste categories are eligible, including SC, ST, OBC, SEBC, EBC, and General. The eligibility is based on belonging to one of the ten vulnerable family categories and meeting the income criterion, not on caste.

Is there a physical submission step after the online application?

Yes. After submitting the application online, you must print two copies of the application form, attach all supporting documents, and submit them to the Principal or Head of your institution for verification. The application is not considered complete without this physical submission.

How is the selection done?

After submission, the documents are verified by officials. A merit list is then prepared based on academic performance and family income. The results are announced publicly, and the scholarship amount is disbursed directly to the Aadhaar-linked bank accounts of selected students.

For how long is the scholarship provided?

The scholarship is provided for the normal duration of the course. It is renewed every year until course completion, provided the student continues to meet the eligibility criteria and applies for renewal each academic year.