TFP Bureau, Raipur, September 10, 2025: Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Wednesday inaugurated the Azim Premji Scholarship Scheme from his official residence in Raipur, calling it a transformative initiative that will remove financial hurdles for girls seeking higher education. “When daughters are educated, entire generations are uplifted,” CM Sai declared, underlining the government’s commitment to empowering women through education.
The Chief Minister congratulated the Azim Premji Foundation for extending this initiative to Chhattisgarh and said the scholarship would help thousands of girls realize their academic aspirations. He noted that over the past 25 years, Chhattisgarh has made significant strides in education, health, and development, with women playing a central role in the state’s progress. “This scheme will ensure that no girl abandons her education due to lack of money. It will directly raise the enrollment of girls in colleges and professional courses,” he added.
Sai also linked the scheme to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao vision, emphasizing that financial assistance would especially benefit students from low-income families. “Our daughters will no longer be forced to compromise their dreams. By investing in their future, we are investing in the future of the state and the country,” he remarked. He directed officials to ensure that every college and university in Chhattisgarh spreads awareness about the scholarship so that no deserving student is left behind.
Scholarship Benefits and Eligibility
Under the scheme, girls who have passed Class 10 and Class 12 from government schools in Chhattisgarh and are enrolling in the first year of undergraduate or diploma programs during the academic year 2025–26 will be eligible. Beneficiaries will receive an annual scholarship of ₹30,000, valid for studying in any recognized institution across India. The scheme applies only to regular students, ensuring that full-time learners receive the maximum benefit.
Applications must be submitted online at azimpremjifoundation.org. A QR code will also be made available for easy access to the application form. Importantly, there will be no application fee. The process will be handled entirely by the Azim Premji Foundation at no cost to applicants.
Application Timeline and Complaint Redressal
The application process will open in two phases — from September 10 to September 30, 2025, and from January 10 to January 31, 2026. In case of any fraud, irregularities, or grievances, students can directly write to scholarship@azimpremjifoundation.org for redressal. The transparent mechanism, officials assured, will ensure that only genuine candidates benefit.
Presence of Dignitaries
The launch event was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao, Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap, Principal Secretary to CM Subodh Kumar Singh, Higher Education Secretary Dr. S. Bharathi Dasan, Commissioner Higher Education Santosh Devangan, Director Technical Education Vijay Dayaram K., and State Head of Azim Premji Foundation Sunil Shah.
A New Chapter for Girls’ Education
Officials expressed hope that the scholarship will serve as a milestone in increasing higher education participation among girls in Chhattisgarh. With a steady financial support system in place, students from rural and underprivileged backgrounds will now have the opportunity to join top institutions without being weighed down by economic challenges.
“The education of daughters not only changes their own lives but transforms families, communities, and entire societies,” CM Sai concluded. “This scheme is not just financial support—it is a promise of dignity, equality, and opportunity for every girl in Chhattisgarh.”
