Good news for student’s. The central government has rolled out a bunch of programs aimed at students across the nation, including scholarships. State governments are also getting in on the action, launching their own scholarship initiatives tailored to the needs of students in their areas. Just yesterday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled the budget.

 

In her budget speech, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made several significant announcements for students. Additionally, various state governments have introduced their own schemes and scholarships. Let’s dive into what new programs and scholarships are on the horizon for students and how they can benefit from them.

 

One Nation One Subscription Scheme

This year’s Union Budget allocated funds for the One Nation One Subscription Scheme, which is set to help over 1.8 crore students, teachers, and researchers linked to 6,300 government higher education institutions across the country.

 

This scheme officially kicked off on January 1, 2025, and student registration is already underway. Currently, it includes 30 major international publishers known for their research papers. The government has earmarked a whopping Rs 6,000 crore for this initiative.

 

The PM Vidya Lakshmi Scheme

The government has recently launched the PM Vidya Lakshmi Yojana. It received cabinet approval in November 2024. This initiative allows students to borrow up to Rs 10 lakh for their education, with the added benefit of waived interest. Plus, students can get loans without needing a guarantor. To take advantage of this scheme, students can apply through the official website at https://www.vidyalakshmi.co.in/Students/.

 

Haryana School Scholarship Scheme

In addition to central initiatives, state governments also offer scholarship programs. The Haryana government has introduced a new school scholarship scheme aimed at students. Under the Shiksha Excellence Promotion Scheme, students in grades 9 to 12 attending government schools can benefit. Those who achieve the top rank in their class with at least 60% marks will receive a monthly scholarship of Rs 1000.