As the results of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) board exams are recently announced, and students are busy with the revaluation process, it is timely to check educational scholarships like Namo Lakshmi Yojana and Namo Saraswati Yojana that offer financial incentives to students. CBSE just shared the curriculum for the Senior Secondary that includes class 11 and class 12. Gujarat state government is implementing schemes to promote higher secondary education among girls with Namo Lakshmi, and for science students of both genders, Namo Saraswati. Parents from financially disadvantaged sections should make all efforts to make use of such financial incentives from the government. Lakshmi Yojana and Namo Saraswati Vigyan Sadhana Yojana will cover students from the 2024-25 financial year onwards.
It’s worth noting here that girls studying in government, granted, and private schools from classes 9 to 12 in both Science and Commerce streams will be supported under Namo Lakshmi Yojana. Gujarat Finance Minister Kanubhai Desai while launching the scheme had said that the scheme aims to increase enrolment of students, reduce dropouts, and improve the nutritional status of adolescent girls.
Eligibility
The applicant must be a female student for Namo Lakshmi Yojana, for both schemes a permanent resident of Gujarat state studying in any government or private school in the state. The applicant should be from the age group of 13 to 18 years by respective schemes. Students studying in private schools till class 8 should prove that they are from a financially disadvantaged background, with a family income of less than Rs 6 lakh. They should provide the necessary documents to prove their domicile, age and income category.
Namo Lakshmi Yojana
Namo Lakshmi Yojana aims to support girls by providing Rs 50,000 over 4 years to those studying in secondary and higher secondary schools in Gujarat to complete their studies from class 9 to 12.
Under the scheme, Rs 500 per student will be provided per month for 10 months each in classes 9 and 10. An amount of Rs 10,000 will be given after the girl child passes the class 10 board exam.
In classes 11 and 12, Rs 750 per month will be provided per month for 10 months each. As much as Rs 15,000 will be provided after the girl child passes the class 12 board exam
Namo Saraswati Vigyan Sadhana Yojana
Starting from the academic year 2024-25, Gujarat has allocated 250 crore, to offer Rs 25,000 assistance to students of all genders pursuing Science education in higher secondary. The state will provide financial assistance directly to approximately 1.5 million students in Classes XI-XII through the Namo Saraswati Vigyan Sadhana Yojana using DBT (Direct Beneficiary Transfer).
The scheme will support students who scored over 50 per cent in their Class X Board exams, facilitating their admission into Science streams across state government, aided, and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)-recognised schools.
Students who have achieved more than 50 per cent marks in the Class 10 Board Examination will be eligible for admission to the Science stream in Class 11 and Class 12. The scholarship will support students for education in State Government, Aided, and Self-Supporting Schools affiliated with the Gujarat Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, as well as schools recognized by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). A scholarship total amount of Rs. 25,000 will be provided, Rs 10,000 each year to students in classes 11 and 12 in the science stream and Rs 5,000 when students clear the Class 12 Board exam.
