Azim Premji Foundation launches scholarship to support girls' higher education

The Azim Premji Foundation has introduced the Azim Premji Scholarship, a new initiative aimed at supporting girls in pursuing higher education after school.

The program is set to benefit up to 2.5 lakh girls across 18 Indian states during the 2025-26 academic year.

The scholarship is open to girls who have completed Class 10 or 12 from government schools and have secured admission into a recognized degree or diploma program at either a government or selected private institution.

Under the scheme, eligible students will receive ₹30,000 per year for the full duration of their course, provided they continue to make satisfactory academic progress.

For example, a student enrolled in a four-year BSc nursing course would receive a total of ₹120,000.

The funds will be transferred directly to the student’s bank account in two installments each year, offering flexibility in how the money is used.

However, the scholarship will be discontinued if the student drops out for any reason.

The initiative will be implemented in 18 states: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

A pilot version of the program was run in 2024-25 in Madhya Pradesh and selected districts of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Jharkhand, reaching over 25,000 girls.

The first round of funds has already been disbursed.

“Good school education is foundational for life, while higher education changes social and economic prospects in life. Despite the all-around progress India has made, girls continue to confront differential societal and financial hurdles at all levels of education. We are making a significant commitment to support girls in pursuing higher education, which will help them gain greater control over their life’s trajectory,” said Anurag Behar, Chief Executive Officer, Azim Premji Foundation.

Applications for the 2025-26 cycle will open in September 2025.

The foundation will announce further details, including any changes to the program’s design or coverage, closer to the application period.

Plans are also in place to expand the scholarship to cover all states in the future.