Margadeepam Scholarship
Category: Education & Learning
Level: State | State: Kerala

Details:
The scheme "Margadeepam Scholarship" was launched by the Minority Welfare Department, Government of Kerala. The scheme aims to provide educational financial assistance to minority community students studying in government and government-aided schools from Class 1st to Class 8th, addressing the educational needs of Hindu, Christian (all denominations), Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, and Parsi students in proportion to their population. The scheme provides a one-time annual scholarship amount of ₹1,500/- and targets permanent residents of Kerala from minority religious communities.

Benefits:
Financial Assistance
Scholarship amount of ₹1,500/- per student per academic year.
One-time Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to Aadhaar-linked bank accounts in the name of selected students.
Conditions
The beneficiary must maintain an active Aadhaar-linked bank account with a nationalized or scheduled bank in their own name for Direct Benefit Transfer.
The beneficiary must provide accurate banking details to the institutional head for successful fund transfer.
The beneficiary must not receive any other scholarship benefits under other schemes simultaneously while availing this scholarship.
The beneficiary must apply fresh each academic year if they wish to continue receiving the scholarship in subsequent years.
The beneficiary must cooperate with institutional verification processes and provide original documents when requested by authorities.
The beneficiary must immediately inform the institutional head of any change in circumstances that may affect eligibility.
The beneficiary must return the entire scholarship amount if found guilty of providing false declarations or fraudulent information.


Eligibility Criteria:
- The applicant must be a permanent resident of Kerala.
- The applicant must be studying in Class 1st to Class 8th.
- The applicant must be studying in a Government or Government-aided school.
- The applicant must belong to a minority religious community (Hindu, Christian (all denominations), Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, or Parsi).
- The applicant's family annual income must not exceed ₹2,50,000/-.

_*If adequate applicants are not available in one category, students from other categories may be considered._
##### **Earmarking**

- 30% scholarships are reserved for female students. 
- The applicant (male students) may be considered for female-reserved positions if adequate female applications are not received.

##### ***Additional Merit Consideration***

- **PwD:** The applicant should provide disability certificate if having 40% and above physical/mental disability.- **Orphan:** The applicant should provide death certificate if orphaned (father/mother/both parents deceased).
##### ***Merit Point Calculation System***
Family Income: Formula = (2,50,000 - Actual Income)/25,000 (Maximum 10 points).
Academic Grades: Maximum 12 points (A+ Grade = 12, A Grade = 11, B+ Grade = 10, B Grade = 9, C+ Grade = 8, C Grade = 7, D+ Grade = 6, D Grade = 5).
Orphaned Students: 4 points maximum (Both parents deceased = 4, Single parent deceased = 2).
Physical/Mental Disability: 4 points (40% and above disability and category 2 disability).
Total Maximum Points: 30.
_*Academic excellence for Class 2nd to Class 8th students will be determined based on grade points received in academic year._
_*Class 1st students will not be evaluated on academic marks but on income eligibility criteria._
##### ***Post-Selection Conditions***

- The applicant must reapply fresh each academic year to continue receiving benefits.
- The applicant must maintain eligibility criteria throughout the benefit period.
- The applicant must not provide false declarations as it will result in immediate scholarship cancellation and recovery of disbursed amount.