Patna: With the Bihar Assembly election dates yet to be announced, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced a significant increase in scholarships for school students, doubling the annual amount under the Chief Minister’s Scholarship Scheme.
The scheme, launched in 2013, provides financial support to students from classes 1 to 10 across primary, middle, and secondary schools in the state. Officials said the increase is intended to motivate students to continue their education, particularly in light of the current economic and social challenges.
Under the revised scheme, students in classes 1 to 4 will now receive Rs 1,200 annually, up from Rs 600. For classes 5 and 6, the scholarship will rise to Rs 2,400 from Rs 1,200, while students in classes 7 and 8 will receive Rs 3,600 instead of Rs 1,800. The same Rs 3,600 amount will apply to students in classes 9 and 10, doubling their previous scholarship of Rs 1,800.
Education advocates welcomed the announcement, highlighting its potential to ease financial burdens on families and encourage continued schooling. The timing of the move, coming just before the expected election schedule, also underscores the government’s focus on student welfare as a key policy initiative.
