Kotak Kanya Scholarship 2026-27
Kotak Education Foundation (CSR project of Kotak Mahindra Group companies)
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About This Scholarship
The Kotak Kanya Scholarship is a CSR project of Kotak Mahindra Group companies, implemented with the Kotak Education Foundation. It gives financial assistance to meritorious girls from underprivileged families who have passed Class 12 and take admission to professional undergraduate courses such as Engineering, MBBS, Architecture, Design and integrated LLB at institutes of repute. The foundation describes the aid as merit-cum-means based. Each selected scholar receives Rs 1.5 lakh a year until she completes the degree.
The foundation reports that the programme grew from 50 scholars in 2021 to 525 in 2023, with a presence in 24 states and 122 institutes, and that 86% of the scholars study STEM subjects. Scholars also receive mentoring, life-skills and well-being sessions, finishing-school training, interactions with industry experts, and subscriptions to the Unstop and Marrow learning platforms.
For the 2026-27 round the foundation page lists the application window as 14 July 2026 to 30 September 2026, so applications had closed by 5 October 2026 and the page shows no extension. Applications are submitted on the Buddy4Study platform, to which the foundation page links, while the eligibility, benefit and selection rules are published by the foundation itself.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Provider | Kotak Education Foundation, for the CSR programme of Kotak Mahindra Group companies |
| Level | Undergraduate professional courses (first-year admission in 2026-27) |
| Amount | Rs 1.5 lakh a year, renewed until the degree is completed |
| Income limit | Annual family income below Rs 6,00,000 |
| Minimum marks | 75% or equivalent CGPA in Class 12 |
| Applications open (2026-27) | 14 July 2026 |
| Applications close (2026-27) | 30 September 2026 (closed as of 5 October 2026) |
| Portal | Buddy4Study, linked from the foundation page |
Sources: Kotak Education Foundation: Kotak Kanya Scholarship. Checked on 5 October 2026.
Provider
Kotak Education Foundation (CSR project of Kotak Mahindra Group companies)
Type
Merit-based
Level
Undergraduate
Duration
Renewed yearly until the professional degree is completed
Renewed yearly until the professional degree is completed
Duration
Rs 1.5 lakh a year towards tuition fees, hostel fees, internet, transportation, laptops, books and stationery
Coverage
Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility as listed on the foundation page for the 2026-27 round.
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Applicant | Girl student; open across India |
| Class 12 result | At least 75% marks or equivalent CGPA in the Class 12 board examinations |
| Family income | Annual family income below Rs 6,00,000 |
| Admission | First year of a professional graduation course in academic year 2026-27 at an institute of repute (NIRF/NAAC accredited): Engineering, MBBS, integrated LLB (5 years), integrated BS-MS or BS-Research at IISER and IISc Bangalore, or other professional courses such as Design and Architecture |
| Gap after Class 12 | A break of only one year after the HSC examination is accepted |
- Children of employees of Kotak Mahindra Group, Kotak Education Foundation and Buddy4Study are not eligible.
- Admission to the first year in academic year 2026-27 must already be secured at the time of applying.
Source: Kotak Education Foundation: Kotak Kanya Scholarship.
Minimum Marks
75%
Income Limit
₹6,00,000 p.a.
Gender
Female
Eligible Categories
Scholarship Benefits
Financial Support
INR 1,50,000
Disbursement: Once a year to the scholar bank account (to a parent or guardian account while the scholar is a minor)
What's Covered
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Amount | Rs 1.5 lakh a year for each selected scholar |
| Duration | Until the professional degree, or professional courses pursued alongside it, is completed, subject to yearly renewal |
| Permitted use | Tuition fees, hostel fees, internet, transportation, laptops, books and stationery |
| Payment | Transferred once a year to the scholar bank account; to the account of a parent or guardian while the scholar is a minor, and to her own account from the date she turns 18 |
| Other support | Mentoring, life-skills and well-being sessions; finishing-school training; expert interactions; Unstop and Marrow subscriptions for engineering and medical students |
The scholarship amount and the award depend on the eligibility criteria and remain at the discretion of the Kotak Education Foundation.
How to Apply
Application Guide
- Open the Kotak Kanya Scholarship page of the Kotak Education Foundation and select the application button, which leads to Buddy4Study.
- Log in to Buddy4Study with a registered ID. New users register with an email address, mobile number or Gmail account.
- On the Kotak Kanya Scholarship 2026-27 application form page, click Start Application.
- Fill in the details in the online scholarship application form.
- Upload the required documents.
- Accept the Terms and Conditions and click Preview.
- Check that all details show correctly on the preview screen, then click Submit.
Queries: kotakscholarship@buddy4study.com or 011-430-92248 (Ext. 262), as listed on the foundation page.
Selection Process
Selection is a multi-stage process based on academic merit and financial background. Applicants are first shortlisted on academic merit and financial background. Top-performing applicants then appear for two rounds of interviews. The final selection and award follow rank order and remain at the discretion of the Kotak Education Foundation.
Renewal each year requires no dropout from regular academic sessions, no disciplinary issues, and at least 6 CGPA a year or promotion by the institute to the next academic year. The foundation decides the criteria from time to time and renewal is at its sole discretion. Scholars upload fee structures, fee receipts and semester mark sheets to the online performance tracking system.
Documents Required
Important Dates
Application Start
Tuesday, 14 July 2026
Date passed
Application End
Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Date passed
Application Deadline
Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Deadline Passed