Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means (SVMCM) Scholarship
Department of Higher Education, Government of West Bengal
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About This Scholarship
The Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means (SVMCM) Scholarship is run by the Department of Higher Education, Government of West Bengal. It pays a monthly scholarship to meritorious students from economically backward families who study at institutions in West Bengal: higher secondary (Class XI and XII), undergraduate, polytechnic, engineering, medical, postgraduate and non-NET research courses. The scheme was revamped in 2016, and the portal's 2022-23 advertisement says about Rs 2,517 crore was awarded under it during 2011-2022. The same portal also takes applications for Kanyashree (K3), the postgraduate scholarship for girls. For 2025-26 the portal lists fresh applicants as School Education 84,351, Medical Education 5,535, General Degree Courses 103,821, Engineering Degree 22,962, Polytechnic Courses 4,549 and Kanyashree 3 18,660.
No 2026 application schedule has been published. The latest schedule on the portal is for the 2025 cycle: fresh, renewal and Kanyashree (K3) applications opened on 28 November 2025, and the closing date is shown as a dash. The terms below are as per that 2025 cycle (2025-26). The family income ceiling is Rs 2.5 lakh a year and does not apply to board toppers, Kanyashree (K3) applicants or M.Phil/Ph.D applicants. Scholars are sanctioned in merit order as funds allow, and a scholar cannot hold another government (Central or State) scholarship or stipend for the same course or stage of study.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Department of Higher Education, Government of West Bengal |
| Level | Class XI and XII, UG, PG, polytechnic, engineering, medical, non-NET M.Phil/Ph.D |
| Amount | Rs 1,000 to Rs 8,000 a month (Rs 12,000 to Rs 96,000 a year) |
| Income limit | Rs 2.5 lakh a year (not for board toppers, Kanyashree K3, M.Phil/Ph.D) |
| Applications 2026-27 | Not announced yet (2025 cycle opened 28 November 2025; no closing date shown) |
| Portal | svmcm.wb.gov.in |
Sources: SVMCM About page (guidelines), SVMCM guidelines, How to apply, 2022-23 advertisement and the SVMCM portal. Checked on 5 October 2026.
Provider
Department of Higher Education, Government of West Bengal
Type
Merit-based
Level
Post-Matric
Duration
Course duration, renewed yearly on promotion (M.Phil. up to 2 years, Ph.D. up to 4)
Course duration, renewed yearly on promotion (M.Phil. up to 2 years, Ph.D. up to 4)
Duration
A monthly scholarship by course: Rs 1,000 for higher secondary, UG Arts and Commerce and D.El.Ed; Rs 1,500 for UG Science, other UGC-approved professional UG courses and polytechnic; Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500 for PG; Rs 5,000 for engineering and medical degrees; Rs 5,000 for non-NET M.Phil. and Rs 8,000 for non-NET Ph.D.
Coverage
Eligibility Criteria
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Institution | Regular-mode student at an institution based in West Bengal |
| Higher secondary and UG | At least 60 percent in aggregate in the last qualifying examination (WBBSE, WBCHSE or Madrasah); passed in 2025, or in 2021 to 2024 with the gap explained |
| Diploma, lateral entry | At least 60 percent in an AICTE-approved diploma for second-year Engineering, Technology or Pharmacy entry |
| Postgraduate | At least 53 percent in the Honours subject at graduation (55 percent for Engineering, Technology, Pharmacy PG) |
| Kanyashree (K3) | Girls in PG Science, Arts or Commerce at West Bengal universities with at least 45 percent in graduation |
| Research | Non-NET M.Phil/Ph.D and NET-LS scholars registered on or after 1 April 2017 in state-aided institutions |
| Family income | Up to Rs 2.5 lakh a year; not applicable to board toppers, K3 and M.Phil/Ph.D |
- No other government scholarship or stipend for the same course or stage.
- One-time grants and free or part-free studentship do not bar the scholarship.
- False income documents mean refund and loss of the right to apply for government scholarships.
Source: SVMCM guidelines (About page).
Minimum Marks
60%
Income Limit
₹2,50,000 p.a.
Eligible Categories
Scholarship Benefits
Financial Support
INR 12,000 - 96,000
Disbursement: Paid by DBT to the scholar's bank account (account number, bank name and IFSC are mandatory); sanctioned in merit order as funds allow
What's Covered
| Course | Minimum marks | Monthly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Higher secondary (Class XI and XII), D.El.Ed | 60 percent | Rs 1,000 |
| UG Arts, UG Commerce | 60 percent | Rs 1,000 |
| UG Science, other UGC-approved professional UG courses | 60 percent | Rs 1,500 |
| Polytechnic (diploma) courses | 60 percent | Rs 1,500 |
| UG and PG Engineering and other AICTE professional courses | UG 60 percent; PG 55 percent in graduation | Rs 5,000 |
| UG Medical degree | 60 percent | Rs 5,000 |
| Medical diploma courses | 60 percent | Rs 1,500 |
| PG Arts, PG Commerce | 53 percent (45 percent for Kanyashree K3) | Rs 2,000 |
| PG Science, other UGC-approved professional PG courses | 53 percent (45 percent for Kanyashree K3 in Science) | Rs 2,500 |
| Non-NET M.Phil. | Registered on or after 1 April 2017 | Rs 5,000 |
| Non-NET Ph.D. | Registered on or after 1 April 2017 | Rs 8,000 |
The guidelines give monthly rates. The portal's 2022-23 advertisement states the per-head scholarship as Rs 12,000 to Rs 96,000 a year (against Rs 6,000 to Rs 18,000 in 2011), which equals 12 months of the monthly rates. Payment is by direct benefit transfer to the scholar's bank account, and failed transactions for the previous financial year can be corrected at the respective Directorate until 30 June each year. M.Phil. scholars are covered for up to two years and Ph.D. scholars for up to four years, until the dissertation is submitted. Renewal needs at least 60 percent at the promotional examination from higher secondary to undergraduate level and 50 percent at postgraduate level, with all semester examinations cleared at the first attempt.
How to Apply
Application Guide
- Read the guidelines under About and the instructions under How to apply on https://svmcm.wb.gov.in.
- Under Applicant Login, select Registration and choose the category (Topper or Non-Topper), then fill the online registration form. A 15-character Applicant ID is generated; download the Registration Slip.
- Kanyashree (K3) applicants first complete the Kanyashree (K2) authentication form with the K2 year of application, Kanyashree ID, name, date of birth and father's and mother's names. Girls without a K2 ID apply under the Directorate of Public Instruction category with the same criteria and benefits.
- Log in with the Applicant ID, password and security code, fill the application form and upload the photograph (JPG or JPEG, 20 to 50 KB) and signature (10 to 20 KB).
- Upload the supporting documents as PDF files of up to 400 KB each, and select the competent authority that issued the income certificate.
- Check the application in view mode and click Submit Application. No hard copy is submitted.
- For any change after submission, such as bank details or a document, the Head of Institution has to reopen the application for editing.
- For renewal, log in with the previous Applicant ID and password, upload the marksheet of the last examination of the present course and the admission receipt for promotion, and apply within one month of admission to the next class. Non-NET M.Phil/Ph.D registration is done from the institution.
Selection Process
Applications from candidates whose family income is not more than Rs 2.5 lakh a year (no income test for board toppers, Kanyashree K3 and M.Phil/Ph.D applicants) are ranked on academic merit. At higher secondary level the Madhyamik aggregate marks, with at least 60 percent, are the sole criterion. At undergraduate level the Higher Secondary marks are used, with separate merit lists for Arts, Commerce and Science. At postgraduate level the marks in the Honours subject at graduation are the only academic criterion. Applications are arranged in descending order of marks and scholarships are sanctioned strictly on the merit list as funds allow; funds are transferred to the bank account if the documents are in order.
Documents Required
Important Dates
Important dates will be announced soon. Check back later for updates.