When money says “STOP”, scholarships say “KEEP GOING” — quenching the thirst for knowledge

• Navjeevan Express–Buddy4Study Scholarship Alert brings life-changing opportunities within reach of deserving students
• SBI Platinum Jubilee Asha Scholarship offers support from Class 9 through higher education and overseas studies
• Panasonic Ratti Chhatr Scholarship backs first-year IIT engineering students from economically disadvantaged families
• Nikon, Muskaan and JK Tyre programmes open doors for specialised, school-level and women-focused educational aspirations

NE EDUCATION BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, AUG 14

What if the difference between a brilliant student dropping out and becoming a doctor, engineer, photographer, entrepreneur or researcher is not ability—but one scholarship form filed on time?

For a family struggling to meet tuition fees, a scholarship is far more than financial assistance. It can mean a daughter remaining in college, a first-generation learner entering an IIT, a school student continuing after Class 10, or a young creative talent finally acquiring professional skills.

And sometimes, the most valuable scholarship is the one a deserving student knows about before the deadline disappears.

With this belief, Navjeevan Express, in association with Buddy4Study, continues its Scholarship Alert series to bring verified opportunities from corporate CSR initiatives, educational institutions, philanthropic organisations and charitable trusts to students and families across India.

The initiative also seeks to turn parents, teachers, schools, colleges, universities and career counsellors into scholarship ambassadors—people who can spot a deserving student and ensure that financial hardship does not silently end an educational journey.

Several opportunities are currently available or approaching their application deadlines. Students should carefully check the detailed eligibility conditions and apply only through the respective official scholarship/application portals.

SBI Platinum Jubilee Asha Scholarship 2026–27: A nationwide bridge to opportunity

Among the most wide-ranging opportunities is the SBI Platinum Jubilee Asha Scholarship 2026–27, an initiative of SBI Foundation, the CSR arm of State Bank of India.

The programme supports meritorious students from economically disadvantaged families across different stages of education, from Classes 9–12 to undergraduate, postgraduate, medical, IIT, IIM and eligible overseas studies.

The current application window opened on July 22, 2026, and the last date is September 4, 2026. The scholarship awards vary by category, with support ranging from ₹15,000 for school students to substantially higher assistance for students pursuing studies at premier institutions and overseas universities.

For school students in Classes 9–12, the programme lists a scholarship of ₹15,000, subject to eligibility conditions including academic performance and family-income criteria. The programme also provides separate tracks for higher education, including undergraduate, postgraduate, medical, IIT, IIM and overseas studies.

Panasonic Ratti Chhatr: Helping IIT dreams survive the fee bill

For students who have secured admission to an IIT, the Panasonic Ratti Chhatr Scholarship 2026–27 could provide a crucial financial cushion.

The initiative of Panasonic Life Solutions India is open to first-year B.E./B.Tech students admitted to any IIT for the 2026–27 academic session. Applicants must have scored more than 75% in Class 12 and their annual family income must not exceed ₹8 lakh.

Selected scholars receive ₹70,250 per year, with support intended to help meet tuition, hostel, books, examination and other academic expenses. The scholarship is scheduled to support students through 2028, subject to the programme’s conditions. The application deadline is August 20, 2026.

Importantly, applicants must submit their IIT admission letter and first-semester fee receipt along with the required documents. Preference is given to eligible candidates belonging to the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) category.

Muskaan 2.0: Keeping school dreams alive

For students in Classes 9–12, the Muskaan Scholarship Program 2.0 (2026–27), launched by Valvoline Cummins Private Ltd., targets children of commercial drivers and mechanics as well as students belonging to the Economically Weaker Sections.

The programme covers eligible students in several southern, eastern and north-eastern states and Union Territories, including Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal and others.

Applicants must have secured at least 60% marks in the previous class, while annual family income should not exceed ₹8 lakh. Selected students can receive a grant of up to ₹12,000, based on actual academic expenses, along with mentorship support.

The current Buddy4Study listing indicates that applications are open, with August 20, 2026 given as the application deadline in its detailed scholarship guide.

Nikon Scholarship: Turning a passion for photography into a profession

For students whose classroom is behind a camera, the Nikon Scholarship Programme 2026–27 offers an opportunity to convert creative talent into professional capability.

The programme offers financial assistance of up to ₹1 lakh to Indian students pursuing professional photography courses of at least three months. Buddy4Study’s current scholarship information highlights an annual family-income ceiling of ₹6 lakh for eligible applicants.

A current scholarship database lists August 24, 2026 as the deadline for the Nikon Scholarship Programme 2026–27. Students should verify the deadline and detailed eligibility on the application portal before submitting their forms.

JK Tyre Shiksha Sarthi: Putting girls on the road to higher education

The JK Tyre Shiksha Sarthi Scholarship Programme is designed specifically to support daughters of heavy-vehicle/commercial-vehicle drivers pursuing undergraduate or diploma courses.

The programme has historically covered students from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, with scholarship assistance of up to ₹25,000, depending on the course category and applicable conditions.

Students and parents should check the current 2026–27 application page for the latest deadline and eligibility before applying, as scholarship cycles and dates can change.

A message to parents, teachers and institutions

A scholarship notice becomes meaningful only when it reaches the student who needs it.

Therefore, parents should not assume that their children are “not eligible” without checking the criteria; teachers should actively identify meritorious students from financially vulnerable families; and educational institutions should circulate verified scholarship alerts rather than leaving families to discover them by chance.

Students, meanwhile, should remember one simple rule: never pay an intermediary merely to “secure” a scholarship. Read the eligibility criteria, keep academic, income, identity and admission documents ready, and apply through the official scholarship portal or the verified platform specified by the scholarship provider.

Buddy4Study itself cautions that its platform compiles scholarship information from government and private sources and provides links to official sources; students should therefore verify the final eligibility and application details before submission.

Because one form can change a family’s future

A scholarship may begin as a few thousand rupees on paper. But for a financially stretched family, it can represent something much bigger: one more semester, one more examination, one more opportunity—and one more step towards a career that can transform an entire household.

The message is therefore simple and urgent:

If you are a student, check.
If you are a parent, ask.
If you are a teacher, share.
If you are an institution, circulate.

The next scholarship alert you forward could be the one that keeps a brilliant student in the classroom.