The State Bank of India has started its biggest effort to help students yet. The SBI Platinum Jubilee Asha Scholarship 2025 will change the lives of thousands of young people all over the country.
This important program, which marks SBI’s Platinum Jubilee year, will help 23,230 deserving students from low-income families with annual financial aid ranging from ₹15,000 to an impressive ₹20 lakh. The application period started on September 19, 2025, and… Well, time is running out. The deadline for students to turn in their applications is November 15, 2025.
A Closer Look at India’s Biggest Educational Support Program
It’s not just the numbers that make this scholarship so special; they’re also very impressive. The fact that it covers students from Class 9 all the way through postgraduate studies is what makes it so good. The program knows that money shouldn’t stop people from following their educational dreams.
Challa Sreenivasulu Setty, the chairman of SBI, said it best: “As we celebrate our Platinum Jubilee this year, we are very proud to launch the SBI Platinum Jubilee Asha Scholarship. This program will help 23,230 of India’s brightest young minds from poor backgrounds.”
The scholarship is divided into seven different categories, each of which is made for a certain level of education and type of school:
- Students in grades 9 through 12
- College Students
- Students who have already graduated
- Students in Medicine
- Students at IIT
- Students at IIM
- Students from other countries
The program’s focus on different paths to education is especially interesting. There is a category for every student, whether they want to become an engineer at an IIT, go to medical school, or study abroad.
Amount of the scholarship and other financial help
The amount of financial help you can get depends a lot on your level of study and the type of study you do. The scholarship gives ₹15,000 a year to students in Classes 9–12. This may not seem like much compared to college scholarships, but for families who are having trouble paying for basic school costs, it’s often a lifeline.
Undergraduate students can get up to ₹50,000 a year, and postgraduate students can get up to ₹70,000 a year. But the specialized categories are what really change the game. IIT students can get up to ₹2 lakh a year, and IIM students who are getting their MBA can get up to ₹7.5 lakh a year.
But this is where it gets really interesting… The part of the program that helps with studying abroad can give up to ₹20 lakh per year. It’s not just about going to school abroad; it’s also about making sure that India’s smartest people have opportunities around the world without having to deal with a lot of student debt.
The scholarship lasts until the student finishes the course, so they don’t have to worry about reapplying every year as long as they keep up their academic standards. It can be renewed, but there’s a catch: each year, the people who get it must meet certain minimum requirements.
Who Can Apply: Requirements for Eligibility
The eligibility requirements are carefully thought out to make sure the scholarship goes to the right people. First and foremost, applicants must be citizens of India. This is not up for discussion.
The rules for academic performance are clear but important. Students must have received at least 75% of the marks or a 7.0 CGPA in the previous academic year. SC/ST students, on the other hand, have some leeway. They only need 67.5% marks or a 6.3 CGPA, which is a 10% relaxation.
The program is socially aware because it has different income limits for different groups. The families of students must make less than ₹3 lakh a year. The limit for all other types of students, such as undergraduate, graduate, medical, IIT, and IIM students, is ₹6 lakh per year.
The program does a great job of promoting inclusivity. Half of the slots are set aside for women, and the other half are set aside for SC/ST students. This isn’t just about the numbers; it’s about making sure that education really levels the playing field between men and women and people from different social classes.
There are more requirements for the part of the program that is for studying abroad. Only SC/ST students who are getting their master’s or postgraduate degrees at top international universities can apply for these scholarships. The schools must be highly rated in well-known international rankings like the QS World University Rankings or the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
How to Apply: A Step-by-Step Guide
It’s not hard to apply for the SBI Asha Scholarship, but you do need to pay attention to the details. The whole process takes place online through the official portal.
Here’s how students can get through the application process:
The first thing you should do is go to the official website and look for the “Apply Now” button. To make an account, you need to use a real email address and phone number. This seems simple, but a lot of applications get stuck here because students use temporary or shared email addresses.
The next step is to fill out the application form. This needs personal information, school records, and proof of income. The form asks for a lot of information about your family’s income, your academic achievements, and your plans for further education.
It’s very important to send in documents. Students must include proof of their identity, academic transcripts, and proof of income. Make sure that all of your documents are clear, scanned correctly, and in the right formats. Applications are often turned down because the documents are blurry or missing.
Check everything again before you hit submit. Once you send it in, it’s hard or impossible to make changes. Download the application form so you can refer to it later, and keep an eye on the status of your application.
The deadline for applications is set in stone: November 15, 2025. No matter what, late applications will not be looked at.
How to Choose and When to Choose
There are several steps in the selection process that are meant to find the best candidates. The first step is screening, where applications are checked to make sure they meet the requirements. This includes checking academic records, family income certificates, and other documents that were sent in.
After the first screening, document verification takes place. This stage can be very strict; officials check income certificates with the people who gave them out and academic records with schools. Students whose papers don’t pass the verification process are no longer in the running.
The last step is to interview the candidates who made the cut. These aren’t just formalities. Interview panels look at candidates’ academic records, future goals, and real financial need. They really want to know how the scholarship will affect the student’s education.
The process of choosing focuses on both merit and financial need. Candidates who are successful usually show both academic excellence and real financial need. Just having good grades or coming from a low-income family isn’t enough.
Special Focus: Opportunities to Study Abroad
The part about studying abroad is very important because it can really change things. This program is specifically for SC/ST students who want to get a master’s degree or higher at one of the best universities in the world.
The money that can be given to students who study abroad can be as much as ₹7.5 lakh a year. However, recent announcements say that this amount could go up to ₹20 lakh, depending on the school and the course. This level of help makes it possible for students who might not have thought about going to a prestigious international school to do so.
Not all foreign colleges are eligible. They must be top universities that do well in well-known global rankings. This makes sure that people who get scholarships can get a world-class education that can change the course of their careers.
The program favors students whose families make up to ₹3 lakh a year, but the most they can make is ₹6 lakh. This focus on the poorest people makes sure that the scholarship does what it was meant to do: remove financial barriers to getting a good education.
The SBI Foundation is what makes changes in education happen
To understand the SBI Asha Scholarship, you need to know about the group that runs it. The SBI Foundation, which was set up in 2015 as the State Bank of India’s CSR arm, has a great track record. It’s not just another corporate foundation; it’s a real force for social change with 698 projects and more than 20 million beneficiaries across the country.
The Foundation works in many areas, including education, healthcare, rural development, women’s empowerment, skill development, support for people with disabilities, sports, the environment, and innovation. But education is still a top priority, and the Asha Scholarship is the best example of this commitment.
SBI itself has a lot of experience that makes this project credible. SBI is a Fortune 500 company with more than 22,500 branches, 63,000 ATMs, and operations in 29 countries. This gives them the reach and resources to make this program work. The bank’s promise of ₹90 crore for FY26 shows that this isn’t a one-time gift; it’s a long-term investment in India’s educational future.
Chairman Setty’s vision goes beyond just giving out scholarships. He talked about building “a strong ecosystem around these scholars” to help them “become torchbearers of progress and contribute meaningfully to the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.” This long-term view suggests that scholarship winners should join a larger group that is focused on national development.
Past Success Stories and Changes to the Program
The Asha Scholarship isn’t brand new; it’s based on previous versions that have already shown results. In earlier versions of the program, students from Class 6 to postgraduate studies could get help. The amount of help varied by category, from ₹10,000 to ₹7.5 lakh.
The 2025 Platinum Jubilee version is different in both size and scope. The 23,230 scholarships are a huge increase from the past few years. The upper limit of ₹20 lakh for some groups is also a big jump in the amount of help they can get.
The program has changed over time to meet the needs of students. The addition of overseas education options shows that Indian students are becoming more aware of how important it is to be exposed to other cultures. The specific focus on top schools, whether they are in the US or abroad, makes sure that the scholarship winners get an education that can really change their lives.
How will it affect education in India?
This scholarship program is very important for Indian education right now. Even though enrollment rates have gone up a lot, many smart students still can’t get a good higher education because they can’t afford it. The Asha Scholarship directly fills this gap.
The program’s focus on diversity, with specific reservations for female candidates and SC/ST students, addresses systemic inequalities that have historically limited educational opportunities. When half of all scholarships go to girls, it helps families who are short on money not to put their boys’ education ahead of their girls’.
It’s just as important to focus on top schools. The program only gives money to the top 300 NIRF or NAAC “A” rated schools, as well as IITs and IIMs. This makes sure that the people who get the money can get an education that will help them get a job. It’s not enough to just get any degree; you need to get degrees that will help you get a job.
Looking Ahead: Tips and Strategies for Applying
As the deadline for applications gets closer, people who want to apply should focus on getting ready and making a plan. Get all the papers you need well before the deadline. It can take a long time to get income certificates from the right people.
Academic records must be complete and correct. Make sure that the mark sheets clearly show the 75% or 7.0 CGPA that is needed. Make sure that caste certificates are up to date and properly verified for SC/ST students who can use the relaxed criteria.
You need to pay close attention to the application form itself. Don’t rush through it; take your time to give accurate and detailed information about your family’s situation, your educational goals, and your financial needs. This information is used by the selection committee to judge applications, so it is very important that they are complete and truthful.
If you’re thinking about going to school abroad, do your homework on the schools that are eligible. Make sure that the schools you want to apply to are eligible for the scholarship before you do so. It is only available to top universities with high global rankings.
Dealing with Common Issues and Misunderstandings
A lot of people have wrong ideas about scholarship programs like this one. First, some students think that only students with perfect grades have a chance. The requirement of 75% marks or a 7.0 CGPA is not unreasonable, and the program even has special provisions for SC/ST students who might need extra help.
Another common worry is how hard it is to fill out the application. The online application system is thorough but also easy to use. The most important thing is to start early and be organized about gathering documents and filling out forms.
Some families are worried about the ongoing requirements that come with getting the scholarship. You can renew the program, but keeping up with academic standards isn’t usually harder than what you need to do to get your degree. The scholarship is meant to help serious students, not make things harder for them.
Conclusion
The State Bank of India is committed to this program for more than just this school year. With ₹90 crore set aside for FY26 alone and the program being part of SBI’s larger CSR strategy, recipients can be sure that they will get help throughout their education.
The SBI Platinum Jubilee Asha Scholarship is more than just money; it’s an investment in India’s future. It gives 23,230 students across the country the chance to make their educational dreams come true. The application period is open until November 15, 2025, but you should start getting ready right away.
Students who meet the requirements shouldn’t wait. This program gives people who are ready to take advantage of it a real chance. Go to the official scholarship portal right now and take the first step toward a future of education without money problems.
