Vidyadhan Scholarship 2026 - Up to ₹10,000/Year for Class 10 Passed Students | Apply at vidyadhan.org

About the Scholarship

The Vidyadhan Scholarship 2026 is run by the Sarojini Damodaran Foundation (SDF), established in 1999 by SD Shibulal (Co-founder and former CEO of Infosys) and his wife Kumari Shibulal. It is one of India’s most credible and well-administered private scholarship programmes, currently supporting around 15,000 active scholars across 26 states and union territories.

Vidyadhan is not a one-time grant. It is a long-term support programme — starting from Class 11 and, for high performers, continuing through graduation. The foundation also conducts mandatory mentoring sessions on life skills, career planning, and financial literacy.

Scholarship Amounts

Stage	Amount
Classes 11 and 12	Up to ₹10,000 per year
Graduation (based on performance and state)	₹10,000 to ₹75,000 per year

Disbursed directly to the student’s Aadhaar-linked bank account.

States Currently Open (2026)

Applications are open for students who passed Class 10 in 2026 from the following states (state-specific deadlines apply):

State / UT	Approx. Last Date
Goa	15 June 2026 (may be passed)
Andhra Pradesh	July 2026
Telangana	July 2026
Karnataka	July 2026
Tamil Nadu	July 2026
Maharashtra	July 2026
Gujarat	July 2026
Uttar Pradesh	15 July 2026
Bihar	July-August 2026
Jharkhand	July-August 2026
Odisha	July-August 2026
West Bengal	July-August 2026
Himachal Pradesh	August 2026
Haryana / Chandigarh	August 2026
Punjab	August 2026
Jammu & Kashmir	November 2026
Ladakh	November 2026
Meghalaya	November 2026
Nagaland	November 2026

Check the current list at vidyadhan.org/apply — state-wise programmes are listed directly on the page.

Eligibility (State-Wise Criteria)

Criterion	Requirement
Examination	Class 10 / SSC / SSLC / Madhyamik passed in 2026
Minimum Marks	65% to 90% depending on state (typically 75-80% for most states)
For PwD Students	Cut-off is 10-15% lower than general cut-off
Annual Family Income	Less than ₹2,00,000 from all sources
Domicile	Must be a permanent resident of the applying state

Ration card is NOT accepted as income proof. You need an income certificate from a Tehsildar, Revenue Officer, or equivalent authority.

Selection Process

Stage	Description
1. Application Screening	SDF reviews all submitted applications for completeness and eligibility
2. Merit Shortlisting	Shortlisted based on Class 10 academic performance and income background
3. Online Test / Interview	July-November 2026 (state-wise); exact date communicated via registered email
4. Final Selection	Final scholarship recipients announced; amount disbursed to bank account

The final list of selected students will be published on or before 31 December 2026.

Required Documents

Prepare as clear scanned files before starting the application:

• Class 10 Marksheet — Original, OR provisional/online marksheet from your board’s official website (SSLC/CBSE/ICSE portal)
• Income Certificate — Issued by a competent authority (Tehsildar, Mandal Revenue Officer, Block Development Officer). Must be current (2025-26). Ration card or self-declaration NOT accepted.
• Passport-Size Photograph — Recent, clear, in digital format (JPEG/PNG)
• Disability Certificate (if applying under PwD quota) — From a competent medical authority

No physical documents required at application stage — upload scanned copies only.

How to Apply — Step by Step

1. Visit: www.vidyadhan.org/apply
2. Click “Register” — Enter your First Name, Last Name exactly as they appear on your Class 10 certificate, your Gmail address, and create a Vidyadhan password (8+ characters, strong)
3. Activate account — Open the activation email from Sarojini Damodaran Foundation and click the link
4. Log in using your registered email and Vidyadhan password
5. Click “Help” to read the full application instructions before proceeding
6. Click “Application” → “Create New Application”
7. Select your state’s scholarship programme from the active list
8. Fill in all academic, personal, and income details accurately
9. Upload your 10th marksheet, income certificate, and photograph
10. Submit — you will see a “Submission Successful” message
11. Check your registered email regularly for shortlisting updates

Important Warnings

• Do NOT use a cybercafé email ID. All future communications, including interview calls, are sent to your registered email. Use a personal Gmail.
• SDF has not authorised any external agency to collect fees or select students. Application is completely free. If anyone asks for money, it is fraud.
• Applicants from one state cannot apply for another state’s programme — state of domicile determines which programme to apply under.
• The activation email sometimes goes to spam — check your spam folder after registration.

After Selection

Selected scholars receive:

• Scholarship amount credited to their Aadhaar-linked bank account (directly from SDF or registered sponsor)
• Invitation to compulsory mentoring programmes (life skills, career, financial literacy)
• Regular engagement from SDF mentors throughout Class 11 and 12
• High-performing scholars considered for graduation-level scholarship automatically

Official website: vidyadhan.org | Application portal: vidyadhan.org/apply