Swami Vivekanand merit cum means scholarship program is launched by west bengal government so that students who are struggling for education because of financial problems can get proper education.
The name of the program was named after the well-known social reformer and spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda. The scholarship is a beacon of hope for students who are capable of being achievers but can’t pursue academics because of their economic problems.
Overview of Swami Vivekananda Scholarship Program?
| Aspect | Details |
| Purpose | Financial aid for meritorious, economically weak students in West Bengal |
| Eligible Levels | Higher Secondary, UG, PG, Diploma |
| Amount | ₹1,000 to ₹2,500 per month |
| Income Limit | Annual family income ≤ ₹2.5 lakh |
Key features of the Swami Vivekananda Scholarship (SVMCM)
The sole purpose of the scheme is to motivate students hailing from financially poor backgrounds who aspire to do higher studies and cut down on the drop ratio of meritorious students.
>Eligibility
If you are a permanent resident of West Bengal, then only you can get the benefit of the scheme. There is a requirement that the minimum mark a candidate should obtain should be 50% in his/her last exam. The candidates should be studying undergraduate, postgraduate, or technical courses from reputed institutions under the West Bengal government.
>Financial support
The scholarship offered by ‘Swami Vivekananda Merit Cum Means Scholarship’, varies between ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 per month, based on the courses opted or the requirements and needs of the student. The scholarship is intended to fund different needs such as tuition fees, books, and other study-related expenses.
>Application Process
The entire process of ‘Swami Vivekananda Merit Cum Means Scholarship’ application is a fully online-based procedure, and eligible students are required to apply only through the scheme’s official website. The scheme offers scholarships for different students based on their respective streams of studies, such as core branches including engineering, medicine, humanities, and commerce.
Benefits of Swami Vivekananda Merit Cum Means Scholarship
Swami Vivekananda Merit Cum Means Scholarship gives various benefits to registered students in financial need. Some of them are:
>Lower Financial Burden
The scheme pays for the tuition fees and other educational needs, the money from the scholarship reduces the burden of finance from the students and their caring families.
>Promotes Academic Excellence
Because the Swami Vivekananda Merit Cum Means Scholarship is entirely merit-based, it inspires the students to focus mainly on their respective studies and achieve academic success.
>Access to Higher Education:
The scholarship inspires and assists students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to access quality higher education, which would otherwise be beyond their reach because of financial constraints.
>Increased Opportunities:
With the aid offered by the Swami Vivekananda Merit Cum Means Scholarship, students can complete their professional career or if they wish to proceed to higher studies, which overall provides a number of opportunities and enhances job chances.
Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means (SVMCM) Scholarship Details
| Education Level | Eligibility Criteria | Scholarship Amount (Per Month) |
| Higher Secondary (Class XI & XII) | 60% in Madhyamik (Class X) | ₹1,000 |
| Diploma (Polytechnic) (1st Year) | 60% in Madhyamik (Class X) | ₹1,500 |
| Diploma (Polytechnic) (2nd Year Lateral Entry) | 60% in Higher Secondary (Class XII) or ITI | ₹1,500 |
| Undergraduate (UG) – Arts & Commerce | 60% in Higher Secondary (Class XII) | ₹1,000 |
| Undergraduate (UG) – Science & Professional Courses | 60% in Higher Secondary (Class XII) | ₹1.500 |
| Undergraduate (UG) – Engineering & Medical | 60% in Higher Secondary (Class XII) | ₹5,000 |
| Postgraduate (PG) – Arts & Commerce | 53% in UG Honours (45% for Kanyashree applicants) | ₹2,000 |
| Postgraduate (PG) – Science & Professional Courses | 53% in UG Honours (45% for Kanyashree applicants) | ₹2,500 |
| Postgraduate (PG) – Engineering & AICTE Approved Courses | 55% in UG Degree | ₹5,000 |
| M.Phil. | Non-NET and NET-LS full-time scholars | ₹5,000 |
| Ph.D. | Non-NET and NET-LS full-time scholars | ₹8,000 |
How to Apply for Swami Vivekananda Scholarship 2025?
If you want to apply for the scheme, then you can follow the following steps:
>Registration
First, you have to visit the scheme’s official website “svmcm.wb.gov.in”. Then you can click on the registration button in the portal to start the process. Select your category, like higher secondary, undergraduate, or postgraduate. Then, fill in all the required details like name, date of birth, mobile number, and email ID, and set a password. After you have submitted all the details, you will get an applicant ID.
>Login
Then return to the home page and click on applicant login. For login and access to your application you have to enter your ID and password. Then complete your application with personal, academic, and bank account details.
>Document Upload
Upload all the necessary documents like –
- Recent passport-sized photograph.
- Signature.
- Previous academic mark sheets.
- Income certificate (not exceeding ₹2.5 lakh annually).
- Bank passbook’s first page or canceled cheque.
- Domicile certificate.
>Submission
Check that all the details are entered properly. After checking submit the application.
Also Read: Apply for Telangana Rythu Bharosa Scheme | Apply for Kanya Sumangala Yojana
Eligibility Criteria for Swami Vivekananda Scholarship
Eligibility criteria for the students who want to take the advantage of the scheme are:
- Applicant must be a resident of West bengal with domicile issues by the government authorities.
- Students must have cleared class 11 and 12 from west bengal board of secondary education/ West bengal council of higher secondary education/Madrasa education of higher secondary level.
OR
- Graduation from Science/Arts/commerce, Engineering, Medical and Technical/professional course from AICTE and west bengal state council technical and vocational education dn skill development approved institutes.
OR
- PG in Science/Arts/Commerce and technical/Management courses from AICTE approved institute or any state university affiliated college.
OR
- M.Phil or DOctoral courses (non NET JRF and NET lectureship) from institutes aided by west bengal state.
- The family income limit is maximum ₹2,50,000 per annum on papers, anything above this will not be eligible for the scholarship scheme.
- If you are in correspondence or distance learning courses then this scheme is not applicable to you.
Read Also: Eligibility for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan | Eligibility for Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana
Problems Confronted by Students While Accessing Swami Vivekananda Merit Cum Means Scholarship
Although the Swami Vivekananda Merit Cum Means Scholarship (SVMCM) is a precious asset for inspiring and empowering students who are from financially poor families in West Bengal, numerous of the recipients experienced problems during the application process or when disbursing the scholarship amount. Some of the problems are listed below:
>Lack of Awareness
Even with the scheme having a few advantages, a lot of students, especially those who are not from a technical background or from rural backgrounds, are not aware of the existence of the scheme. Along with popularity, the online application process must be challenging for students without any technical backgrounds. Lack of guidance can result in incomplete or mistaken filling up of applications, which can result in delays in sanctioning.
>Document Issues
To apply for the Swami Vivekananda Merit Cum Means Scholarship, students need to submit several required documents like income certificates, mark sheets and proof of admission. A few students have complained that they faced a number of issues in receiving these documents from their respective educational institutions or any local authorities as a whole, which would cause a delay in the scholarship application.
>Delayed Payment
Even though the scholarship provides funding, waiting times to receive the scholarship funds and renewal will lead to general financial instability for the student and their families who rely on the scholarship to fund their education.
>Technical Issues
Since the site is web-based, there can be bugs or technical problems. The SVMCM portal is the initial platform for applying, monitoring, and keeping track of scholarship-related information. Nevertheless, numerous beneficiaries have complained that the site occasionally encounters technical problems, including website crashes, login issues, and document uploading challenges. This has resulted in late payment, particularly for students who are attempting to adhere to the scheduled timelines.
>Miscommunication on Scholarship Status
Most students receive no reply regarding the scholarship application status. On top of that, it is unclear if you are qualified for future installments. This all results in miscommunication and undue stress for students.
Documents Required for Swami Vivekananda Scholarship 2025?
The documents required for applying for the Swami Vivekananda scholarship 2025 are:
- Income Certificate
- Admission Receipt
- Marshooet of last board
- Bank passbook scanned copy
- Domicile certificate
- Declaration from head of the institute, in case of gap
- Passport size photo and signature scanned copies (JPG/JPEG format, photo size – 20KB-50KB, Signature size – 10KB – 20 Kb)
- Scanned documents seize must not be more than 400KB in PDF format
Conclusion
Swami Vivekananda Merit Cum Means Scholarship is a scheme that allows students who are economically backward but want to carry out higher studies. The scholarship has helped numerous students such as Anjali Sharma, who benefited from this scheme when she needed it the most and is now pursuing a course of study at a prestigious engineering college. The West Bengal government has been very generous to award scholarships to deserving students.
FAQs Regarding Swami Vivekananda Scholarship (SVMCM)
Q-1) Is there any process for renewal of the SVMCM Scholarship?
Ans: Yes, the Swami Vivekananda Merit Cum Means Scholarship can be renewed every year. For renewal, the beneficiary is required to fill the application with the required information and documents on the official portal of the SVMCM within the given time.
Q-2) What are the timelines for the SVMCM scholarship application?
Ans: The deadlines can be different every year based on the academic year. During the academic year 2024-25, the deadline for the application process for fresh and renewal applications was November 20th. The applicants should check the official website frequently for any notification about the deadline for the application.
Q-3) Can the studen who is not a permanent resident of west bengal can apply for the Swami Vivekananda Merit Cum Means Scholarship?
Ans: The Swami Vivekananda Merit Cum Means Scholarship is for the students who want to get higher education and are active residents of West Bengal. The college or school where the student wishes to pursue higher studies must be an institution located or registered with the government of West Bengal. But there should be some exceptions for particular courses or categories. The student should refer to the guidelines issued officially or approach the authorities, whose contact information is found on the official website of SVMCM.
Q-4) How are the Swami Vivekananda Merit Cum Means Scholarship funds disbursed?
Ans: The scholarship fund is transferred directly to the bank account of the beneficiary by using the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode. Hence, the beneficiary should be cautious while filling in the details of his bank account.
Q-5) Who can get the scholarship?
Ans: The students must obtain a minimum of 60% marks in the last test undertaken by the students. If you want postgraduate programs students need at least 53% marks in the subject, and 55% in Engineering courses are required. The annual family income of the student must not be more than ₹2,50,000. The student should be a permanent resident of the state of West Bengal then only they are eligible for the scheme.
