Deepika Scholarship: Only 11,000 apply before deadline
The Karnataka government is struggling to meet application targets for the Deepika Scholarship, with only 11,000 female students applying so far. Officials are working to increase awareness to ensure more eligible students benefit from the financial aid program.
Why it matters
Low participation rates in government-backed educational initiatives highlight challenges in reaching marginalized student populations and promoting gender equality in higher education.
With only nine days left for the first round of the Deepika Scholarship window, provided by Azim Premji Foundation (APF), to close, Department of Higher Education officials said they have received only 11,000 applications from female students seeking to pursue higher education after II PU.
According to the department circular, the application window opened only on August 10, providing very limited time for eligible female students to apply for the scholarship. The Foundation aims to provide ₹30,000 every year (until the completion of graduation or diploma) to 37,000 female students who have completed class 10 and 12 in a government school and college and aspire to pursue a degree or diploma in any discipline, including engineering and medical courses.
In 2025, the State government partnered with the APF for the first time to launch the Deepika Scholarship. Last year, the scholarship window was also open for only 20 days.
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