NSIGSE Scheme

Key Features of NSIGSE Scheme

The crucial objective of the NSIGSE Scheme is to decrease the rate of female school dropouts. The students enrolled under this scheme are retained up to their 12th standard or 18 years of age.

Listed below are the key features of NSIGSE scheme:

• The NSIGSE Scheme offers scholarships for female students who pass their class 8 from Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya regardless of their tribe or caste.

• 1% of the incentive amount will be expended on administration, evaluation, and monitoring of the students every year.

• There is no bar on income parameters to avail the benefits of this plan because ST/SC female students clearing their class 8 from KGBVs, government, government-aided or private schools are usually a financially disadvantaged class of the society.

• The issuing agency of the NSIGSE Scheme scholarship is the Ministry of Home Affairs.

• The scholarship offered under this scheme is a one-time national-level incentive.

• The applications are accepted from September to November. However, a regular check of the official website will keep you updated with the exact application start and end dates.

Core Benefits of NSIGSE Scheme

Core benefits of the NSIGSE Scheme are:

• Beneficiary female students are offered a fixed sum of INR 3000 that will be deposited in an account opened in their names on their successful enrolment to class 9.

• The beneficiary girl students are free to withdraw the amount along with the accrued interest once they attain the age of 18 years and have passed their class 10 board examinations.

Eligibility Criteria of NSIGSE Scheme

The students aspiring to utilize the benefits of NSIGSE Scheme must satisfy the following eligibility norms:

• All the female students who belong to Scheduled Caste (SC) and Schedule Tribes (ST) and have cleared their class 8 examination in any of the Indian schools recognized by any state or central government board.

• Girl students of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya who clear their class 8 examination and enrol for their class 9 in any of the government or recognized private schools from the academic year 2006-07 onwards.

• Girls should be unmarried at the time of application for this incentive scheme.

• Girls studying in private schools are exempted from the scheme benefits.

• Students studying in CBSE and other schools run by the Central Government are also denied the scheme benefits.

• Withdrawal of the incentive amount along with the accrued interest is allowed only after the beneficiary girl child attains 18 years of age.

• In case of the death of the beneficiary girl child before 18 years of age, the incentive sum shall be transferred to the account of the Central Government of India.

• At the time of application, the girl must be of age below 16 years on enrolment to class 9 to receive the benefits of NSIGSE Scheme.

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How to Apply for the NSIGSE Scheme?

The NSIGSE Scheme application forms are to be filled online. The steps to apply for the National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education are described below.

Step 1: Visit the official website of the NSIGSE Scheme.

Step 2: Register if you are a new user. Scroll down the page and read through the instructions. Click on ‘continue’ at the bottom of the page.

Step 3: Enter all the required details. A newly generated unique application id and password will be displayed on your screen. Your registered mobile number will also receive an OTP through SMS notification.

Step 4: Enter the received OTP and confirm your details.

Step 5: Fill the application form with your personal or scheme-related details. Fill in the details accurately.

Step 6: Verify all the details before submitting the application. Your application process is now complete. Keep a copy of the final application form for future references.

Any details that are entered incorrectly may lead to complications in the future while you avail of the NSIGSE Scheme benefits.

Things to Know About Evaluation Process

Here is what you should know about the application form evaluation process.

• The implementing schools hone the responsibility of proper examination of eligible candidates and proposal preparation to issue the incentive. They must submit the same to the respective state governments or union territory administrators through an appropriate channel.

• The state government or union territory administrators are responsible for preparing a consolidated proposal. They must forward it to the Department of School Education and Literacy administered by the Ministry of Human Resource and Development.

• The total number of schools eligible for NSIGSE Scheme benefits in the respective State or Union Territory.

• Qualified schools having submitted proposals can seek coverage under the scheme.

• SC, ST, OBC, and general category girls clearing their class 8 examination from KGBVs are entitled to receive the benefits.

• Age-wise segregation of the list of the number of girls entitled for the benefits of NSIGSE Scheme.

• Total incentive sum proposed to be released under the scheme.

• The Central Government can release the funds in two instalments to the respective state government or union territory administrations each year. The first instalment of the incentive sum will be released immediately on receiving the proposals from state or UT governments. The second instalment is released after state and UT governments release a utilization certificate of the funds along with their progress report.

• Based on the enrolment record, the applications are verified and matched with the applicant’s birth certificate presented by the school heads.

• The beneficiary girl child is expected to extend her studies for at least two years after enrolling in class 9 to avail of the benefits of the scheme. The school head or principal is liable to furnish a certificate in this regard.

• The prerequisite for an incentive withdrawal is the successful completion of class 10 board examination with passing scores.

• The funds release is approved by the scheme implementing body. The bank shall transfer the amount along with interest accrued to the beneficiary’s savings account once the document verification is complete.

Documents Required

Every scheme implementing school must determine eligible female students before preparing the proposal at the commencement of every academic year. Within three consecutive months from the commencement, the respective state government or union territory administrator shall submit the consolidated proposal to the MHRD.

Below is a list of documents to be furnished by the eligible female candidates at the time of application for the NSIGSE Scheme.

• Domicile certificate of the applicant

• Income certificate of the parents or the legal guardian issued by the respective state government or UT administration authorities

• Class 10 scorecard of the applicant

• A certificate from the school head or the principal mentioning two year continuation after her enrolment to class 9

• Fees receipts of current class

• Scanned copy of the applicant’s Aadhaar card

• Bank account proof of the applicant’s existing account or joint account with any one of her parents

• Disability certificate if applicable

How to Check Account Balance?

Eligible candidates under the NSIGSE Scheme can easily check their account balances. The implementing agency shall open an account in the beneficiary’s name in any of the nearest nationalized banks or post offices. The released incentive sum is deposited in the same account as a fixed-term deposit. 

The beneficiary girl child is given a passbook or certificate that acts as proof of her identity as a beneficiary of the NSIGSE Scheme. She can get her passbook entered anytime when she wants to know the account balance. Internet banking options also facilitate the beneficiaries to check their accrued balance under the scheme without visiting the bank or post office.

1. Interest rates

   The interest rates of fixed-term deposits vary from 3% to 7% per annum based on the bank or post office in which the interest-bearing account is opened in the name of the beneficiary female student. To avail maximum benefit of the NSIGSE Scheme’s accrued interest, the candidates are not allowed to withdraw money until 18 years of age.

2. Implementing Partners of NSIGSE Scheme

   The implementing partners of the scheme are:

   • State or Union territory government authorities

   • Schools functioning under state governments or local bodies

   • Aided private schools and institutions associated with Panchayat Raj

   Central government releases the amount to the respective state or Union territory governments to provide incentives to the eligible candidates. The same shall be forwarded to the respective implementing agencies depositing the sum in the interest-bearing accounts of the beneficiaries under NSIGSE Scheme.

3. Term of the Deposit

   The term or period of receiving the incentive INR 3,000 is deposited in the interest-bearing account of the beneficiary. The interest is calculated from the date depositing the principal amount until the beneficiary female student attains 18 years of age. The NSIGSE Scheme does not allow premature withdrawal.

About NSIGSE Scheme

The Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya Scheme was initiated in the year 2004 to benefit female students, especially the ones belonging to weak economic sections. Under this scheme, residential schools have been opened for the girls of SC, ST, OBC, and Minority classes since the year 2006-07. 

During the same year, the central government of India sanctioned INR 128 Crore for the scheme and an additional INR 172 Crore during the same academic year. The Central government intends to provide further incentives to the female child clearing class 8 examination to further enrol in a government-recognized secondary school.

Under NSIGSE Scheme, the eligible female students clearing their class 8 examination must enrol for class 9 to receive financial aid of Rs. 3000. The girl can choose to withdraw the amount once she attains 18 years. The key objective of NSIGSE Scheme is to promote the enrolment of female students of 14 to 18 years to the secondary schools after they pass class 8 examination. 

The scheme also aims to reduce the school dropout percentage of female students due to socio-economic reasons. NSIGSE Scheme retains female students up to class 12.