SBI Asha scholarship: Financial support for deserving students

July 24, 2026 Don't Miss Valli Sarvani

Higher education often becomes challenging for talented students facing financial constraints.

To bridge this gap, the SBI Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the State Bank of India, offers the SBI Platinum Jubilee Asha Scholarship 2026-27.

The merit-cum-need scholarship supports students across different educational levels with financial assistance ranging from ₹15,000 to ₹20,00,000.

The scholarship covers students from Classes 9 to 12, undergraduate and postgraduate courses, medical programmes, IIT undergraduate courses, IIM MBA/PGDM programmes, and eligible overseas studies.

Applications are accepted online, while the last date is expected to fall in November 2026.

The financial assistance varies according to the course. Students in Classes 9 to 12 can receive ₹15,000, while undergraduate students may receive up to ₹75,000.

Postgraduate students are eligible for up to ₹2,50,000, medical students up to ₹4,50,000, IIT students up to ₹2,00,000, and IIM students up to ₹5,00,000.

Meanwhile, eligible students pursuing higher education abroad can receive support of up to ₹20,00,000.

To qualify, applicants must be Indian citizens and should have secured at least 75% marks or a 7 CGPA in their previous qualifying examination.

However, students from SC and ST categories receive a 10% relaxation in the academic requirement. Additionally, family income must not exceed ₹3 lakh annually for Class 9 to 12 applicants and ₹6 lakh for all other categories.

Furthermore, undergraduate, postgraduate, and medical applicants must study at institutions ranked among the top 300 in the latest NIRF rankings. IIT applicants should be enrolled in undergraduate programmes, while IIM candidates must be pursuing MBA or PGDM courses.

For overseas scholarships, applicants must belong to the SC or ST category and secure admission to institutions ranked among the top 200 in the latest QS or Times Higher Education rankings.

The scholarship also promotes inclusivity. Half of the available scholarships are reserved for female students, while separate reservations exist for SC and ST applicants under most categories.

Applicants must also hold an SBI bank account before applying.

Students can submit applications online by completing the application form and uploading documents such as academic records, Aadhaar, admission proof, income certificate, fee receipt, bank details, and other supporting documents.

Selection is based on academic merit, financial need, a telephonic interview, and document verification.

Those selected must continue meeting the eligibility criteria each year to retain the scholarship.

Image Credit: Explorer911, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons