The Karnataka Prize Money Scholarship 2025, introduced by the Social Welfare Department (SWD) and Tribal Welfare Department (TWD) of Karnataka, is a category specific merit based scholarship initiative aimed at supporting the education of SC/ST students. This scholarship provides financial assistance to students across various educational levels, including SSLC (Class 10), 2nd PUC (Class 12), Diploma, Degree, Professional and Postgraduate courses, who have completed their courses with first class.
Under this scheme, eligible students can receive scholarships ranging from ₹7,000 to ₹35,000, depending on their course. This initiative not only helps students manage academic expenses but also encourages SC/ST students to complete their courses with first class by awarding the scholarship as a form of prize money.
Highlights of the Scholarship
| Scholarship Name | Karnataka Prize Money Scholarship |
| Concerned Department’s | SWD & TWD, Government of Karnataka |
| Beneficiaries | SC/ST Students |
| Academic Year | 2024-25 (Passed out students) |
| Scholarship Amount | ₹7,000 to ₹35,000 |
| Scholarship Status (Active or Discontinued) | Active |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Last Date | To be announced |
Latest Updates
- Currently, the Social Welfare Department (SWD) is accepting online applications for prize money from SC students who passed out in the academic year 2024-25 through its official website. Applications for ST students will be opened shortly on the Tribal Welfare Department’s website.
| List of SC students who secured the first position in their district in the SSLC Examination of April 2025 and whose Aadhaar is seeded/linked with their bank account (Such students are not required to apply for prize money) | View Student’s List |
| List of SC students who secured the first position in their district in the SSLC Examination of April 2025 but whose Aadhaar is not seeded/linked with their bank account (These students should apply for prize money after getting their Aadhaar seeded with their bank account by December 31, 2025) | View Student’s List |
| List of SC students who have scored more than 60% marks in the SSLC Examination of April 2025 and whose Aadhaar is seeded/linked with their bank account (Such students are not required to apply for prize money). | View Student’s List |
| List of SC students who scored more than 60% marks in the SSLC Examination of April 2025 but whose Aadhaar is not seeded/linked with their bank account (These students should apply for prize money after getting their Aadhaar seeded with their bank account by December 31, 2025). | View Student’s List |
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must fulfill the following eligibility criteria to qualify for the Prize Money Scholarship.
- Applicants must belong to the SC/ST category.
- Applicants must be permanent residents of Karnataka and provide proof of residence, such as an Aadhaar card.
- Applicants must have passed all subjects in their examination on the first attempt.
- Applicants must have achieved a first-class division (60% or above).
- For students whose results are declared in the form of CGPA, the equivalent percentage should be 60% or above.
- The course must be completed in any private or government institution within Karnataka.
- The applicant’s bank account must be linked with their Aadhaar to receive DBT payments.
Documents Required
Applicants must have the following documents ready for submission:
- Caste & Income Certificate
- SSLC/10th Marks Card
- 2nd PUC or Diploma Marks Cards (all semesters, if applicable)
- Degree Marks Cards (all semesters, if applicable)
- Aadhaar Card
- Bank Account Passbook (Aadhaar-linked account)
- One Passport-Size Photo
Prize Money Scholarship Amount
The scholarship amount of the Karnataka Prize Money Scholarship varies based on the educational level, as outlined below:
| Qualification | Percentage Obtained | Prize Money Amount |
| SSLC (Class 10th) | 60% to 74.99% | ₹7,000 |
| SSLC (Class 10th) | 75% & above | ₹15,000 |
| 2nd PUC or 3-Year Polytechnic Diploma | 60% & above | ₹20,000 |
| Any Degree Course | 60% & above | ₹25,000 |
| Postgraduate Courses (M.A., M.Sc., etc.) | 60% & above | ₹30,000 |
| Professional Courses (Engineering, Medicine, Agriculture, etc.) | 60% & above | ₹35,000 |
Online Application Process (For SC Students)
Step 1: To apply for the Prize Money Scholarship for students belonging to the SC category, first visit the SC Prize Money Application Form on the Social Welfare Department website. Then, select the scheme applicable to you. For example:
- Students who have completed Class 10 can select the SSLC option.
- Students who have completed 2nd PUC/Diploma/Degree/PG courses should select the Post-Metric option.
- Students who have secured a top 5 rank in any course must select the Top 5 Rank option.
Step 2: Once the scheme is selected, click on Validate Aadhaar. This will redirect you to the DBT portal. Here, enter your Aadhaar number and select OTP as your preferred authentication mode. Then click on Generate OTP. Once you receive the OTP, enter it and click Submit.
Step 3: The Prize Money Scholarship online application form for SC students will now be displayed. Fill in all the required details, such as (Father’s and mother’s names, Course register number, Caste and income certificate RD number, Phone number etc..)
Step 4: Next, upload your course original markscard photo.
- Diploma, Degree, and PG students must upload all semester markscards in PDF format, with a file size of less than 500 KB.
- Each semester’s markscard should be uploaded separately.
Step 4: Once all the necessary documents are uploaded, click on Register. An acknowledgment will be generated, print or download it.
Online Application Process (For ST Students)
Step 1: To apply for the Prize Money Scholarship for students belonging to the ST category, first visit the ST Prize Money Application Form on the Tribal Welfare Department website. Enter your SSLC details by providing information such as (SSLC board type, SSLC pass-out year, SSLC register number & Name as in the Aadhaar card). Then, click the Submit button.
Step 2: The Aadhaar authentication page will open. Enter your Aadhaar number and complete the authentication process by entering the OTP received on your Aadhaar registered mobile number.
Step 3: The Prize Money Scholarship online application form for ST students will now be displayed. Fill in all the required details, such as (Personal details, Course details, College details, Bank account details) carefully.
Step 4: Now, upload the following documents:
- Photo
- Caste certificate
- Final marks card for SSLC and 2nd PUC students
- For Diploma/Degree/PG course students, upload the final semester marks card
All documents should be less than 100 KB in JPEG format.
Step 5: Once the documents are uploaded, accept the declaration and click the Submit button to finalize the application process.
Where should physical documents be submitted after applying for prize money online?
- Students belonging to the SC category who have applied for Rank Prize Money and One-Time Financial Assistance must submit attested documents (Online Acknowledgment, Rank Certificate, IIT-IIM Institution Admission Certificate, Mark Sheets) directly to the Commissioner, Department of Social Welfare, 5th Floor, Multi-storied Building, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Veedhi, Bangalore – 560001.
- All other SC and ST students who have applied for prize money must submit attested documents (Online Acknowledgment, Mark Sheets, etc.) to the concerned District Welfare Office:
- SC students should submit their documents to the Social Welfare Department office in their district.
- ST students should submit their documents to the Tribal Welfare Department office in their district.
Prize Money Scholarship Helpline Numbers
- For SC Students: 080-22634300, 080-22340956
- For ST Students: 9482300400
Prize Money Scholarship Application Deadline
- For SC Students: The application deadline is yet to be announced by the Tribal Welfare Department.
- For ST Students: The application deadline is yet to be announced by the Social Welfare Department.
FAQ’s
Can students who failed a subject apply for the scholarship?
No, students must pass all subjects on their first attempt to be eligible.
Are lateral entry students eligible?
Yes, students who join through lateral entry are also eligible for the Prize Money Scholarship.
What is the prize money for SSLC students?
SSLC students can receive ₹7,000 if their percentage is between 60% and 74.99%, or ₹15,000 if their percentage is 75% and above.
Can I submit my documents at the Taluk Welfare Department office?
No, prize money documents will not be accepted at the Taluk Welfare Department offices. You must submit them at the District Welfare Office to get your prize money sanctioned.
I applied for the prize money scholarship in my previous course. Since I also got first class in my current course, can I apply again?
Yes, you can apply for prize money for multiple courses if you achieve first class. There is no restriction on the number of courses.