The State Bank of India (SBI), through its CSR arm SBI Foundation, has opened applications for one of its most ambitious educational initiatives yet, the Platinum Jubilee Asha Scholarship 2025.

Announced as part of the bank’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, the scheme promises to support more than 23,000 underprivileged yet talented students across the country.

Students from Class 9 to postgraduate level will be eligible for this scholarship, which aims to remove financial barriers and help them continue their education. The last date to apply is November 15, 2025, with applications being accepted online through the official portal.

SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS AND FUNDING

Under this scheme, students can receive annual support ranging from Rs 15,000 to as high as Rs 20,00,000, depending on their course and institution.

The aid will continue until the student completes their chosen programme, covering a wide spectrum from school education to advanced global studies.

SBI has committed Rs 90 crore for the 2025–26 financial year to fund this initiative, reinforcing its commitment to educational equity and national progress.

WHO CAN APPLY?

The scholarship is open to a wide range of applicants:

• School students from Class 9 to Class 12.

• Undergraduate and postgraduate students at NIRF top 300 or NAAC ‘A’ rated institutions.

• Scholars pursuing courses at IITs, IIMs, and medical colleges.

• Students aspiring to study abroad, with a special focus on SC/ST applicants pursuing master’s or higher education in leading global universities.

Applicants must be Indian nationals with a minimum of 75 percent marks or a 7.0 CGPA in their previous academic year. Family income should not exceed Rs 3 lakh per year for school students and Rs 6 lakh per year for those in higher education.

LEADERSHIP VISION BEHIND THE SCHEME

Challa Sreenivasulu Setty, Chairman of SBI, explained the vision: “As we mark our Platinum Jubilee celebrations this year, we take immense pride in launching the SBI Platinum Jubilee Asha Scholarship. Through this initiative, we will support 23,230 of India’s brightest young minds from humble backgrounds, nurturing their aspirations and enabling them to realise their full potential.”

He added that by empowering scholars and creating a strong ecosystem around them, the bank hoped to help them become “torchbearers of progress and contribute meaningfully to the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.”

(With PTI Inputs)

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