The Azim Premji Foundation has announced the launch of the Azim Premji Scholarship for Delhi (NCT), expanding its efforts to help girls pursue higher education and overcome financial barriers. Under the initiative, up to 20,000 girls in Delhi will receive scholarship support this year to continue their undergraduate degree or diploma courses.
The Foundation has set an ambitious national target of supporting up to five lakh girls every year through the scholarship programme. Since its launch in 2024, more than 1.9 lakh girls have already received support, highlighting the growing reach of the initiative.
₹30,000 Annual Scholarship for Eligible Girls
Under the scholarship programme, every selected student will receive ₹30,000 per year from the first year of college until she completes her undergraduate degree or diploma. Depending on the duration of the course, which may range from two to five years, a student could receive financial assistance of up to ₹1.5 lakh.
The scholarship amount can be used to cover college fees as well as other education-related expenses. The initiative is designed to provide sustained financial support rather than a one-time grant, allowing students to continue their studies throughout the duration of their eligible course.
Scholarship Expanded Across 21 States and UTs
The Azim Premji Scholarship was launched in 2024 and is now available to girls who have completed their schooling in 21 States and Union Territories.
These include Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi (NCT), Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
To qualify, applicants must have completed Classes 10 and 12 in a government school located in one of the eligible States or Union Territories. They must also have secured admission to the first year of an undergraduate degree or diploma programme at a recognised institution anywhere in India.
Focus on Removing Barriers to Higher Education
The Foundation said the scholarship seeks to address some of the financial and social barriers that can prevent girls from continuing their education after school.
With undergraduate education often requiring several years of sustained expenditure, regular financial assistance can help students meet academic costs and remain enrolled in their chosen programmes.
Anurag Behar, CEO of the Azim Premji Foundation, underlined the wider significance of investing in girls’ education. He said girls would have an increasingly important influence on India’s future and society’s well-being, making equal opportunities essential across all areas.
Behar described higher education as one of the most important areas for creating lifelong empowerment and said the scholarship directly addresses barriers girls continue to face while accessing higher education.
Ambitious Target of 5 Lakh Girls Every Year
The Foundation aims to eventually support up to five lakh girls across India every year. Since most undergraduate programmes typically run for around three years and scholarship recipients continue receiving assistance throughout their courses, the Foundation estimates that nearly 15 lakh girls could have an active Azim Premji Scholarship at any given time.
The programme therefore represents a long-term investment in women’s education, with the potential to support students not only at the point of college admission but throughout their undergraduate journey.
Since the initiative began in 2024, more than 1.9 lakh girls have benefited from the scholarship. The expansion to Delhi is expected to further widen its reach among students seeking financial assistance for higher education.
Online Application Process
The application process for the Azim Premji Scholarship is completely online and free of charge. Eligible students can submit their applications only through the official Azim Premji Foundation website.
The Foundation has advised students to use the official application platform and meet the eligibility requirements before submitting their applications.
Supporting a More Equitable Future
The scholarship forms part of the Azim Premji Foundation’s broader work towards building a just, equitable, humane and sustainable society. The Foundation works across education, health and other areas of social development and collaborates with governments, institutions, civil society organisations and communities across India.
By extending financial assistance to girls from government schools and supporting them through higher education, the Azim Premji Scholarship seeks to strengthen access to opportunities that can shape their careers and long-term independence.
The launch of the Delhi scholarship marks another significant expansion of the programme and reinforces the Foundation’s larger goal of making higher education more accessible to girls across India. With a target of supporting up to five lakh girls annually, the initiative could become a major education-support programme for young women seeking to build brighter academic and professional futures.
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