“When daughters are educated, entire generations are uplifted,” said Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Wednesday.
The chief minister was launching the Azim Premji Scholarship Scheme from his official residence in Raipur. The initiative aims to eliminate financial barriers to higher education for girls studying in government schools by providing an annual scholarship of ₹30,000.
Congratulating the Azim Premji Foundation, he said the scheme would give thousands of young women an opportunity to pursue their dreams without financial constraints. He recalled that in the last 25 years, Chhattisgarh has witnessed holistic development, with women and girls contributing significantly to the state’s progress. “This initiative will ensure that daughters do not abandon their studies midway. It will also help increase the enrollment rate of girls in higher education,” he emphasized.
The chief minister underlined that the scheme aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, adding that it particularly benefits students from low-income families. “When daughters study, they not only strengthen two families but uplift entire generations,” he remarked, instructing that details of the scheme be widely publicised in all schools and colleges of the state.
During the programme, CM Sai highlighted that Chhattisgarh has moved steadily forward in ensuring electricity for all, industrial growth, and women’s empowerment, while consistently aligning state policies with national priorities. He stressed that the scholarship marks another milestone in enabling equitable access to education.
Class 12 student Pratham Soni from Rajnandgaon shared his views on the importance of solar energy and the government’s clean energy efforts. On the occasion, Sai also released two publications — Impact of Distributed Renewable Energy on Grid Stability and the Agrivoltaics Performer Handbook, offering a comprehensive approach to integrating agriculture with solar energy.
Outstanding vendors who contributed significantly to implementing the PM Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme were also felicitated.
The event was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao, Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap, Principal Secretary to CM Subodh Kumar Singh, Higher Education Secretary Dr. S. Bharathi Dasan, Commissioner Santosh Devangan, Director of Technical Education Vijay Dayaram K., and State Head of Azim Premjii Foundation Sunil Shah, along with a large number of students and dignitaries.
CM Sai expressed the confidence that under the Azim Premji Scholarship Scheme, financial hurdles will no longer stand in the way of higher education for daughters of Chhattisgarh, giving them “new wings of opportunity to soar higher.”
Eligibility and application process
The scheme applies to regular students who have passed Class 10 and Class 12 from government schools in Chhattisgarh.
Eligible students must be enrolling in the first year of undergraduate or diploma courses in any recognized institution in India in the academic session 2025–26.
Applications can be submitted online at Azim Premji Foundation Scholarship Portal at no cost.
A QR code will be provided for direct application access.
Applications will be accepted in two phases: September 10–30, 2025, and January 10–31, 2026.
The Azim Premji Foundation will manage the entire process free of charge.
Complaints or reports of fraud may be sent to scholarship@azimpremjifoundation.org.