Banishree Scholarship 2026-27: Eligibility, Amount, Last Date and How to Apply

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Students with disabilities in Odisha can apply for the Banishree Scholarship 2026-27 to receive financial assistance for their education. The scheme provides monthly support ranging from ₹400 to ₹700, with additional allowances available to eligible students who need a reader or special transport arrangements.

The revised Banishree guidelines, issued under Resolution No. 14683 dated 24 December 2025, introduced important changes to eligibility, documentation and the application process. Students can now apply through the Odisha State Scholarship Portal and may receive Banishree benefits alongside other eligible scholarships.

The reported last date for applications for the 2026-27 academic year is 30 November 2026. Check the official portal before submitting your application because the schedule may change.

Table of Contents

Banishree Scholarship 2026-27: Overview

Detail	Information
Scheme name	Banishree Scholarship
Academic session	2026-27
State	Odisha
Implementing department	Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) Department
Beneficiaries	Eligible students with disabilities
Monthly scholarship	₹400 to ₹700
Additional benefits	Reader’s allowance and transport allowance, subject to conditions
Mandatory document	Valid UDID certificate
Application mode	Online
Application portal	scholarship.odisha.gov.in
Reported last date	30 November 2026; verify on the official portal
Payment method	Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)

What Is the Banishree Scholarship?

Banishree is an Odisha government scholarship scheme designed to help students with disabilities continue their education and pursue technical, vocational and professional training.

Financial assistance is intended to reduce some of the costs associated with education. Depending on the student’s level of study, the scheme provides a monthly scholarship. Additional support may also be available for visually impaired students who require a reader and students with qualifying locomotor disabilities who need special transport arrangements.

The revised guidelines cover 21 categories of disabilities for which UDID certificates are issued. Applications are processed through the common State Scholarship Portal rather than a separate scholarship application system.

Students should read the eligibility conditions carefully before applying.

Banishree Scholarship New Rules for 2026-27

The revised guidelines contain several important changes that students should understand before submitting their applications.

1. The old ₹60,000 income limit has been replaced

The earlier family-income limit of ₹60,000 per year is no longer the eligibility test under the revised guidelines. The current rule states that either parent of the applicant must not be an income-tax payee.

Applicants should follow the current declaration and document requirements shown on the official application portal.

2. Students can receive other scholarships

Eligible students can apply for Banishree even if they already receive another scholarship or stipend from the State or Central Government. The benefit is admissible over and above other scholarships, subject to the scheme’s eligibility conditions.

This is an important change for students who previously believed they had to choose between Banishree and another scholarship.

3. A valid UDID card is mandatory

Applicants must possess a valid Unique Disability Identity (UDID) card. The revised guidelines state that a valid UDID certificate issued by the CDMO is mandatory for submitting the Banishree application.

Students who have not obtained their UDID should check the official UDID portal before beginning the scholarship application.

4. Applications are processed through the common State Scholarship Portal

Students can apply online through the Odisha State Scholarship Portal or access the scheme through the SSEPD Odisha website (ssepd.odisha.gov.in).

The common portal makes it easier to access eligible scholarship schemes through a single system.

Banishree Scholarship Eligibility Criteria

To apply for the Banishree Scholarship 2026-27, students must meet the conditions prescribed in the current guidelines.

The applicant must be a bona fide resident of Odisha.
The applicant must be a regular student of a recognised educational institution.
The applicant must hold a valid UDID card.
Either parent of the applicant must not be an income-tax payee.
The applicant must satisfy the requirements applicable to their course and institution.

The scheme covers eligible students studying in primary schools, middle and high schools, colleges, universities, recognised technical and vocational institutions, professional institutes and certain special schools. Recognised distance-education programmes are also covered.

Special schools must meet the registration and grant-in-aid conditions specified in the guidelines.

Is there a minimum attendance requirement?

Yes. The institution verifies attendance as part of the continuing-eligibility process. The revised guidelines specify a minimum attendance of 75% for continuing eligibility.

Students should contact their school or college if their attendance record is incomplete or incorrect.

Can a student continue receiving Banishree after failing an examination?

The guidelines state that a student may continue to receive the scholarship while enrolled in and regularly attending a recognised institution, irrespective of whether they pass a particular year’s examination.

The student must still meet the other applicable eligibility and attendance requirements.

Banishree Scholarship Amount 2026-27

The monthly scholarship depends on the student’s level of education.

Level of study	Monthly amount
Primary school, Classes I-V	₹400
Middle and high school, Classes VI-X	₹500
Higher secondary, Classes XI-XII	₹600
Undergraduate courses, +2 and +3 as specified in the guidelines	₹600
Postgraduate courses	₹700
Technical and vocational training	₹700
Eligible courses outside Odisha that are unavailable within the state	₹700

Important: The guidelines specify that certain middle-school, high-school, higher-education and technical or vocational scholarship rates apply to students who are not covered by a Government of India scholarship. Check the applicable category before estimating your benefit.

How much can a student receive in a year?

The scholarship is payable from the month of admission until the end of the academic session, including the examination month.

The total therefore depends on the number of eligible months.

For example, a Class VIII student receiving ₹500 per month for ten eligible months would receive ₹5,000 for that period. This is only an illustration, not a guaranteed annual payment.

Additional Allowances Under Banishree

Eligible students may receive additional financial assistance when they meet the conditions for the relevant allowance.

Type of allowance	Amount per month	Main condition
Reader’s allowance for primary students	₹200	For visually impaired students; the institution head must certify the reader requirement
Reader’s allowance for middle and high school students	₹300	The required reader must be certified by the institution
Reader’s allowance for other studies	₹400	Subject to the prescribed certification
Transport allowance	₹200	For students with locomotor disability of 75% or more who require special transport arrangements

Reader’s allowance is not payable if the same assistance is already being received from the Government of India. Transport allowance is also subject to the condition that the support is not covered under the integrated education scheme.

These allowances are separate from the standard monthly scholarship and are not automatic for every applicant.

Can You Receive Banishree Along With Another Scholarship?

Yes. The revised Banishree guidelines allow eligible students to receive the scholarship alongside other State or Central Government scholarships and stipends.

Students who already receive another scholarship should still check the conditions of both schemes and ensure that the information entered in their applications is accurate.

Older websites may still display the previous restriction on receiving other scholarships. For the current position, refer to the official Banishree guidelines.

Documents Required for Banishree Scholarship

Keep the following information and documents ready before starting your application.

Valid UDID certificate or card
Aadhaar details for portal verification
Recent marksheet, where required
Bank account details and IFSC code
Personal and contact details
Course, class and institution information
Parent’s declaration regarding income-tax status, if requested
Photograph and any additional documents requested by the live application form

The valid UDID certificate is specifically mandatory under the revised guidelines. The exact upload requirements may depend on the portal’s application workflow.

The old ₹60,000 family-income test has been replaced. Do not arrange an income certificate solely on the basis of an outdated article; instead, follow the current portal instructions and the prescribed parental declaration.

Which bank account is required?

The guidelines specify the following account arrangements:

Students aged 18 or above: A bank account in the student’s own name, including a zero-balance account.
Students below 18: A joint account in the name of the student and their father, mother or guardian.

Scholarship payments are made through DBT into the student’s Aadhaar-seeded bank account. Ask your bank to confirm that Aadhaar seeding for DBT is complete; simply having Aadhaar details on file may not establish that the account is ready for payment.

How to Apply for Banishree Scholarship Online

Follow these steps to submit your application.

Open the Odisha State Scholarship Portal (scholarship.odisha.gov.in).
Register or log in using the available student-login process.
Select the Banishree Scholarship scheme for the 2026-27 academic year.
Complete the requested personal and academic details.
Enter your valid UDID information.
Provide the required bank account details.
Upload the documents requested by the application form.
Review your information carefully before submitting.
Submit the application and save the acknowledgement or application number for future reference.

You may also access Banishree through the SSEPD Odisha website (ssepd.odisha.gov.in).

Portal labels and the order of screens can change. If a step differs from this guide, follow the current instructions displayed on the official portal. Eligible students may apply directly or through their school, college or educational institution.

Banishree Scholarship Application Verification and Approval

After submission, the application passes through institutional and district-level verification.

Institution-level verification

The head of the school or college checks the student’s enrolment, attendance and uploaded documents. The institution must verify the application before forwarding it for district-level consideration.

If the application remains pending at this stage, contact the institution’s scholarship office to find out whether any information or document is missing.

District-level verification

The District Social Security Officer (DSSO) is the sanctioning authority under the revised guidelines. The officer considers the application after institutional verification and may approve or reject it based on the applicable requirements.

New processing timeline reported in October 2026

A report published by The Times of India on 2 October 2026 stated that applications left unattended, unrecommended or unassessed at the institution level for more than 45 days would automatically move to the DSSO.

The report also stated that the DSSO would have a further 45 days to verify and sanction the application. A penalty of ₹500 per application per day was reported for district-level delays beyond that period.

Students should retain their application number and check the portal regularly. If the application appears to be stuck, contact the institution or the relevant district office rather than submitting duplicate applications without guidance.

Banishree Scholarship Payment Process

Once the application is approved and the benefit is sanctioned, payment is made through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the student’s Aadhaar-seeded bank account.

The guidelines state that:

Payments are made as and when required.
Students may receive an SMS or email when funds are transferred.
The scholarship covers the eligible period from admission through the end of the academic session, including the examination month.
A continuing absence of up to three months due to health reasons may be treated as eligible for full payment under the stated conditions.

There is no reason to assume that every student will receive the money on the same calendar date. Check the portal and bank account for the actual status.

Banishree Scholarship Last Date 2026-27

The reported last date for the Banishree Scholarship 2026-27 application is 30 November 2026.

Before relying on this date, visit the official State Scholarship Portal and check the current schedule for Banishree. Application deadlines may be revised, and the deadline for a different scholarship on the same portal may not apply to this scheme.

Apply as early as possible. Your institution must verify the application, so submitting the form at the last moment may leave little time to correct missing information.

How to Check Banishree Scholarship Application Status

You can check your application status through the Odisha State Scholarship Portal.

Open the official scholarship portal (scholarship.odisha.gov.in).
Find the “Know Your Status” option.
Enter your Aadhaar number or application number as requested.
Complete the OTP verification, if prompted.
Review the status displayed on the screen.

If the application is pending at the institution level, contact your school or college first. If it has reached the district level, contact the relevant district office for clarification.

For portal-related assistance, use the contact details on the official portal’s Contact Us page.

Why Can a Banishree Application Be Delayed or Rejected?

Several problems can prevent an application from moving forward.

Invalid or incorrect UDID details: Check the card’s validity and ensure the number is entered correctly.
Incorrect personal information: Make sure the information entered in the form matches your official documents.
Incomplete bank details: Verify the account number, IFSC and Aadhaar seeding for DBT.
Missing documents: Upload all documents requested by the live form.
Attendance below the required level: Ask your institution to confirm your attendance record.
Institution-level verification pending: Contact the scholarship section of your school or college.
Eligibility conditions not met: Review the current rules before submitting an application.

Correct errors promptly and retain any acknowledgement or communication received from the portal.

What to Do if Your Banishree Scholarship Is Rejected

If your application is rejected and you believe the decision is incorrect, keep your application acknowledgement, UDID details and rejection message.

The revised guidelines state that a complaint concerning selection, recommendation, sanction or rejection may be filed before the District Collector, whose decision is final under the scheme guidelines.

Before filing a complaint, ask the relevant institution or district office to explain the reason for rejection and whether any correction or further documentation is possible.

Important Safety Advice for Applicants

Apply only through the official government portals. Do not pay an unauthorised agent who promises guaranteed approval or faster scholarship payment.

Never share an Aadhaar OTP, bank OTP or other confidential verification code with an unknown person. Check that you are using the correct government website before entering personal details.

This article is an independent information guide and is not affiliated with the Government of Odisha.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the last date for Banishree Scholarship 2026-27?

The reported last date is 30 November 2026. Confirm the latest date on the Odisha State Scholarship Portal before applying.

2. How much money is available under Banishree?

The monthly scholarship ranges from ₹400 to ₹700 depending on the level of study. Eligible students may also qualify for reader’s or transport allowances.

3. Is a UDID card compulsory?

Yes. A valid UDID certificate is mandatory for submitting a Banishree Scholarship application under the revised guidelines.

4. Is the old ₹60,000 family-income limit still applicable?

The revised guidelines replace the old income-limit condition with a rule concerning the parents’ income-tax status. Applicants should follow the current declaration and portal requirements.

5. Can I receive Banishree and another scholarship together?

Yes. Eligible students may receive Banishree over and above other State or Central Government scholarships or stipends, subject to the applicable conditions.

6. Can a student who failed an examination continue receiving Banishree?

The guidelines allow continued assistance when the student remains enrolled in and regularly attends a recognised institution, irrespective of whether they passed the examination in a particular year. Attendance and other eligibility conditions still apply.

7. What is the minimum attendance requirement?

The revised guidelines specify at least 75% attendance for continuing eligibility.

8. How is the scholarship paid?

The scholarship is paid through DBT into the student’s Aadhaar-seeded bank account. Students may receive an SMS or email when the payment is transferred.

9. Can I apply if I study outside Odisha?

Eligible students pursuing courses outside Odisha may receive ₹700 per month when the course is unavailable within the state and is not covered by a Government of India scholarship.

10. What should I do if my application is pending?

Check the portal for the current status. If the application is pending at the institution level, contact your school or college. For district-level delays, contact the relevant DSSO or use the official department contact information.

11. Will changing my school or college automatically end the scholarship?

The revised guidelines state that changing an educational institution does not, by itself, result in discontinuation of the scholarship. Inform the relevant institution and follow the required transfer or record-update process.

More Odisha Education and Scholarship Updates

Students looking for other education-related schemes can also read:

Disclaimer: This article is for general information and is not an official government notice. The information is based on the published Banishree guidelines and publicly available reporting checked on 22 October 2026. Verify deadlines, eligibility and application instructions on the official government portal before applying.

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