Gujarat Government Increases Cash Prizes For Board Exam Toppers From SC And SEBC Communities

Ahmedabad: In a move to encourage academic excellence among students from disadvantaged communities, the Gujarat government has announced a significant increase in cash rewards for top-performing students from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Socially and Educationally Backward Class (SEBC) groups who appear for the Class 10 and 12 board exams. The announcement coincided with the release of the Class 10 results in the state and marks a major boost to the existing ‘Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Incentive Award’ scheme.

Under the revised structure, students securing the first, second, and third positions at the state level across all streams — including General, Science, Vocational, and U.B. — will receive substantially higher prizes. The first rank award has been raised from ₹31,000 to ₹51,000, second from ₹21,000 to ₹41,000, and third from ₹11,000 to ₹31,000. At the district level, students from General and Science streams will now receive ₹15,000, ₹11,000, and ₹9,000 for first, second, and third ranks respectively, replacing the earlier amounts of ₹6,000, ₹5,000, and ₹4,000.

This enhancement will be applicable from the academic year 2025–26, with a budgetary provision of ₹53 lakh. Eligibility for the award is limited to students appearing in the regular March-April board examinations. The incentive will be deposited directly into students’ bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, ensuring transparency and timely disbursal.

In instances where multiple students score the same marks and share a rank, each of them will receive the reward. However, only the higher amount between the state and district level will be granted to any individual student. The move reflects the government’s commitment to leveling the educational playing field and motivating students from socially and educationally disadvantaged communities to strive for academic success.