Khariar Autonomous College. Scholarships & Eligibility

Khariar Autonomous College, situated in the Nuapada district of Odisha, provides a robust framework of financial assistance to ensure that higher education remains accessible to its diverse student population. As a premier autonomous institution in a predominantly tribal and rural region, the college facilitates various state and central government schemes alongside institutional support.

Types of Scholarships

The scholarship opportunities at Khariar Autonomous College are categorized based on merit, financial need, and social background.

1. Government Scholarships (State & Central)

The majority of financial aid is channeled through the State Scholarship Portal (Odisha) and the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).

• Prerana Scholarship (Post-Matric): This is the most widely utilized scheme, specifically designed for students belonging to SC, ST, and OBC/SEBC categories. It covers tuition fees and provides a maintenance allowance based on the student's category and course of study.

• Medhabruti (Odisha State Merit): This merit-based scholarship is awarded by the Higher Education Department of Odisha to students who have secured high marks in their previous qualifying examinations (HSE or Degree).

• Gopabandhu Sikhya Sahayata Yojana: Provides financial assistance to students from families with an annual income below a certain threshold, particularly focusing on those pursuing graduate and postgraduate studies.

• Kalia Scholarship: Specifically for the children of beneficiaries of the KALIA scheme (farmers), covering professional and technical course fees.

• National Scholarship (NSP) Schemes: Includes the Central Sector Scheme (CSS) for university students and the Post-Matric Scholarship for Minorities.

2. Institutional and Specific Endowments

The college also maintains its own merit-cum-means assistance programs:

• Student Aid Fund: A dedicated fund managed by the college to provide immediate financial relief or fee concessions to underprivileged students who do not qualify for other major government schemes.

• Subject-Specific Awards: Various departments occasionally offer small endowments or prizes to top performers in core subjects like Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.

Eligibility Criteria

To maintain transparency and ensure aid reaches the intended recipients, the college follows strict eligibility benchmarks:

•  Academic Performance: For merit-based scholarships like Medhabruti, students typically need a minimum of 60% to 75% aggregate in their last examination. Continued eligibility often requires maintaining at least 75% attendance and passing all semester exams on the first attempt.

•  Financial Background: Means-based scholarships often require an annual family income certificate, with limits generally set between INR 2 lakh and INR 4.5 lakh depending on the specific scheme.

•  Caste and Nativity: For category-specific aid (SC/ST/OBC), a valid caste certificate and a resident/nativity certificate from the state of Odisha are mandatory.

Application Process

The application process is largely digitized to streamline disbursements directly to student bank accounts.

1.  Online Registration: For government schemes, students must apply via the State Scholarship Portal (scholarship.odisha.gov.in) or the National Scholarship Portal.

2. Documentation: Required documents typically include:

   • Aadhaar Card (linked to a bank account).

   • Previous year’s mark sheet.

   • Income, Caste, and Resident certificates.

   • Bank Passbook copy.

3.  Institutional Verification: After online submission, students must submit a hard copy of the application and supporting documents to the college scholarship cell for physical verification and onward transmission to the district/state authorities.

4.  Disbursement: Once approved, the scholarship amount is credited via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the student's Aadhaar-seeded bank account.

Financial Aid Options for Self-Financing Courses

For students enrolled in self-financing programs (such as certain IT or professional diplomas), the college offers flexible payment options and prioritizes these students for institutional aid to keep the courses affordable. Fee waivers may also be considered for EWS (Economically Weaker Sections) candidates on a case-by-case basis by the college administration.