Canara Bank Dr. Ambedkar Vidya Jyothi Scholarship

The Canara Bank Dr. Ambedkar Vidya Jyothi Scholarship is a flagship Corporate Social Responsibility initiative by Canara Bank, designed to support the educational aspirations of meritorious girl students from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities. Named after Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution and a champion of social justice, this scholarship embodies the vision of equal educational opportunity for all.

Launched in 2013-14, the program provides annual financial assistance to girl students studying in classes 5 through 10 in Government or Government-aided schools. Students in classes 5 to 7 receive Rs 3,000 per year, while students in classes 8 to 10 receive Rs 5,000 per year. The scholarship is distributed through Canara Bank's extensive branch network, with each branch selecting one meritorious SC/ST girl student from its command area for each eligible class.

Over the past decade, this initiative has transformed the lives of over 95,000 students across India, with total disbursements exceeding Rs 46 crore. The program operates through Canara Bank's network of 26 Circle Offices, 177 Regional Offices, and over 9,861 branches, ensuring pan-India reach. Scholarship distribution events are typically held on Independence Day each year.

The scheme was inspired by Canara Bank's founder Ammembal Subba Rao Pai, who believed that girls' education is essential to the development of society. By targeting SC/ST communities in rural and semi-urban areas where school dropout rates are high, the scholarship aims to encourage continued education and reduce financial barriers for underprivileged families.