National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education (NSIGSE)

The National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education (NSIGSE) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched in May 2008 to encourage girls to complete secondary education. It is administered by the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL) under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. The scheme aims to reduce drop-out rates by providing a financial incentive at the critical Class VIII to Class IX transition.

Eligibility is restricted to unmarried girls who pass Class VIII and enrol in Class IX in a State or UT Government, Government-aided, or Local Body school. Eligible girls include all SC/ST girls and all girls (irrespective of caste) who pass Class VIII from a Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya. Applicants must be below 16 years of age as on 31 March of the year of joining Class IX. Married girls, girls in private unaided schools, and girls in Central Government schools (KVS, NVS, CBSE-affiliated central schools) are excluded. Notably, there is no family income ceiling.

The benefit is a fixed deposit of Rs. 3,000 in the name of the eligible unmarried girl, deposited on enrolment in Class IX. The deposit is held in a public sector bank or post office and matures only when the beneficiary attains 18 years of age and has passed Class X. No premature withdrawal is allowed. At maturity, the principal plus accrued interest can be withdrawn. Implementing banks include Canara Bank, Indian Bank, and Union Bank of India, with disbursement through the Public Financial Management System (PFMS).

Application is made through the National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in. Implementing agencies for identifying beneficiaries are State and UT Governments, schools managed by them, local bodies, aided private schools, and Panchayati Raj Institutions. The scheme is 100 per cent Centrally funded.