The Gujarat Administrative Reforms Commission (GARC) has recommended the creation of a single, unified portal to streamline all scholarship schemes offered by various state departments, including Education, Tribal Welfare, and Social Justice. The commission submitted its third report to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Monday.
Even before the report’s release, the Education Department had already begun working with the Tribal Welfare Department to reform scholarship and admission processes. A centralized entrance exam for schools under both departments was introduced this academic year. Discussions are also underway to include the Social Justice and Empowerment Department in the scholarship integration efforts.
According to The Indian Express, Principal Secretary of the Education Department Mukesh Kumar confirmed that initial talks have started to build a common portal for student scholarships. “The process needs to be streamlined as different schemes have varying guidelines,” he said.
GARC, led by Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister Hasmukh Adhia, proposed the development of the Gujarat Unified Scholarship Portal (GUSP). This digital platform would simplify applications, provide real-time status updates, and use a Child Tracking System (CTS) to manage student IDs. The goal is to increase transparency, avoid duplication, and ensure timely benefits to all eligible students.
The report highlighted that the current system—divided across departments—creates confusion due to overlapping and sometimes contradictory eligibility criteria, documentation needs, and disbursement processes. It cited successful models from states like Telangana, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Kerala that have implemented unified digital systems using digital identity and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) frameworks.
The formation of GARC was announced in the 2025-26 Gujarat Budget on February 20, with the commission officially constituted on February 25.
Overview of State Scholarship Schemes
- Tribal Development Department (with 75% central funding):
- Pre-matric scholarships for ST students (Class IX–X)
- Post-matric scholarships, including support for girls, boys, and SEBC students in hostels
- Merit-cum-means scholarships
- Education Department:
- Mukhyamantri Yuva Swavalamban Yojana (MYSY) for general category students meeting specific income and academic criteria
- Social Justice and Empowerment Department:
- Pre- and post-matric scholarships
- Merit-cum-means and tuition aid for Class XI–XII science students
- Financial support for medical, engineering, and overseas education
- Assistance for MPhil/PhD, pilot training, and bicycles for Class VIII girls
J.P. Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary of the Tribal Development Department, stated that all schemes will soon follow a “unified procedure” to eliminate discrepancies across departments.