SBI Foundation Launches ₹100 Crore Asha Scholarship 2026 to Support 25,000 Students

New Delhi, July 23, 2026: SBI Foundation, the CSR arm of the State Bank of India (SBI), has launched the SBI Platinum Jubilee Asha Scholarship 2026, a ₹100 crore scholarship programme aimed at supporting 25,707 meritorious students from economically disadvantaged families across India.

Instituted in 2022 as part of SBI's Platinum Jubilee celebrations, the scholarship programme provides annual financial assistance ranging from ₹15,000 to ₹15 lakh, depending on the category, and continues throughout the duration of the selected course, subject to renewal criteria.

The scholarship is open to students across multiple academic levels, including Classes 9 to 12, undergraduate and postgraduate students studying at NIRF Top 300 or NAAC A-rated institutions, MBBS students, students enrolled at IITs and IIMs, and those pursuing master's programmes abroad at universities ranked among the Top 200 in the QS World University Rankings.

Speaking on the launch, Shri Challa Sreenivasulu Setty, Chairman, State Bank of India, said, "The SBI Platinum Jubilee Asha Scholarship embodies SBI's enduring commitment to nation-building by investing in India's greatest strength – its young talent. We believe every deserving student should get an equal opportunity to pursue quality education and realise their aspirations, irrespective of financial circumstances. By expanding access to quality education across diverse academic pathways, we are nurturing the next generation of leaders, innovators and professionals who will drive India's growth and global competitiveness. Through this initiative, we aim to empower over 25000 scholars to become the torchbearers of progress and contribute meaningfully towards the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047."

The scholarship is a flagship education initiative under SBI Foundation's CSR programme and is co-funded by other SBI Group entities, including SBI General Insurance, SBI Life, SBI Securities, SBI Pension Fund, SBI Ventures, SBI Trustee and SBI Operations Support.

Applications for the SBI Platinum Jubilee Asha Scholarship 2026 are open from July 22 to September 4, 2026.