Gujarat Hikes Incentive Prizes for SC and SEBC Board Toppers 

Gandhinagar, Gujarat —In a major push towards educational empowerment and equity, the Gujarat government has announced a substantial increase in incentive prizes awarded to top-performing students from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Socially and Educationally Backward Class (SEBC) communities in the state’s Class 10 and 12 board examinations. The move, under the “Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Incentive Prize” scheme, will benefit hundreds of students and aims to foster academic competitiveness among marginalized groups.

Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and the direction of Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Bhanuben Babariya, the incentive amount has been raised by up to ₹20,000 across various levels. A total budget of ₹53 lakh has been approved for this year’s implementation of the scheme.

“The state government is committed to uplifting the educational standards of SC and SEBC communities. This prize hike is a step towards motivating students to aim higher and achieve excellence,” said Minister Bhanuben Babariya during the announcement.

The revised incentive structure is significant. At the state level, students securing the first rank will now receive ₹51,000 instead of ₹31,000. The second rank will fetch ₹41,000 (earlier ₹21,000), and the third rank will now be awarded ₹31,000 (up from ₹11,000). These changes apply across General, Science, Vocational, and Post-Basic streams.

At the district level, the first-rank prize has been raised from ₹6,000 to ₹15,000, the second from ₹5,000 to ₹11,000, and the third from ₹4,000 to ₹9,000 for both General and Science streams.

“The prize money will be credited directly to students’ bank accounts via the DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) system,” said a senior official from the Social Justice Department. “Only those students appearing in the final board exams conducted in March-April are eligible. Mid-year exam candidates will not be covered.”

The scheme also ensures fairness in case of tie scores. If multiple students share the same rank and marks, all qualifying students will receive the prize. However, students receiving state-level prizes will not be eligible for district-level awards—only the higher-value prize will be granted.

The initiative, named after social reformer Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj, is designed to uplift historically disadvantaged communities through education. It aligns with the government’s broader goal to enhance inclusivity in academic achievement.