Assam Dr Banikanta Kakati Merit Award Scheme

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

The Assam Dr Banikanta Kakati Merit Award Scheme is an educational incentive launched by the Higher Education Department, Government of Assam, under the Pragyan Bharati Scheme. Under this scheme, eligible students who perform exceptionally well in the Higher Secondary Final Examination receive a free scooter or scooty to support their higher education. Along with the scooter, the Government also provides a free helmet and bears the complete cost of registration and insurance, ensuring that students do not have to incur any additional expenses. For the 2026 academic session, the Assam Government has announced that around 18,000 meritorious students will receive the benefit under the scheme.

Under the latest Assam Dr Banikanta Kakati Merit Award Scheme Guidelines 2026, both boys and girls who secure 80% or more marks in the Higher Secondary Final Examination conducted by the Assam State School Education Board (ASSEB) are eligible to receive the scheme benefits. Students pursuing higher education in Assam as well as those studying outside the state can also apply, provided they possess a valid Permanent Residence Certificate (PRC) of Assam wherever applicable. Unlike previous years, the Assam Scooty Scheme 2026 has been made application-based, and eligible students must submit an online application through the official website of the Directorate of Higher Education (DHE), Assam.

The Dr. Banikanta Kakati Merit Award online application link will be released by the Directorate of Higher Education after publishing the list of eligible beneficiaries on its official portal. Students whose names appear in the merit list can complete the online application, upload the prescribed documents and submit the application within the notified timeline. After successful verification, eligible applicants will receive an Appreciation Certificate from the designated Nodal Principal. The certificate must be submitted to the authorised scooter dealer to collect the scooter. Along with the scooter, students will also receive a free helmet, while the Government will bear the registration and insurance charges.

The Assam Budget 2026-27 has also announced a major update for the Assam Dr. Banikanta Kakati Merit Award Scheme. Scooter distribution will continue for eligible students of the current academic session. However, from the next academic year, the Government will discontinue the scheme and utilise the available funds to strengthen the Nijut Moina Scheme and the Nijut Babu Scheme. According to the Budget announcement, this decision has been taken to ensure that financial assistance and educational support reach a much larger number of deserving students across Assam than the existing scooter scheme.

Scheme Benefits

• A free scooter or scooty will be provided to eligible students.
• A helmet will be provided free of cost along with the scooter.
• The Government will bear the complete cost of scooter registration.
• The Government will also pay the scooter's insurance premium.
• Students are not required to pay any amount towards the registration or insurance of the scooter.

Eligibility Requirements

Students must fulfil the following eligibility conditions to receive benefits under the Assam Dr Banikanta Kakati Merit Award Scheme :

• Student must be a permanent resident of Assam.
• Students must secure at least 80% marks in the Higher Secondary Final Examination 2026 conducted by the Assam State School Education Board (ASSEB).
• Both boys and girls are eligible to apply under the scheme.
• Students admitted to higher education institutions within or outside Assam are eligible, provided those studying outside the State possess a valid Permanent Residence Certificate (PRC) of Assam.
• Applicants must submit the online application through the Directorate of Higher Education portal within the prescribed timeline.

Ineligibility Criteria

Students falling under the following categories will not be eligible for benefits under the scheme :

• Students appearing under the Betterment or Reappearance category are not eligible.
• Students who fail to submit the online application within the prescribed timeline will not be considered under the scheme.
• Girl students who choose to receive the scooter under the Dr Banikanta Kakati Merit Award Scheme will not be eligible for benefits under the Nijut Moina Scheme.

Required Documents

Eligible students should keep the following documents ready while submitting the online application and completing the scooter distribution process under the Dr Banikanta Kakati Merit Award Scheme :

• Higher Secondary (H.S.) Final Examination Marksheet.
• H.S. Registration Certificate issued by the Assam State School Education Board (ASSEB).
• Higher Secondary (H.S.) Passed Certificate.
• Aadhaar Card.
• Recent Passport Size Photograph.
• Bonafide Certificate issued by the Head of the Institution confirming that the student is currently pursuing higher education.

Steps to Apply

• Assam State School Education Board (ASSEB) will prepare and share the list of students who have secured 80% or more marks in the Higher Secondary Final Examination with the Directorate of Higher Education.
• The Directorate of Higher Education will publish the list of eligible beneficiaries on its official website.
• Along with the beneficiary list, the Directorate will activate the online application link for the Assam Dr Banikanta Kakati Merit Award Scheme on its official portal.
• Eligible students should visit the official portal and complete the online application form within the prescribed timeline.
• Applicants need to provide the required personal, academic and contact details in the online application form.
• Upload all the prescribed documents in the specified format and submit the application online.
• After verification of the submitted applications, the Directorate of Higher Education will notify the designated Nodal Principals for the scooter distribution process.
• Eligible students should collect their Appreciation Certificate from the concerned Nodal Principal.
• The Appreciation Certificate must be submitted to the allotted authorised scooter dealer.
• After verification, the Government will release the registration and insurance amount to the concerned dealer through the Nodal Principal.
• Students can then collect their scooter along with a free helmet from the authorised dealer without paying any registration or insurance charges.

Dr Banikanta Kakati Merit Award Scheme to be Discontinued

Assam Government has decided to discontinue the Dr Banikanta Kakati Merit Award Scheme from the next academic year. According to the Budget announcement, the scooter scheme benefits only those students who secure the prescribed percentage in the Higher Secondary examination. The Government believes that the same financial resources can be used to support a much larger number of deserving students pursuing higher education.

Therefore, the funds released after discontinuation of the scooter scheme will be utilised to strengthen and expand the Nijut Moina Scheme and the Nijut Babu Scheme. These schemes will provide educational assistance to a wider section of students across Assam, enabling more deserving students to continue their higher education.

Relevant Links

• Assam Dr Banikanta Kakati Merit Award Scheme Online Application is not available.
• Assam Dr Banikanta Kakati Merit Award List (will be available soon)
• Assam Dr Banikanta Kakati Merit Award Scheme New Guidelines.
• Assam Dr Banikanta Kakati Merit Award Scheme Old Guidelines.
• Assam Higher Education Department Official Website.

Contact Information

• Assam Higher Education Department Contact Details.
• Assam Higher Education Department Helpdesk: [email protected]
• Director of Higher Education, Assam,
  Kahilipara, Guwahati.