Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

The Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme was launched on 2 October 2016 to help students continue higher education without financial constraints. The scheme provides education loans for eligible general, professional and technical courses and supports expenses such as tuition fees, other institutional charges, living expenses and study materials. Eligible students can receive an education loan of up to ₹4 lakh under the applicable scheme framework.

The scheme is available to eligible students who are permanent residents of Bihar and meet the prescribed education, age, admission and course conditions. Students can pursue recognised higher education courses in institutions located within or outside Bihar, subject to the applicable rules. The scheme also covers students who meet the special provisions for specified bordering areas of Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

The Bihar Government has extended the Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme for the next five years from 2026 to 2031. The government has introduced a revised implementation framework for this period to continue providing education-finance support to eligible students.

Under the new 2026–2031 framework, education loans of up to ₹2 lakh will be handled through the Bihar State Education Finance Corporation. For loans between ₹2 lakh and ₹4 lakh, the framework provides for education loans through scheduled commercial banks, while eligible students can get loans of up to ₹10 lakh under PM-Vidyalakshmi, subject to the applicable conditions. Therefore, the ₹2 lakh amount should not be treated as the new overall maximum loan limit.

A key benefit of the scheme is that students can receive financial support beyond tuition fees. Eligible non-hostel students can get prescribed assistance for living expenses, while the scheme also provides ₹10,000 per year for books and study materials. The loan can be repaid over a period of up to 7 years for loans up to ₹2 lakh and up to 10 years for loans above ₹2 lakh, after the applicable moratorium period. The scheme also provides interest support and repayment-related benefits to eligible borrowers.

The scheme covers a wide range of higher education programmes, including general degree, engineering, medical, management, law and other professional and technical courses. This allows eligible students to pursue higher education without having to arrange the entire cost of their studies upfront.

Scheme Benefits

• Provides education loans of up to ₹4 lakh to eligible students for higher education.
  • Loans up to ₹2 lakh will be handled through the Bihar State Education Finance Corporation under the 2026–2031 framework.
  • Loans above ₹2 lakh will follow the applicable PM-USP/PM-Vidyalakshmi provisions through scheduled commercial banks.
  • Under the PM-Vidyalakshmi framework, eligible students can get an education loan of up to ₹10 lakh, subject to the applicable conditions.
• Offers loan support for 42 eligible general, professional and technical courses.
• Allows eligible students to pursue recognised higher education courses at institutions within or outside Bihar.
• Supports expenses such as tuition fees, institutional charges, living expenses, books and study materials.
• Offers interest support and repayment-related benefits. Under the previous guidelines, the loan carried an interest rate of 4% per annum.
• Under the previous guidelines, eligible women, differently-abled and transgender beneficiaries were covered under the 1% interest provision.
• Offers a One Time Settlement (OTS) facility for eligible old, stressed or overdue loans.

Financial Assistance Under Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme

Interest and Loan Repayment

The Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme provides interest support and a structured repayment system for eligible borrowers. The scheme also provides interest rebates and certain relief provisions based on the applicable conditions.

Interest Rate and Support

• The education loan carries an interest rate of 4% per annum.
• Women, differently-abled and transgender beneficiaries are eligible for an interest rate of 1% per annum.
• Interest subvention is provided during the study period and the applicable moratorium period, subject to the scheme conditions.
• Eligible beneficiaries who repay the loan on schedule can receive a 30% rebate on interest.
• Women, differently-abled and transgender beneficiaries can receive an additional 10% interest rebate, subject to the applicable conditions.

Loan Repayment Period

• Loans up to ₹2 lakh can be repaid in a maximum of 84 monthly instalments, equivalent to 7 years.
• Loans above ₹2 lakh can be repaid in a maximum of 120 monthly instalments, equivalent to 10 years.
• The repayment period begins after the applicable moratorium period.

Relief in Case of Unemployment

If the borrower remains unemployed or does not have income from self-employment or another source, loan recovery can be kept on hold subject to the applicable conditions. The borrower must submit the required affidavit at the DRCC during the prescribed periods.

Loan Waiver in Case of Death

If the borrower dies during the course period, moratorium period or repayment period, the outstanding loan amount can be waived according to the applicable scheme provisions.

Eligibility Requirements

• The applicant must be a permanent resident of Bihar.
• The applicant must have passed Class 12. For Polytechnic courses, Class 10 is required.
• Bihar-domiciled students who pass Class 10 or Class 12 from specified bordering areas of Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh or West Bengal can also apply.
• The applicant must be enrolled or selected for admission to a recognised higher-education institution in India.
• The applicant must be up to 25 years old on the application date. The age limit is 30 years for eligible postgraduate courses requiring a Bachelor's degree.
• The course must be included in the list of courses covered under the scheme.
• A student who already has a degree at a particular level cannot take a loan for another degree at the same level in a different stream.
• This restriction does not apply to eligible technical and management courses such as MBA and MCA.
• Under the 2026–2031 framework, students covered by PM-USP CSIS or PM-Vidyalakshmi will receive benefits through those schemes. Other eligible students will continue to receive support under BSCC.
• Further loan instalments will be released only while the student continues the approved course. No further instalments will be provided after discontinuing the course.
• The applicant must not be receiving another government allowance, scholarship, education loan or similar financial assistance from another source.

Required Documents

• Aadhaar Card of the applicant and co-applicant.
• Class 10 and Class 12 marksheets and certificates. For Polytechnic courses, Class 10 documents are required.
• Scholarship or free-education certificate, if applicable.
• Copy of the applicant's bank passbook showing the branch name, account number and IFSC code.
• Admission or enrolment certificate showing the course duration. For institutions outside Bihar, the course brochure may be required.
• Course fee details issued by the educational institution.
• Two passport-size photographs of the applicant and co-applicant.
• Residential certificate or any accepted address proof, such as a bank passbook, electricity bill, telephone bill, passport, driving licence or voter ID.

Steps to Apply

Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme applications are accepted online only, followed by a mandatory in-person document-verification visit to your District Registration and Counselling Centre (DRCC). There is no offline application form.

1. Visit the official portal at 7nishchay-yuvaupmission.bihar.gov.in, or open the official mobile app, and click on new registration.
2. Enter your name, mobile number, and email ID, and submit to receive a One Time Password (OTP) on your mobile and email.
3. Enter the OTP to access the personal-details form; fill it in and submit.
4. From the list of schemes, select "Bihar Student Credit Card Yojana" (BSCC) and fill in the scheme-specific online application form.
5. Submit the application. You will receive a unique registration number by SMS and email, along with a PDF copy of the application listing the documents you need to carry.
6. Wait for an SMS/email from your DRCC with the date and time to visit for document verification, or visit at your own convenience if you prefer not to wait for the notified date.
7. On the visit date, go to your district's DRCC with your self-signed application form, self-attested photocopies of all required documents, passport-size photographs, and the original documents for verification.
8. Collect a token number at the DRCC entrance and wait for your turn in the hall; your token number will be displayed on the electronic board.
9. At the counter, your Aadhaar is authenticated, and your documents are checked and scanned; originals are returned to you on the spot, and you receive an acknowledgement receipt.
10. Track your application status anytime using your registration number, through the official portal or the state-level call centre.

Relevant Links

• Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme Applicant Registration
• Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme Applicant Login
• Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme Official Portal
• Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme List of Colleges.
• Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme List of Courses.
• Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme Revised Guidelines
• Bihar Student Credit Card 2026 Notice

Contact Information

• Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme Helpline Number: 18003456444
• Bihar Student Credit Card District-wise Contact Details