Assam has opened application form distribution for three student welfare schemes expected to reach around 7 lakh students in the 2026-27 academic year, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launching the drive on August 6 at Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati. The schemes — Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Moina for girls, Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Babu for boys, and Shikhyarthee Sahayak Prayas (SSP) — provide direct monthly financial assistance ranging from ₹800 to ₹2,500 depending on the student's gender and level of study.
Background
The Nijut Moina scheme for girls was originally introduced with the explicit objective of helping eradicate child marriage in Assam by keeping girls financially incentivised to stay in school and college rather than drop out, a policy priority the state government has pursued alongside separate legal crackdowns on underage marriage in recent years. The scheme has scaled rapidly since its introduction: during 2024-25, around 1.60 lakh girls benefited, and following an expansion in 2025-26, the number of beneficiaries rose to roughly 4 lakh, with the state's stated long-term target being coverage of up to 10 lakh girl students.
The Nijut Babu scheme for boys is a newer addition, extending a similar direct-benefit-transfer model to male students from lower-income families, reflecting a broader shift toward gender-inclusive student welfare spending rather than girls-only incentive schemes. Both schemes operate through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), a delivery mechanism the Assam government has increasingly relied on across welfare programmes to reduce leakage and ensure funds reach beneficiaries' bank accounts directly.
Key Details
Under the revised guidelines announced with this year's application cycle:
- Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Moina (girls): ₹800 per month for Class XI-XII and Polytechnic students, ₹1,250 per month for undergraduate students, and ₹2,500 per month for postgraduate and B.Ed students.
- Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Babu (boys): ₹1,000 per month for undergraduate students and ₹2,000 per month for postgraduate students, disbursed for a maximum of 10 months in an academic year. Eligibility is restricted to male students domiciled in Assam, enrolled as regular students in UG or PG 1st/2nd year at a government or provincialised institution, from families with annual income below ₹4 lakh; married male students are not eligible.
- Shikhyarthee Sahayak Prayas (SSP): a third scheme launched alongside the two flagship programmes, also aimed at supporting students financially, forming part of the same coordinated application drive.
The application distribution timeline was staggered: forms began going out to colleges and SCERT institutions on August 6, followed by secondary and technical schools on August 7. The online scholarship portal is scheduled to open on August 14 for digital submissions, with institutional verification of applications running from August 17 to September 10.
At the same event, Sarma also disbursed ₹15.86 crore via DBT to 793 flood-affected schools across Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat and Golaghat districts, and launched a separate ₹4.26 crore Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF) disbursement benefiting 21,025 students to help them replace educational materials lost in this year's floods.
At a Glance: Nijut Moina vs Nijut Babu
| Parameter | Nijut Moina (Girls) | Nijut Babu (Boys) |
|---|---|---|
| Class XI-XII / Polytechnic | ₹800/month | Not applicable |
| Undergraduate | ₹1,250/month | ₹1,000/month |
| Postgraduate / B.Ed | ₹2,500/month | ₹2,000/month |
| Core objective | Reduce dropout, eradicate child marriage | Support low-income male students |
| Income eligibility limit | Not strictly income-capped | Family income below ₹4 lakh/year |
| 2024-25 beneficiaries | ~1.60 lakh | New scheme |
| 2025-26 beneficiaries | ~4 lakh | Being scaled in 2026-27 cycle |
Local Impact
For roughly 7 lakh students expected to be covered across both schemes in 2026-27, the monthly stipends offer direct, recurring financial relief that can offset costs like transport, study materials, tuition-adjacent fees, and daily expenses tied to staying enrolled — a meaningful factor in a state where dropout rates, particularly for girls transitioning from secondary to higher education, have historically been a policy concern. The explicit tie between the Nijut Moina scheme and child-marriage reduction reflects the government's view that sustained financial incentive to remain in education is one practical lever against early marriage, alongside legal enforcement measures pursued separately.
The parallel flood-relief disbursements — ₹15.86 crore to 793 schools and ₹4.26 crore in CMRF aid to over 21,000 students — matter directly for families in Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat and Golaghat, Assam districts that have faced repeated flood damage this year, giving affected schools and students funds to replace damaged infrastructure and study materials heading into the new academic term.
What Happens Next
Students and institutions now move through the staggered application window: forms already distributed to colleges, SCERT institutions, and schools must be completed and submitted, with the digital portal opening August 14 for online applications. Institutional verification of submitted applications will run from August 17 through September 10, after which eligible students should begin receiving their monthly DBT payments for the 2026-27 academic year. The state will likely publish updated beneficiary numbers once verification concludes, allowing comparison against the 2025-26 figures of roughly 4 lakh Nijut Moina beneficiaries.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Nijut Moina and Nijut Babu schemes?
They are Assam government direct-benefit-transfer schemes providing monthly financial assistance to girl students (Nijut Moina) and boy students (Nijut Babu) to support continued education, launched application distribution on August 6-7, 2026.
How much money do students receive?
Nijut Moina provides ₹800/month (Class XI-XII, Polytechnic), ₹1,250/month (UG), and ₹2,500/month (PG, B.Ed) for girls. Nijut Babu provides ₹1,000/month (UG) and ₹2,000/month (PG) for boys, for up to 10 months a year.
Who is eligible for Nijut Babu?
Male students domiciled in Assam, enrolled as regular UG or PG (1st/2nd year) students at government or provincialised institutions, from families with annual income below ₹4 lakh; married male students are not eligible.
What is the objective of the Nijut Moina scheme?
Its primary objective is to reduce dropout among girl students and support the state's broader effort to eradicate child marriage by keeping girls financially incentivised to remain in education.
How many students are expected to benefit this year?
Around 7 lakh students are expected to be covered across the schemes in the 2026-27 academic year.
When does the application process happen?
Forms were distributed to colleges and SCERT institutions from August 6, and secondary/technical schools from August 7; the online portal opens August 14, with institutional verification running August 17 to September 10.
What is Shikhyarthee Sahayak Prayas (SSP)?
It is a third student welfare scheme launched alongside Nijut Moina and Nijut Babu as part of the same coordinated application drive to support students financially.
Were any other funds announced at the launch event?
Yes — CM Himanta Biswa Sarma also disbursed ₹15.86 crore to 793 flood-affected schools and ₹4.26 crore in CMRF assistance to 21,025 students to replace flood-damaged educational materials.
Sources
ANI, Pratidin Time, Daily Pioneer, Asianet Newsable