Post Matric Scholarship PortalDigital Transformation of Post-Matric Scholarship Distribution in Chhattisgarh

The Post-Matric Scholarship Portal of Chhattisgarh is undergoing further enhancement to improve transparency, efficiency, and user experience. Upcoming features include a dedicated grievance redressal portal for timely complaint resolution, DigiLocker integration for secure and paperless document handling, and an advanced analytics dashboard to support data-driven decision-making and improve the overall effectiveness of the scholarship system.

TThe Post-Matric Scholarship Portal, developed by the Government of Chhattisgarh, is a comprehensive digital platform designed to streamline and simplify the distribution of scholarships to students from Scheduled Tribes (ST), Scheduled Castes (SC), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) pursuing higher education.

Launched on October 23, 2021, the portal serves as a one-stop solution for managing state-funded scholarships for diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate, and other higher level courses. It ensures transparency and efficiency by automating the entire process— from application submission and document verification to final disbursement.

At the heart of the system is its integration with the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism, which securely credits scholarship funds directly into students’ Aadhaar-linked bank accounts. This not only speeds up disbursal but also minimizes errors, eliminates intermediaries, and reduces the risk of misuse.

The digital transformation of the scholarship scheme, led by the ST, SC, OBC, and Minority Development Department of Chhattisgarh, represents a major leap toward transparent, efficient, and accessible educational welfare governance. The portal incorporates several key system integrations: UIDAI for Aadhaar based student authentication, NPCI for verifying bank account linkage, AISHE for validating educational institutions, and PFMS and NSP for handling state and central fund disbursements.

To further enhance accountability and security, the system includes features such as geo-tagging of institutions, Aadhaar-based eKYC for officials, and integration with the One-Time Registration (OTR) system to avoid duplication and maintain accurate student records.

This initiative stands as a successful example of leveraging digital governance to ensure inclusive, equitable, and student-centric service delivery—setting a strong foundation for future innovations in welfare programs.

Objectives

• Automation of Workflow: Streamline the entire application and approval process.
• Timely Disbursal: Ensure fast and secure DBT of scholarships into verified Aadhaar-linked bank accounts.
• Centralized Data Management: Maintain a unified database of students, institutions, and academic records.
• Transparency & Efficiency: Minimize delays and human intervention through digital verification and real-time updates

Key Features

• UIDAI Integration for Student Authentication: Uses real-time Aadhaar-based demographic verification to confirm student identities and prevent fraudulent applications.
• NPCI Integration for Bank Account Validation: Ensures secure and accurate Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) by validating the linkage between a student’s Aadhaar and bank account through the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
• Institution Verification via AISHE Code: Verifies the legitimacy of educational institutions using their AISHE (All India Survey on Higher Education) code, ensuring only recognized institutes partici pate in the system.
• PFMS Integration for State Share Disburse ment: Utilizes the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) to transparently disburse the State Government’s share of scholarships through DBT.
• Geo-Tagging and Aadhaar-based eKYC of Offi cials: Geo-tags institutions to confirm their physical existence, while key personnel—such as Insti tute Nodal Officers (INOs), Heads of Institutions (HOIs), and District Nodal Officers (DNOs)—are verified through Aadhaar-based eKYC to ensure secure access and accountability.
• Integration with NSP One-Time Registration(OTR): Syncs with the National Scholarship Por tal’s One-Time Registration system to eliminate duplicate entries and maintain centralized, accu rate student data.

Technology Stack

Frontend:

• HTML, CSS, JavaScript
• jQuery, AJAX, JSON, XML
• RDLC Reports (for dynamic report generation)

Backend:

• ASP.NET (C#)
• SQL Server
• IIS Web Server

Process Workflow

The scholarship process follows a fully digital, step-by-step workflow to ensure transparency, accuracy, and timely disbursement of funds:

Fig 7.1 : Post Matric Scholarship web portal Chhattisgarh

Application Submission

• Students submit their scholarship applications through the online portal.

e-KYC and Document Verification

The system verifies the applicant’s identity and documents in real time using:

• Aadhaar Server (for identity verification)
• NPCI Server (for Aadhaar-bank account link age)
• e-District Portal (for verifying documents like caste, income, and domicile certificates)

Institutional Review

• The submitted application is reviewed by the concerned Government or Private Institute.
• If discrepancies are found, the application is returned to the student for correction.
• Once verified, it is forwarded to the District Office.

District Office Verification

• The District Office reviews the application for accuracy and completeness.
• If any issues are found, it is returned to the student for necessary updates.
• Verified applications proceed to the State level.

State-Level Processing

• The State Office reviews all district-approved applications and initiates the fund disbursement process.

Bank Account Verification and Payment

• The Public Financial Management System (PFMS) verifies the student’s Aadhaar-seeded bank account.
• Upon successful validation, the scholarship amount is released through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

Error Handling and Reprocessing

• If the bank account verification fails, the student is notified to correct the issue.
• After the correction is made, the application is reprocessed for payment.

Benefits and Impact

• Fully Automated and Transparent Process: The portal digitizes the entire scholarship workflow— from application to approval—reducing manual work, minimizing errors, and ensuring transpar ency at every stage.
• Real-Time Document Verification: Important documents like Income, Caste, and Domicile Cer tificates are verified instantly through the e-Dis trict portal, improving accuracy and speeding up processing.
• Secure Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): Schol arship funds are directly credited to students’ Aadhaar-linked bank accounts, eliminating inter mediaries and ensuring fast, secure, and timely payments.
• Aadhaar-Based Student Verification: Students are authenticated using Aadhaar in real time, re ducing delays and strengthening the reliability of the system.

The Post Matric Scholarship Portal, developed by NIC stands as a landmark achievement in digital governance. This initiative exemplifies our commitment to fostering inclusive, equitable, and studentcentric educational opportunities. By streamlining scholarship processes through innovative technology, it ensures transparency, efficiency, and timely support to deserving students. We believe this portal will pave the way for further advancements in welfare delivery, empowering the youth and strengthening the future of our nation

Sonmoni Borah,

IAS

Principal Secretary, ST, SC, OBC and Minority Development Department, Chhattisgarh

Targets Ahead

To further enhance the efficiency and accessibility of the Post-Matric Scholarship Portal, several key advancements are planned. A dedicated grievance redressal portal will be introduced, allowing students to file complaints or report issues related to their applications. This transparent and user-friendly system will help ensure timely resolution of concerns, thereby fostering greater trust and accountability. Additionally, the portal will be integrated with DigiLocker, enabling students to securely upload, access, and share their documents in digital format. This integration will significantly reduce dependence on physical paperwork, streamline the verification process, and facilitate faster, paperless scholarship processing. To support better decision-making, an advanced analytics and reporting dashboard will also be developed. This feature will help stakeholders track application trends, assess fund disbursement efficiency, and identify operational challenges— ultimately strengthening the impact and responsiveness of the scholarship program.

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• Internet
• Technology
• eGov
• Tech