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Sardardham Education Aid reaches 1,150 students in Gujarat

Sardardham Gives Education Aid to 1,150 Students Under Rs 5 Crore Scheme

Sardardham has distributed education assistance cheques to 1,150 students selected under its Dr Chitranjanbhai Patel (USA) Higher Education Assistance Scheme for the 2026-27 academic year. The total amount set aside under the scheme is Rs 5 crore.

The cheque distribution programme was held at Sardardham in Ahmedabad at 2 pm on Saturday, 29 August 2026. Students selected for the scheme attended the event with their parents.

The scheme is meant for students who have good academic results but need financial help to continue higher education. Sardardham says the programme is open to students from all castes and communities in Gujarat.

The assistance is being given after considering students’ merit and educational needs. The scheme covers a range of higher education courses, including medical studies, engineering, IIT, architecture, pharmacy, science and general degree courses. Sardardham’s official information also lists areas such as information technology, business administration, management, CA and IIM among the courses covered by the scheme.

For the 2026-27 academic year, the 1,150 selected students are spread across several fields. The largest group is from engineering, IIT and architecture, with 661 students. Medical courses account for 205 students.

Another 29 students are studying pharmacy, while 31 are in other science courses. A further 224 students are studying BCA and other general courses.

The figures show that the largest share of the assistance is going to students in technical and professional courses. At the same time, the scheme also covers general degree courses, giving students in those fields access to the programme.

The scheme was started in 2024 after financial support was received from Dr Chitranjan Patel, a Gujarati based in the United States. Sardardham says the programme was set up to help bright students who may face financial difficulties while pursuing higher studies. The organisation has continued the scheme for students from across Gujarat. This scheme is planned for 10 years.

Here Is How The Selection Process Works:

Every year, once the Class 12 HSC board exam results are declared in Gujarat, public notices and advertisements are released through print and social media for students planning to pursue higher education across designated branches of study. Applicants are given a 15-day window to apply online; no physical application forms are accepted.

Applications come in from students across all streams. Selection is based on two primary criteria: academic merit and family financial background. Applicants falling into the higher-income creamy layer are not eligible, as the scheme prioritises genuinely needy students whose household income falls below a set threshold. Because the number of applicants is high and resources are limited, a merit cut-off is applied, with this year’s successful applicants scoring above 80%.

The parents’ earnings limit is 7 Lakhs per annum. Those parents earning more than 7 lakhs per annum are not considered for this scholarship.

Scholarship Growth Over the Years:

Year 1 (2024–25): 150 students were awarded scholarships across Medical, Engineering, IIT, Pharmacy, IIM (3 students), general Science, and BCA/other general streams.
Year 2 (2025–26): 297 students received scholarships.

A key feature of the scheme is that once a student is selected in their first year, the financial support continues annually until they complete their graduation, provided they do not drop out or perform poorly. Because previous recipients have progressed successfully, the total number of beneficiaries this year, combining new and continuing students, stands at 1,155 students.

Breakdown For The Current Year:

Medical: 113 new students + 92 continuing students
Engineering, IIT & Architecture: 560 new students + 101 continuing students
Pharmacy: 29 new students + 14 continuing students
Science Stream: 31 eligible new students + 31 continuing students (17 + 14)
BCA & General Streams: 201 new students + 23 continuing students (224 total)

Cheques will be distributed to all 1,155 selected candidates.

Annual Scholarship Amounts Per Student Till The Completion of Their Course:

Medical: ₹55,000
Engineering: ₹45,000
Science: ₹40,000
Other Faculties: ₹30,000

The goal remains to support every selected student continuously from their Class 12 entry point right through to the completion of their degree.

This type of help can matter at a time when families face high costs for professional education. Medical, engineering and other specialised courses can involve tuition fees as well as costs for books, accommodation, travel and other study needs.

Gujarat also has government programmes aimed at helping students meet the cost of higher education. The state government’s Knowledge Consortium of Gujarat, for example, runs an education loan interest subsidy scheme for eligible students. Under that scheme, students can receive an interest subsidy on education loans of up to Rs 10 lakh, subject to the rules of the programme. The scheme is aimed at bright and needy students pursuing higher education.

The state also runs the Chief Minister Scholarship Scheme. Its official portal covers students entering several areas of study, including engineering, pharmacy, architecture, medical courses, BCA, BBA, BCom, science, agriculture and other fields.

Against this wider background, privately funded schemes such as the Sardardham programme provide another source of financial help for families.

Sardardham says the 2026-27 assistance has been made possible with contributions from several donors. They include Mr Chimanbhai J. Agarwal, Dr K. R. Shroff Foundation, AIA CSR Foundation, Meghmani family and Mr Poonamchandbhai Patel. Their contributions form part of the funding used for the current programme.

The organisation has also expanded its scholarship work over time. Its current scholarship portal reports 15,000 applications received and 2,500 students supported, with more than Rs 3 crore in scholarship assistance shown on the portal. The figures on that portal cover the wider scholarship programme and should not be confused with the Rs 5 crore allocation announced for the 2026-27 assistance programme.

For students, the value of such schemes goes beyond the cheque itself. Financial assistance can help a student continue a course after Class 12, particularly when family income makes college fees difficult to manage. Sardardham’s rules require applicants to meet its academic and financial conditions, and selection is based on merit, family income, document checks and committee approval.

The 29 August programme therefore marks the latest round of assistance under a scheme that Sardardham began in 2024. This year’s allocation covers 1,150 students across medical, engineering, architecture, pharmacy, science, BCA and other courses, with Rs 5 crore earmarked for their education.

Sardardham’s stated aim is to help financially needy and academically strong students continue their studies and, in time, take part in the development of society and the country.

Among The Guests Attended This Event:

Chimanbhai J. Agrawal (Agrawal Group, Ahmedabad; Scholarship Donor, Sardardham) – President / Chairperson
Shankarbhai Chaudhary (Shanku’s Water Park Group, Mehsana) – Inaugurator
Meghmani Family, Ahmedabad (Scholarship Donor, Sardardham) – Chief Guest
Gunvantbhai N. Patel, Varmada (Scholarship Donor, Sardardham) – Chief Guest
Amreshbhai Patel (Naresh Furniture, Ahmedabad) – Chief Guest
Bhupendrasinhji Chudasama (Cabinet Minister, Government of Gujarat) – Chief Guest
Babubhai J. Patel (MLA – Daskroi; President – Umiya Mataji Sansthan, Unjha; Founding Trustee – Sardardham) – Chief Guest
Manibhai Chaudhary (President – Anjana Dham, Unjha) – Chief Guest
Jashwantbhai Patel (GA Engineering and GIA CSR Foundation; Founding Trustee and Scholarship Donor, Sardardham) – Special Guest
Nitinbhai R. Patel (Patel Infra, Ahmedabad) – Special Guest
R. K. Patel (Sharanam Diamond, Kadi) – Special Guest