The State Government has launched special schemes/ programs/ policies to enable the youth of Bihar become self-reliant by improving their competency by creating opportunities for education, skill development and better employability. These schemes include :

• Bihar Student Credit Card Yojana
• Mukhyamantri Nishchay Swayam Sahayata Bhatta Yojana
• Kushal Yuva Program
• Constitution of 500 crore Venture Capital Fund & Establishment of Incubation Center
• Free Wi-Fi Connectivity in all Universities and Colleges

Bihar Student Credit Card Yojana

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• Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme is being implemented through 7 Nishchay for Developed Bihar by State government under the Program of Good Governance - 2015-2025 with an objective to provide economic assistance to disadvantaged students who are unable to obtain higher education due to economic reasons.
• To improve State’s Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education from 14.3% to National Average of 24% through various efforts.

Scheme Guidelines

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Under this scheme education loan is provided through Bihar State Education Finance Corporation (BSEFC) to students of Bihar State who have passed 12th standard from Bihar State and Border States and are interested in loans for higher education,

Mandatory Provisions-

• Nomination has been taken for higher education or selected for nomination in the educational institution accredited by the concerned regulatory agency of Bihar and other States or Central Government.
• This loan is given for general courses, various professional and technical courses of higher education.
• New courses will be added or removed by the Education Department as required.
• Under this scheme, benefit will be provided to those applicants who are resident of Bihar and have passed 12th or equivalent exam (10th for Polytechnic course) from any institute located in the state and recognized by the Government and also to the applicants who have passed 10th/12th(10th for Polytechnic course) from states that are bordering blocks of border districts of Bihar namely Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
• In case of applicant staying in hostel, the amount will be made available to the educational institution of the applicant.
• In case of non-existence of hostels in educational institutions, the students are also provided living expenses apart from the fees at prescribed rates based on pre-defined standard rate for city tier.
• Depending on inflation, the rate of living can be increased by the Education Department as required.
• The applicant's age should not exceed 25 years on the date of application to avail the benefits of this scheme. For the prescribed courses at postgraduate level, where the minimum qualification for a nomination is graduate, the maximum age limit is 30 years.
• If an applicant has passed and obtained a certain level of degree, then he/she can not apply for a course of the same level. This provision will not be applicable for technical or managerial courses. For example, applicant with bachelor's degree in science is not given to the benefit of this scheme for pursing a degree in arts, any other faculty of science or for graduation level education in commerce. But applicants who have graduate degree in science, arts or commerce can avail benefits of scheme for MBA, MCA etc.
• After 27.12.2018, students enrolled under management quota will not be eligible for the benefits of the Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme.
• Under this scheme, the student is given the next installment of education loan only provided he/she is studying in his respective institutions / courses.

• Online application is obtained for availing this scheme. Any interested student who is eligible for this scheme can submit their application online through the Online Portal or Mobile App.
• First of all, the desired information will be recorded through web portal/ Mobile app. After submitting it, One Time Password(OTP) will be received on applicant’s mobile number and e-mail id.
• After entering this OTP on web portal, applicant will get personal description contact form. After submitting the required information in it, a web page will be opened. An online application form of Bihar Student credit card scheme will be selected, in which applicant will enter the desired information.
• After submitting the online application form, unique registration number will be sent to the applicant on provided mobile number and e-mail id through message or E-mail.
• None of the documents should be attached with the online application. After submitting the application form, a PDF copy of the application form will be generated, which will also mention the required documents when visiting the counter at DRCC.
• The information regarding the time and date for coming to DRCC will be sent to the applicant through sms and email. Although the applicant can submit hard copy of the application form to the District Registration and Counseling Center as per his/her convenience.
• On the prescribed date, applicant will submit his application form with required information in it and desired documents for education loan to the DRCC of his district.
• After self-signing on the PDF copy of the application, applicant will come to DRCC on the prescribed date along with application form with passport size photographs of applicant and co-applicant in it and self attested photocopy of the desired documents.
• The applicant will be given a token number at the entrance of the District Registration and Counseling Center, on the basis of which the applicant will enter the center. Applicant will wait in the waiting hall for his turn. The Token number provided to the applicant will be displayed on the electronic display board.
• When applicants token number is displayed on the electronic display board, he/she should go to the prescribed counter with all original documents, self attested photocopy of all documents, self signed PDF copy of the application form, where the applicant’s identity through Aadhar will be certified.
• After the certification of the documents, applicant will receive a receipt from the counter. Any kind of correction and amendment in the application form will be done by the Multi Purpose Assistant (MPA) on the spot.

• Aadhar Card of Applicant and Co-applicant.
• Mark sheet and certificate of Matriculation, +2 (10th for Polytechnic syllabus) and last successful examination.
• Certificates related to received scholarship and free education (If applicable).
• Photocopy of the applicant’s bank passbook, in which name of the branch, account number and IFSC code are mentioned.
• Certificate of enrollment in the institute in which the course and its duration is mentioned (or course brochure for the institution located outside Bihar).
• Details of the course fee received from the institution.
• Two passport size photograph of the applicant and co-applicant such as parents/ spouse/ guardian.
• Photo copy of residential certificate or first page of bank passbook in which applicant’s address should be clearly mentioned or any residential proof such as electricity bill or telephone bill or passport or driving license or voter id card.
• Affidavit by the applicant that their nomination / selection is not covered under "Management Quota".

• After the applicant submits online application, his PDF and other required documents are made available to Multi-Purpose Assistant (MPS) at the District Registration and Consultation Center who post examination submits the same to Assistant Manager who in turn after getting approval from the Nodal Officer appointed by the Education Department forwards to the Third Party Verification Agency (TPVA).
• Based on the investigation report submitted by TPVA, the nodal officer of Education Department sends soft copy along with recommendation regarding loan acceptance to Bihar State Education Finance Corporation.
• After getting approval from Bihar State Education Finance Corporation, the applicant is provided a Bihar Student Credit Card at the District Registration and Consultation Center.
• Upon getting acceptance from Bihar State Education Finance Corporation, applicant is informed to confirm his availability at District Registration and Consultation Center from mail and SMS. Once the candidate is available on scheduled date, the documentation work regarding loan is finished. Post this District level office of BSEFC relays the information to the headquarter of the Corporation, from where the amount is transferred by to the educational institution and / or the applicant's account.
• The facility to withdraw the application is also given to the applicant is given on the online portal.

Maximum Limit of Loan :-

• Under this scheme education loan is sanctioned upto a maximum of 4 lakh rupees.
• Moratorium duration for this loan during which interest is not payable is either one year from the end of the course or maximum 6 months from the date of recruitment of the applicant (whichever is earlier).
• Simple Interest at the rate of 4% is payable on the loan. Under this loan at a simple interest of 1% is made available to women, specially abled and transgender applicants.

Disbursement of Loan:-

• Tuition fees and other fees to be deposited in the institute are made available to the Institute through RTGS / NEFT (or in special case through Bank Draft).
• In case the applicant stays outside the hostel, living expenses at prescribed rates based on pre-defined standard rate for city tier and the prescribed amount for the textbook and the reading-writing material is made available in the account of the applicants.
• Simple Interest at the rate of 4% is payable on the loan. Under this loan at a simple interest of 1% is made available to women, specially abled and transgender applicants.

Disbursement of Next Installments of the Loan:-

• The applicant/co-applicant can apply for next installment at DRCC by submitting online a certificate issued by the institute relating to passing/promotion in annual/semester exam (mark sheet or any other certificate issued by institute in this regard)
• Upon satisfaction, Nodal Officer recommendation letter is made available to the corporation with the above mentioned records within 3 days.
• Accordingly, the amount is released by the corporation within the specified ten working days.
• TPVA certifies/investigates minimum one percent(or as required) of mark sheet/certificates received from the applicants.

• After the expiry of the moratorium period, the loan upto Rs 2 lakh is to be paid back in maximum 60 monthly installments and loan up to Rs 2 lakh in maximum 84 monthly installments. Interest waiver of 0.25 percent is given in case the loan is paid back before the maximum period prescribed above.
• In case of absence of employment or self-employment and other means of non-income during the above period, loan recovery will be postponed, but for this, it will be mandatory for the applicant to make oath of affirmation of this effect on DRCC in the last fortnight of June and December that the applicant is not getting income from being employed / self-employed or any other means.
• In situations apart from the ones described above, if applicants / co-applicants do not return the loan after the entire set period, then they will be prosecuted under the provisions of the Public Demand Recovery Act.

• Eligibility for the Scheme

• Application Process

• Documents Required

• Process of Loan Sanction

• Maximum Limit of Loan and Process for Disbursement

• Loan Repayment Process

Current Status

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• So far 1,63,295 loan applications have been sanctioned of which loan has been disbursed to 1,46,267 applicants.
• The total sanctioned loan amount is Rs. 4,417.00 crore of which Rs. 2,282.00 Crore has been disbursed to beneficiaries.

Mukhyamantri Nischay Swayam Sahayata Bhatta Yojana

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• Under this scheme, there is a provision of financial assistance of Rs. 1000 per month for a period of two years to be given to residents of the Bihar aged between 20-25 years who are unemployed, not currently studying and looking for employment and have educational qualification in which they have completed Inter (12th) from an institute located in the state & recognized by government but not higher education.
• Additionally, applicants are given mandatory training of language (Hindi / English) and communication skills, basic computer knowledge and behavioral skills.
• This scheme is being implemented by the Planning and Development Department.

Scheme Guidelines

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• Eligibility Conditions

  • Unemployed youth of Bihar in the age bracket of 20 - 25 years, who are not studying anymore and are looking for employment and those who have cleared the intermediate or equivalent exam from a government approved institution but have not gone ahead with higher studies will be eligible to avail this scheme.
  • Applicant should be a permanent resident of Bihar State and should not be self employed.
  • The applicant should not be receiving any kind of allowance / scholarship / student credit card / education loan or any kind of assistance from any other government source and should not have any type of government and non government employment (contract / permanent / temporary form) .
  • The applicant will also be given mandatory training of language (Hindi / English) , communication skills, basic computer knowledge and soft skills conducted by the Labor Resources Department .
  • Beneficiary can avail benefits of Mukhyamantri Nischay Swayam Sahayata Bhatta Yojana even if he/she had availed benefits of Kushal Yuva Program in the past.

• Documents Required

  • Certificate of Passing 10th and 12th Class or its equivalent Examination
  • Residential Certificate and Aadhar card.
  • Bank account in the name of the applicant in a scheduled bank.
  • School / College Leaving Certificate
  • Self-declaration Letter to the subject that he/she is not pursuing higher education after 12th and is not employed

Current Status

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• So far 5,70,724 applicants have been accepted under this scheme and monthly allowance is being paid to 5,16,076 applicants.
• The total amount paid is Rs. 696 crores

Kushal Yuva Program

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• Under this program, youth of 15-28 years are trained in language (Hindi / English), communication skills, basic computer knowledge and behavioral skills. This training is a total of 240 hours, of which language (Hindi / English) and communication skills training is 80 hours, basic computer knowledge training is 120 hours and behavioral skills training is 40 hours.
• Under this scheme there is age relaxation of 5 years for specially abled, scheduled caste & scheduled tribe candidates and age relaxation of 3 years for candidate belonging to other backward caste.
• This scheme is being implemented by the Labour Resources Department.

Scheme Guidelines

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• The age should be between 15 to 28 years on the date of application. In the maximum age limit of applications, Specially Abled and Scheduled Caste / Tribe have been given 5 years of exemption and 3 years for Backward class / Backward class.
• The applicant should have passed Matriculation (10th) from an educational institute recognized by Government and located in Bihar.
• Applicants are permanent residents of Bihar and they are not employed or self employed.
• Native students of Bihar passed the 10th / 12th / + 2 (10th for Polytechnics) from states that are bordering blocks of border districts of Bihar namely Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
• Students enrolled in the Institute of Engineering, Polytechnic and Industrial Training can also take advantage of this scheme and get exemption under age limit.
• Applicants can also avail the benefit of this scheme on the basis of temporary resident certificate of any district.
• The applicant should not be getting any kind of allowance / scholarship / skill development facility / credit card / any type of government assistance from any government source.

• Certificate of Passing 10th class and its equivalent examination, in which the applicant's date of birth is mentioned.
• Residential Certificate (Permanent and Temporary) and Aadhar Card.
• Bank account in the name of the applicant in a scheduled bank.

• Eligibility Conditions
• Documents Required

Current Status

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• So far, 11,89,979 applicants have been trained and 1,38,182 are currently in training.
• Total of 1,496 training centers are being operated as of now.

Bihar Start-up Policy - 2017: Constitution of 500 crore Venture Capital Fund and Establishment of Incubation Center

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• The Bihar government has introduced the Start-up Policy-2017 to promote youth entrepreneurship in the state. The start-up policy-2017 will be effective for 5 years from the date of issue of notification.
• Under this scheme, favourable environment is being created in the state to set up industries and to promote entrepreneurship.
• Provisions for financial assistance, incubation center, funding, publicity, certification, etc. are the main components of the policy.
• The policy also has a provision of Rs 500 crore Venture Capital Fund.

Start-up Policy - 2017

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Eligibility for Availing Start-up Benefits

• Should be registered and incorporated in Bihar
• Whose annual transaction is not more than Rs. 25 crores in any one financial year during the last five financial years.
• Is working towards innovation, development, deployment or commercialization of new products, processes or services driven by technology or intellectual property.
• Provided further applicable taxes from the operations of the company are payable in Bihar.

Benefits for Start-ups :-

A framework has been prepared by the State Government under which the following facilities will be provided: -

• Start-up will be exempt from operating license / registration under various state Acts for a period of five years.
• Startup shall be exempted from inspections by Government Regulatory Agencies for a period of five years unless there is threat to life and safety.
• Self Declaration shall be submitted by Startups annually as per the format prescribed by State Government.
• State Government Departments/ PSUs shall be advised to give preference to Startups in procurement process for products/ services
• State Government shall allot 10% of spaces in forthcoming industrial parks, SME Clusters and Hub for Startups/Incubators/Common Shared Infrastructure on preference.

An incubation center will be set up to nurture progressive start-up, who will also be provided incentives / financial assistance.

A framework has been prepared by the State Government under which the following facilities will be provided: -

• Start-up will be exempt from operating license / registration under various state Acts for a period of five years.
• Startup shall be exempted from inspections by Government Regulatory Agencies for a period of five years unless there is threat to life and safety.
• Self Declaration shall be submitted by Startups annually as per the format prescribed by State Government.
• State Government Departments/ PSUs shall be advised to give preference to Startups in procurement process for products/ services
• State Government shall allot 10% of spaces in forthcoming industrial parks, SME Clusters and Hub for Startups/Incubators/Common Shared Infrastructure on preference.

Government shall facilitate creation of common infrastructure forStartups. The shared infrastructure shall include : -

• Co-working spaces.
• Provide shared facilities like R&D labs, cubicles, conference rooms etc.
• Shared software and hardware like high-end printer, computers etc. Common testing labs and tool rooms.
• Shared services like legal, accounting, technology, patents, investment banking.
• Individual accommodation and hostel rooms.
• Community events and promotional support for incubation and startups.
• Common facilities Centers (warehouse, Storage, Quality Assurance labs)

 

Common infrastructure spaces shall be established either by Government or through PPP mode. This support shall be available on Free of Cost (FOC) basis to Startups for a period of 3 years.

• Seed Grant upto Rs 10 Lakhs per start-up as interest free loan for 10 years shall be provided to startups. This financial assistance shall be released on achieving milestones/phases and performance parameters defined by Incubation Center and the trust.
• Free of cost Valuation for Startups.
• Facilitate access to Angel Investors.
• A success fee @2% of investment shall be provided to startups for mobilizing investments from state registered angel investors towards early stage funding.
• Zero Cost for filing patents – Domestic and Foreign
• Additional financial assistance will be provided to SC / ST /Women/Specially Abled under which
  • Women Entrepreneurs - Additional 5%
  • SC / ST - additional 15%
  • Divyang - an additional 15%

• All applications of potential startups received by the Trust will be placed before Expert Committee for evaluation by Fund Manager and will be provided certification based on listed parameters.

• Under this policy a Trust which is an autonomous body will be constituted under the Chairmanship of a professional with an experience in investments in companies.
• All Statutory Licenses/Clearances required by startups (if not exempted otherwise under this policy) shall be facilitated on priority basis through Single Window Clearance Committee.
• Under this policy, one or more fund managers will be appointed for risk-capital fund management, asset management of the trust, start-up certification, financial incentives etc.

1. Facilities for Start-up :-

2. Incubation center for start-up:-

3. Financial Assistance :-

4. Common Basic Infrastructure :-

5. Financial Assistance:-

6. Certification of Start-up :-

7. Institutional Framework :-

Current Status

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• So far, a total of 1,998 start-ups have been associated with the host institution for incubation. 185 applicants have been certified as start-ups of which
  • 143 start-ups have received 585.36 lakhs as first installment
  • 60 start-ups have received Rs. 345.24 lakhs as second/last installment

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Free Wi-Fi Connectivity in all Universities and Colleges

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• Within the Nishchay of Aarthik Hal Yuvao Ko Bal, free Internet facility through WiFi is provided in all government universities and colleges within the state.
• It is being implemented with the objective of connecting the youth of the state with e-Governance and to make them aware about the changes and developments happening at the national and international level.
• This process will not only improve the educational environment in the campus but also build curiosity towards education. 30 WiFi hotspots within the University & 10 WiFi hotspots in the premises and 10 WiFi Hotspots within the College & 5 WiFi Hotspots in the premises will be installed. Students and staff of universities and colleges will benefit from this scheme.

Current Status

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• Against the target of total 327 institutions, WiFi is currently installed and operated in 321 institutions.