Haryana Government has proposed a new scheme named “Kalpana Chawla Scholarship Scheme” to encourage girl students to pursue their undergraduate and post graduate programs in Science and Engineering streams. Under this scheme, the state government will provide scholarship of up to ₹1 Lakh to all eligible girl students who choose to pursue their graduation & post-graduation in science and Engineering fields.
Kalpana Chawla Scholarship Scheme was proposed by the Haryana Chief Minister during the presentation of Haryana Budget 2025-26 on 17th March 2025.
What is Kalpana Chawla Scholarship Scheme?
As the name suggest, it is a Scholarship scheme named after Indian Origin NASA astronaut and aerospace engineer Kalpana Chawla, who died in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster on February 1, 2003. Kalpana Chawla born on 17 March 1962 in Karnal, Haryana.
This Kalpana Chawla Scholarship Scheme has been announced to increase the enrollment of girl students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) courses in the state.
Initiatives to Improve Enrollment in STEM Courses
Establishment of 615 STEM labs
In order to improve the interest of students in STEM courses, the government has also decided to establish 615 STEM labs in government schools across Haryana where Artificial Intelligence (AI), 3D printing, and robotics will also be taught to students.
Free B.Sc. Education for Girls
Girls who take admission in B.Sc. courses in colleges linked with government universities will not have to pay any tuition fees.
Research Fund for Colleges and Universities
A new fund called the Haryana State Research Fund will be started with ₹20 crore to support research work by students and teachers in colleges and universities.
Up-gradation of Engineering Institutes
Two engineering colleges in Nilokheri (Karnal) and Panniwala Mota (Sirsa) will be upgraded and renamed as Haryana Institute of Technology.
While overall female enrollment in higher education in Haryana is on an upward trajectory and even surpasses the national average in terms of GER, the participation of girls in STEM fields, particularly at the foundational higher secondary level, presents significant challenges. The lower graduation rate of girls in science and mathematics compared to the national average and several other states indicates a critical point of intervention needed to strengthen the pipeline for STEM higher education.
At present there is not much information available about the Kalpana Chawla Scholarship Scheme, however, we will update here as soon as the scheme is launched.
Scholarship Amount
During the announcement, government said that it will offer scholarship up to Rs. 1 Lakh per annum, not exactly 1 Lakh. So, the exact amount will be decided once the scheme is launched or can vary based on the course, education level (Graduation or Post-Graduation) etc.
Eligibility Criteria for Kalpana Chawla Scholarship Scheme
Since the scheme has not launched officially yet, the state government has just announced it in the budget. However, below could be the basic eligibility for the scheme benefits.
- Student should be the resident of Haryana.
- Girl student should pursue the under-graduate or post-graduate in STEM courses (Exact list of courses not announced yet) from recognized / affiliated institutions.
- Annual family income of the girl student should not exceed a certain amount (Not decided yet).
- A valid Aadhar / Haryana Family ID may be required for application process.
Kalpana Chawla Scholarship Scheme Courses List
The list of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) courses covered under Kalpana Chawla scholarship scheme will be available only after the scheme is officially launched. However, below are some of the STEM courses being offered in Haryana.
| Category | Sub-Category | Specific Courses |
|---|---|---|
| Science | Biology | Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Environmental Science |
| Chemistry | Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry | |
| Physics | Astrophysics, Theoretical Physics, Nuclear Physics | |
| Earth Sciences | Geology, Oceanography | |
| Technology | Computer Science | Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Data Science |
| Information Technology (IT) | Network Administration, Database Management, Web Development | |
| Engineering | Various | Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Environmental Engineering |
| Mathematics | Pure Mathematics | Algebra, Calculus, Number Theory |
| Applied Mathematics | Statistics, Data Analytics, Actuarial Science |
Kalpana Chawla Scholarship Scheme – Application Process
The application process for the scheme is not clear yet, however, government may facilitate an online application form for students who wish to avail scholarship under this scheme and below could be the process.
- Visit the official website of Kalpana Chawla Scholarship Scheme or the Haryana Scholarship Portal.
- Click on the “New Application” or similar link on the homepage.
- Create an account, verify using Aadhar OTP.
- Fill the application form using correct details.
- Upload all the necessary documents and submit the form.
Once the application details are submitted, it will be reviewed by the concerned department and if the candidate is found eligible after the verification, scholarship amount will start transferring to the bank account of the girl student.