Azim Premji Foundation Launches ₹2,250 Crore Scholarship Program to Empower Girls Through Higher Education

In a significant step toward empowering young women in India, the Azim Premji Foundation has unveiled a massive ₹2,250 crore scholarship program aimed at supporting girls from economically disadvantaged backgrounds in pursuing higher education.

The initiative, set to begin in September 2025, is the largest of its kind by any private not-for-profit entity in India. It will directly benefit up to 2.5 lakh girls over three years, offering ₹30,000 per year—adding up to ₹90,000 for a standard three-year undergraduate degree course. This financial assistance will be disbursed through a Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.

Eligibility Criteria

The scholarship is open to girls who have completed both Class 10 and Class 12 in government schools and have secured admission in recognized colleges or universities. The scheme is specifically designed to bridge the financial gap that often forces young women to abandon their academic ambitions after school.

Anurag Behar, CEO of the Azim Premji Foundation, highlighted the initiative’s core goal: “We want to ensure that girls from low-income households are not denied college education due to financial hardships. Completing higher education is not just about academics—it’s about enabling a young woman to take charge of her future.”

Addressing Gender Inequality in Education

India’s 2024-25 Economic Survey paints a concerning picture: although around 25 crore students are enrolled in 15 lakh schools across the country, only 56.2% make it past Class 12, and even fewer—less than one in three—go on to attend college. The dropout rate is especially high among girls due to financial strain, household duties, and social barriers.

While primary education has achieved near parity between genders with over 93% enrolment for both boys and girls, the gap widens significantly at the higher secondary and college levels—particularly among those from underprivileged backgrounds.

Azim Premji’s Enduring Legacy of Giving

The scholarship program is part of Azim Premji’s broader mission of social transformation. Since establishing the Foundation in 2001 with $125 million in Wipro shares, Premji has committed over $21 billion to education, public health, and grassroots development, becoming India’s most generous philanthropist. His foundation’s endowment—including 67% of Wipro’s shares—is valued at around $38 billion (as of 2023), ranking it among the top five philanthropic endowments globally.

The Foundation has already made impactful strides through its work in teacher training across 60 districts, building Azim Premji University, supporting rural healthcare, and funding local non-profits.

A Step Toward Equity and Opportunity

The newly announced scholarship scheme underscores a growing movement toward inclusive and equitable education in India. It is not just about providing financial support—it is about affirming the right of every girl to dream, aspire, and achieve, regardless of her socio-economic status.

The announcement has been widely applauded, with industry leaders like Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani praising Premji’s consistent and deeply impactful contributions to nation-building.

In a country where countless girls still face barriers to education, the Azim Premji Foundation’s scholarship initiative offers a timely and powerful intervention—creating pathways to dignity, independence, and long-term societal change.