Vidyadhan Scholarship Programme 2025: SFPI To Offer 1 Lakh Scholarships For Underprivileged Students Across India

Mumbai: Aimed at reducing high school dropout rates, raising the gross enrollment ratio in higher education to 50% and to enable students to secure fulfilling careers, ‘Vidyadhan’ scholarship program has announced to offer one lakh scholarships to economically disadvantaged students across the country.

Launched in Kerala in 1999, Vidyadhan is an initiative by the Shibulal Family Philanthropic Initiatives (SFPI) and is currently active in 22 states and union territories of the country. In the next four years, Vidyadhan aims to offer one lakh scholarships to underprivileged students across all 28 states.

The program supports students from Grade 11 through graduation, offering scholarships ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 75,000 per year. Vidyadhan also provides residential training, career guidance, and employability skills.

Kumari Shibulal, founder and chairperson of SFPI, said, “We believe education is the greatest equalizer with the power to transform both individuals and the nation sustainably. Our goal is to scale our efforts by providing scholarships and mentorship to guide students toward meaningful careers. We believe delivering quality education to India’s 300 million students requires strong collaboration between society, government, and market forces.“

So far, the Vidyadhan scholarship program has impacted over 17,000 families across 22 states and UTs, awarding 63,000 scholarships. In financial year 2024–25, it onboarded 4,900 students for post-school and intermediate education. Scholarships are offered across medical, engineering, and other courses of students’ choice. SFPI is expecting 13,000 students by the end of FY 2025-26.

Vidyadhan’s impact lincludes 5% specially-abled students, 90% from rural areas, and 60% girls. According to SFPI, over 4,000 alumni are employed in top organisations like Volvo, Shell, Accenture, HDFC, ICICI, TCS, Wipro, Cognizant, E&Y, PWC, Dell, and Infosys, leading stable and fulfilling lives. Its sponsorship model allows individuals and corporations to fund students’ education with 100% of the amount going directly to students.

S.D. Shibulal, former CEO or Infosys and co-founder of SFPI, said, “In today’s rapidly evolving Indian and global economy, where education is the only enabler of upward mobility, financial access is vital for students from less privileged backgrounds. Vidyadhan bridges this gap early on, enabling students to access high-quality education and secure positions in the higher end of the economic value chain. By combining strategic thinking, technology, and collaboration, Vidyadhan significantly improves students’ career and income prospects.”

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