Resources
Everything you need, in one library.
Session guides, worksheets, family handouts and posters. Session structures are available in English, Hindi and Bengali. All resources are free and editable.
This section brings together free, thoughtfully curated resources for educators. It spans ready-to-use classroom materials as well as tools that support your own learning and growth.
Videos for Classroom Use
What is Compounding? | Finance lessons for kids | Varsity Junior | Ep - 1 (English)
What is a Budget? | Finance lessons for kids | Varsity Junior | Ep - 2 (English)
What is Inflation? | Finance lessons for kids | Varsity Junior | Ep - 3 (English)
Mani’s Beloved Bag! | Finance lessons for kids | Varsity Junior | Ep - 4 (English)
Watermelon Disaster! | Finance lessons for kids | Varsity Junior | Ep - 5 (English)
Stories for Classroom Use
These storybooks are created and published by Zerodha Varsity (Varsity Junior). All rights and copyright remain with Zerodha Varsity; they are shared here, unaltered, for educational use.
This section helps parents understand and access the different government schemes available to support both themselves and their children. It brings together practical financial tools and simple, clear guidance — from government schemes and child savings accounts to budgeting and tracking — so families can plan confidently for their children's future, including their education.
Government Schemes for Students and Parents
For Girls
These schemes are specifically for girl students — to keep them in school, and support higher study beyond school.
West Bengal Kanyaratna Education Grant Scheme
Previously Kanyashree Prakalpa
Benefits
- Annual grant: ₹1,000 annual assistance under the K1 component (for 2026). ₹2,000 per year from the 2027 academic session.
- One-time grant on turning 18: ₹25,000 one-time grant under the K2 component for eligible girls who turn 18 and remain unmarried (for 2026). ₹50,000 one-time grant from the 2027 academic session.
- Girls securing more than 60% in Class 12 may be eligible for the Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means Scholarship.
Who is eligible
- Unmarried girls who are permanent residents of West Bengal, studying in Class 8 or above (age 13–18 for the annual grant; 18–19 for the one-time grant).
Where to apply
- Applied through the school
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY)
A Government of India savings scheme for a girl child — under Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao
Benefits
- This is a savings account, not a grant — but it is one of the strongest ways a family can build money for a daughter. It currently earns 8.2% interest a year (among the highest of any government savings scheme), the interest compounds each year, and the maturity amount is completely tax-free.
- A family can deposit as little as ₹250 or up to ₹1.5 lakh in a year. Deposits are made for 15 years; the account matures 21 years after opening (up to 50% can be withdrawn for higher education after she turns 18 or passes Class 10).
Who is eligible
- Girl child below the age of 10.
- The account is opened and run by a parent or guardian. One account for each girl child, and up to two per family.
Where to apply
- Open at any Post Office or authorised bank (public and most private banks). Ask at the counter for the Sukanya Samriddhi account opening form.
For All Students (age 5 to college)
These schemes are open to all students. For boys in particular, these universal schemes plus the community scholarships mentioned in the next section, are the main routes of support.
National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS)
A Government of India scholarship supporting education from Class 9 to 12
Benefits
- ₹12,000 a year (₹1,000 a month) from Class 9 through Class 12 — up to four years of support, paid by Direct Benefit Transfer into the student’s bank account.
Who is eligible
- Students in a government, government-aided or local-body school who sit and clear the NMMS examination in Class 8, with family income up to ₹3.5 lakh a year. (Students of Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya, Sainik and private schools are not eligible.) The scholarship continues with satisfactory marks each year.
Where to apply
- The Class 8 exam is conducted by the State each year — ask the school to register the child. Awarded students then apply on the National Scholarship Portal.
Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means Scholarship (SVMCM)
Also called the Bikash Bhavan Scholarship — Class 11 to PhD
Benefits
- A monthly scholarship that varies by level of study, paid by Direct Benefit Transfer. As a guide (per month):
- Higher Secondary (Class 11–12): about ₹1,000
- Undergraduate Arts / Commerce: about ₹1,000 · Science: about ₹1,500
- Undergraduate Engineering / Medical / Professional: about ₹5,000
- Postgraduate Arts / Commerce: about ₹2,000 · Science: about ₹2,500–3,000
- Postgraduate Engineering / Medical: about ₹5,000 · M.Phil / research: up to ₹8,000
Who is eligible
- Permanent residents of West Bengal in a regular (full-time) course at a West Bengal institution, with family income of ₹2.5 lakh or less per year. Minimum marks required is usually 60% for Class 11 and undergraduate level (lower thresholds apply at postgraduate level). Girls who received Kanyashree K3 can also apply at postgraduate level with 45%.
Where to apply
- Apply online at the SVMCM portal.
West Bengal Student Credit Card (WBSCC)
A low-interest education loan — Class 10 upward, including college and coaching
Benefits
- A collateral-free loan of up to ₹10 lakh at 4% simple interest per year, with a further 1% concession if interest is paid during the study period. It covers tuition, hostel, books, a laptop, and even coaching for competitive exams. Repayment is over 15 years (including a repayment holiday).
Who is eligible
- A student who has been a resident of West Bengal for at least 10 years and is up to 40 years of age, enrolled (from Class 10 onward) in a school, college, university or professional / coaching institute in India or abroad. There is no family income ceiling. A parent or guardian acts as co-borrower.
Where to apply
- Register online at the WBSCC portal.
Two more central routes for college funding
- Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships: For Students who score in the top band of the Class 12 board exam and go on to college — around ₹12,000 a year for the first three years and ₹20,000 a year after, with a family-income limit. Apply on the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in).
- PM-Vidyalaxmi / Vidya Lakshmi: A single online window to apply to many banks for an education loan, with a central interest-subsidy for eligible lower-income families. A useful companion to the State’s Student Credit Card — compare both.
Scholarships by Community (SC / ST / OBC / Minority)
These reach many of our students. They apply to both girls and boys, and can be received alongside the schemes above. A Student normally chooses the single scholarship that fits their community. Alongside these State schemes, the Government of India runs its own pre-matric and post-matric scholarships for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Other Backward Classes (PM-YASASVI) and minority students on the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) — a family should apply for whichever gives the higher benefit, not both for the same year.
Sikshashree
Pre-matric scholarship for Scheduled Caste & Scheduled Tribe Students
Benefits
- An annual grant of ₹750 to ₹800, paid into the student’s bank account to help with books, stationery and school costs.
Who is eligible
- SC and ST students in classes 5 to 8 in government or government-aided schools in West Bengal, with family income up to ₹2.5 lakh.
Where to apply
- Through the school (offline), managed by the Backward Classes Welfare & Tribal Development Department via the OASIS portal.
West Bengal Medhashree Scholarship Scheme
Pre-matric scholarship for Other Backward Classes (OBC) Students
Benefits
- A fixed annual grant of ₹800.
Who is eligible
- OBC (category A or B) students in Classes 5 to 8 in government or government-aided schools in West Bengal, with family income up to ₹2.5 lakh, who are not receiving another pre-matric scholarship.
Where to apply
- Online via the Medhashree / WBMDFC portal.
Aikyashree
Scholarships for minority-community Students — Class 1 to PhD
Benefits
- Three components by level, all paid by Direct Benefit Transfer:
- Pre-matric (Class 1–10): about ₹1,100 to ₹11,000 a year, depending on class and whether the student is a day scholar or hosteller.
- Post-matric (Class 11 to PhD): higher annual amounts
- Merit-cum-Means (technical / professional courses): the largest amounts, up to around ₹60,000 a year
Who is eligible
- Students from a minority community (Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Sikh, Jain or Parsi/Zoroastrian) who are domiciled in West Bengal and studying in the state, with at least 50% marks in the previous examination. Income limits vary by level (broadly ₹1 lakh to ₹2.5 lakh).
Where to apply
- Apply online on the Aikyashree portal (WBMDFC).
For older Students and graduates
- Yogyashree: Free coaching from Class 11 for engineering and medical entrance exams (JEE / NEET) and for state services — begun for Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe Students and now extended to Other Backward Classes, minority and general categories.
- Yuvashree: A monthly allowance (₹1,500) for jobseekers enrolled in the Employment Bank, to support skilling while they look for work.
For Women/Mothers
These schemes put money directly into a woman’s hands each month, strengthening the whole household. They sit alongside the children’s schemes — a family can receive both.
West Bengal Annapurna Bhandar Scheme
Previously Lakshmir Bhandar
Benefits
- ₹3,000 per month, paid by Direct Benefit Transfer into her Aadhaar-linked bank account.
Who is eligible
- A woman who is a permanent resident of West Bengal, aged 25 to 60, who is not an income-tax payer and not a government employee or pensioner.
Where to apply
- Existing beneficiaries usually need only a simple e-KYC verification — no fresh form. New applicants can apply at a Duare Sarkar camp or their local Block / Municipal office, or online.
- Helpline: 033-2334-1563
Pradhan Mantru Matri Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)
A Government of India maternity benefit — for a mother’s first child, and a second girl child
Benefits
- ₹5,000 for the first child, paid into the mother’s bank account in two instalments (₹3,000 when the pregnancy is registered, ₹2,000 after birth). With the linked Janani Suraksha Yojana benefit after an institutional delivery, a mother typically receives about ₹6,000 in all.
- ₹6,000 for a second child, if that child is a girl — paid in a single instalment after birth and immunisation.
Who is eligible
- Pregnant and lactating mothers (aged 19 or above) from economically weaker households (below-poverty-line or NFSA ration card, Ayushman Bharat / PM-JAY beneficiaries) or with a disability. Government employees who already get paid maternity leave are not eligible.
Where to apply
- Register through the local Anganwadi centre or ASHA / ANM worker, or online.
Building financial awareness — a family’s money toolkit
These four Government of India schemes are the foundation of financial confidence for a low-income family. They cost almost nothing, they open the door to every other benefit above (which all pay into a bank account), and they turn a family from receiving help into managing their own money and risk. A great place to start a conversation about saving and security.
Jan Dhan Account (PMJDY)
A free, zero-balance bank account
What they receive
- A bank account that needs no minimum balance, and provides a free RuPay debit card carrying ₹2 lakh of accident cover, and — after good use — a small overdraft (up to about ₹10,000). Crucially, it is the account into which every scheme in this guide can pay.
Who is eligible
- Any Indian resident without a bank account can open one; a minor above 10 can also hold an account. One basic account per person.
Where to apply
- At any bank branch or Bank Mitra (banking correspondent) in the neighbourhood. Ask to open a “Jan Dhan” (PMJDY) account.
Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY)
India’s cheapest accident insurance — about ₹20 a year
What they receive
- ₹2 lakh for accidental death or full disability, and ₹1 lakh for partial disability — for a premium of only about ₹20 a year, auto-debited once a year from the bank account.
Who is eligible
- Any bank-account holder aged 18 to 70 who agrees to the yearly auto-debit and gives a simple consent (self-declaration of health).
Where to apply
- Enrol through the bank that holds the account — branch, mobile app, netbanking or SMS.
Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY)
Low-cost life insurance — about ₹436 a year
What they receive
- ₹2 lakh paid to the family if the insured person dies from any cause, for a premium of about ₹436 a year, auto-debited yearly.
Who is eligible
- Any bank-account holder aged 18 to 50 (cover then continues to age 55) who agrees to the yearly auto-debit and gives a simple health self-declaration.
Where to apply
- Enrol through the bank that holds the account.
Atal Pension Yojana (APY)
A guaranteed pension for old age — built for informal-sector families
What they receive
- A guaranteed monthly pension of ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 from age 60, as chosen by the family. A small fixed amount is auto-debited each month until 60 — the younger you start, the smaller the monthly contribution.
Who is eligible
- Any bank-account holder aged 18 to 40 (so at least 20 years of contributions). Aimed at workers with no employer pension.
Where to apply
- Enrol through the bank or post office that holds the account.
A simple order to suggest
- First a Jan Dhan account (so every benefit has somewhere to land). Then the two tiny insurances — PMSBY (₹20) and PMJJBY (₹436) — for under ₹500 a year of protection. Then Atal Pension Yojana for old age. And for a daughter, open a Sukanya Samriddhi account early and add even ₹250 when you can — time does the rest.
Child Savings Account
A child savings account is a bank account opened and managed by a parent or guardian on behalf of a minor. Opening one early is one of the simplest ways to build a dedicated fund for a child's higher education — small, regular deposits grow over time, while the account keeps education savings separate, secure, and easy to track.
Why Open a Child Savings Account?
- Builds a dedicated fund for the child's future education, including college.
- Helps the family prepare financially for unexpected expenses.
- Encourages consistent saving towards the child's future needs.
- Keeps the child's savings safe and separate from everyday spending.
- Gives the child a strong financial foundation from an early age.
Minor Savings Account Document Checklist
DownloadMonthly Budget Planner
A monthly budget planner helps families see exactly where their money goes each month. Planning ahead makes it easier to cover essentials, cut unnecessary spending, and set aside a little for the future.
DownloadSavings Tracker
A savings tracker lets families set a goal and watch their progress towards it, month by month. Seeing savings grow keeps motivation high and turns saving for a child's education into a clear, achievable habit.
DownloadResources for Upskilling
Resources supporting educators as well as parents in their own learning, development, and growth.