What is Kanyashree Prakalpa?
Historical Background
Key Points
10 points- 1.
Launched by the Government of West Bengal in 2013 as a conditional cash transfer scheme.
- 2.
Primary objectives are to prevent child marriage, promote girl child education, and empower adolescent girls.
- 3.
Comprises two main components: Kanyashree K1 (Annual Scholarship) and Kanyashree K2 (One-time Grant).
- 4.
K1 provides an annual scholarship of ₹1,000 to unmarried girls aged 13-18 years, enrolled in classes VIII to XII in government-recognized institutions.
- 5.
K2 offers a one-time grant of ₹25,000 to unmarried girls who turn 18 years old and are still pursuing education (including higher education or vocational training).
- 6.
Eligibility criteria include being unmarried and belonging to a family with an annual income below ₹1,20,000 (initially, with relaxations for certain categories like orphans, disabled girls).
- 7.
The financial assistance is directly transferred to the beneficiaries' bank accounts, ensuring transparency and accountability through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
- 8.
The scheme has been internationally recognized, receiving the UN Public Service Award in 2017 for its effectiveness in promoting gender equality and women's empowerment.
- 9.
It encourages girls to complete their education and delay marriage, thereby improving their health, social, and economic outcomes.
- 10.
The scheme's success in Murshidabad, as highlighted in the news, demonstrates its potential as a model for combating child marriage through educational incentives.
Visual Insights
Kanyashree Prakalpa: Scheme Mechanism and Benefits
This flowchart illustrates the operational mechanism of the Kanyashree Prakalpa scheme, detailing the eligibility criteria and the two main components (K1 and K2) that incentivize girls' education and delay marriage.
- 1.Girl Child in West Bengal
- 2.Eligibility Check: Unmarried, Age 13-18, Enrolled in Class VIII-XII, Family Income < ₹1.2 Lakh (or exceptions)
- 3.Kanyashree K1: Annual Scholarship of ₹1,000
- 4.Girl Turns 18 Years Old
- 5.Eligibility Check: Unmarried, Still Pursuing Education (Higher Education/Vocational Training)
- 6.Kanyashree K2: One-time Grant of ₹25,000
- 7.Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to Bank Account
- 8.Outcome: Delayed Marriage, Girls' Education & Empowerment
Kanyashree Prakalpa: Key Highlights (As of January 2026)
This dashboard provides a quick overview of the Kanyashree Prakalpa scheme's essential features and achievements, crucial for UPSC preparation.
- Launch Year
- 2013
- K1 Annual Scholarship
- ₹1,000
- K2 One-time Grant
- ₹25,000
- International Recognition
- UN Public Service Award
- Primary Objectives
- Prevent Child Marriage, Promote Girls' Education, Empower Girls
Launched by the Government of West Bengal to empower girls and prevent child marriage.
For unmarried girls aged 13-18, enrolled in classes VIII-XII.
For unmarried girls turning 18 and continuing education.
Received in 2017 for its effectiveness in promoting gender equality.
Multi-pronged approach to address social evils and foster development.
Recent Developments
5 developmentsContinuous implementation and expansion across West Bengal, with focus on digital enrollment and monitoring.
Efforts to ensure wider reach and impact, especially in remote and vulnerable areas.
Integration with other state and national welfare programs for synergistic effects.
Ongoing evaluation of its long-term impact on educational attainment and child marriage rates.
Consideration of similar conditional cash transfer models by other states.