October 21 deadline: ₹30,000 scholarship for daughters of truck and bus drivers
Girls whose fathers drive trucks, lorries or buses can get up to ₹30,000 for their studies through the SML Mahindra Scholarship Program 2026-27. Applications close on October 21, 2026, which leaves only 12 days.
This one closes earlier than every other major scholarship window this month, so it goes first on the list. The program is an initiative of SML Mahindra Limited and applications run through the Buddy4Study portal. Two categories share the money: SML Saarthi pays ₹10,000 to girls in Class 11 and 12, while SML Unnati pays ₹30,000 to girls in undergraduate, diploma and polytechnic courses. Students comparing options can also browse our scholarships section for more deadlines closing this month.
The driver rule that decides who can apply
The scholarship is open only to girl students who are daughters of drivers. The father must drive a heavy or light commercial vehicle that carries goods, or a large passenger vehicle such as a bus. This condition is strict. Buddy4Study’s program page states plainly that applicants whose parents are not drivers of eligible vehicles cannot apply.
Children of SML Mahindra employees and Buddy4Study employees are also kept out. Past the driver rule, the rest is simple. You need at least 60% marks in your previous academic year or semester. Your family’s total annual income must not cross ₹6 lakh.
Two categories: ₹10,000 for schoolgirls, ₹30,000 for college students
SML Saarthi covers girls studying in Class 11 or 12, with a scholarship of ₹10,000. SML Unnati covers girls pursuing an undergraduate degree, diploma or polytechnic program in STEM disciplines and core engineering fields, with a scholarship of ₹30,000.
Unnati does not restrict you to the first year. Girls in the second, third or final year of an eligible course can apply too, as long as they cleared their previous semester or year. The full category-wise rules are listed on Buddy4Study’s SML Mahindra Scholarship page.
Girls in engineering courses who do not fit the driver rule should look at the AICTE Pragati Scholarship 2026-27 instead. It supports girl students in AICTE-approved technical courses with no family-occupation condition.
Who gets preference when seats run short
Selection is merit-based, but the program names groups that get preference when scholarships are limited. Students from Delhi-NCR, Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and aspirational districts make the list. Persons with disabilities are on it too, along with students from single-parent households, orphaned students and transgender students.
“Of all the big scholarships closing this October, this window shuts first. If you are eligible, October 21 has to be marked on the calendar before anything else.”
Preference is not a promise of selection, and it does not lock out anyone else. Applications stay open to students from every state in India.
The one document families forget: the driving licence
The form asks for the usual papers, and one that is unique to this program. Keep these ready before you start:
- Recent passport-size photograph
- Government ID or Aadhaar card
- Previous year’s marksheet
- Current-year admission proof or fee receipt
- Father’s commercial driving licence or employment proof
- Family income certificate or ITR
- Student’s bank account details
The driving licence is the paper most families scramble for at the last minute, because it proves the core eligibility of this scholarship. Get a clear scan of it now. Every uploaded document must match the details typed into the form, or the verification will stall.
How to apply in six steps
- Open the SML Mahindra Scholarship application page on Buddy4Study and choose Apply Now.
- Log in with your existing Buddy4Study account, or register with your email, mobile number or Google account.
- Open the application form for 2026-27 and click Start Application.
- Enter your personal, academic and family details carefully.
- Upload the documents listed above.
- Accept the terms and conditions, preview the full application, and submit.
The application mode is online only. Submit through the official SML Mahindra Scholarship page on Buddy4Study, and re-check the closing date on the page before you submit in case anything changes.
Missed this window or do not fit the driver rule? The HDFC Bank Parivartan ECSS Scholarship 2026-27 stays open till October 31 and covers school and college students with no occupation condition on parents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply if my father is not a commercial vehicle driver?
No. The program is only for daughters of drivers of heavy or light commercial goods vehicles and large passenger vehicles like buses. Applicants whose parents do not drive eligible vehicles are not eligible.
I am in the second year of my B.Tech. Can I still apply?
Yes. The SML Unnati category accepts girl students in any academic year of eligible undergraduate, diploma or polytechnic courses in STEM and core engineering fields.
I scored 58% last year. Do I qualify?
No. You need at least 60% marks or an equivalent grade in your previous academic year or semester.
Can students from any state apply, or only from the north?
Students from all over India can apply. Applicants from Delhi-NCR, Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh get preference when scholarships are limited, but the program is open across the country.
