Prime Minister’s Rural Development Fellows Scheme 2026

This scheme by the Gujarat government provides bus fare concessions to girl students studying in government and Read More... non-government schools from primary to higher technical education levels, managed by GSRTC. Read less

Details

Getting to school can be a challenge, and for many students, especially girls in Gujarat, bus fares add to the daily expense. The Gujarat government understands this and has introduced a special scheme to ease the burden.

What Is This Scheme?

This is the S.T. Bus Pass Fee Concession Scheme, specifically designed to help students, particularly girls, in Gujarat. It offers a significant concession on bus fares for students attending primary, secondary, higher secondary, and higher technical education courses. The scheme is run by the Education Department of Gujarat and managed by the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC).

Who Can Benefit From This Scheme?

The scheme is targeted at girl students who are residents of Gujarat and are currently enrolled in government or non-government educational institutions. This includes students from primary schools all the way up to those pursuing higher secondary and higher technical education.

Why This Scheme Is Important

Ensuring that all students can access education without financial hindrances is key. This scheme directly supports girl students by reducing their travel costs, making it easier for them to attend classes regularly. By making education more accessible, it contributes to their overall development and educational attainment.

Objective

This scheme by the Gujarat government provides bus fare concessions to girl students studying in government and non-government schools from primary to higher technical education levels, managed by GSRTC.

Benefits

Stipend Package

The Fellow shall be entitled to a consolidated stipend package of ₹50,000/- (Rupees Fifty thousand only) per month during the orientation period.

The Fellow shall be entitled to ₹75,000/- (Rupees Seventy Five Thousand only) per month during the first year of the Fellowship (post-orientation).

The Fellow shall receive a 10% increment during the second year, subject to satisfactory performance.

This package is deemed to cover the Fellow’s honorarium, boarding and lodging expenses during orientation, accommodation/house rent during the rest of the Fellowship period, health insurance, life and disability insurance cover, and any other contingency expenses.

Travel reimbursement will be based on actual costs and restricted to AC-II tier train fare by the shortest route or equivalent, plus local transport cost. Women Fellows with children below five years are allowed the travel cost of a care-giver if the care-giver accompanies the Fellow with her child.

Other Benefits

Participation in a post graduate degree programme through distance learning and contact sessions leading to a post graduate degree in Development Practice.

Award of a Fellowship Certificate and an appropriate post graduate degree in Development Practice upon satisfactory completion of engagement and course requirements.

Office facilities made available by the District Collector, including suitable space, a computer/laptop, and internet connectivity free of charge.

Provision of suitable modes of transport by District administration while travelling within the district for regular work.

Disbursement of Stipend

During the orientation programme, the stipend shall be paid by the National Rural Livelihood Promotion Society through the Programme Mentor.

Post-placement, the National Rural Livelihood Promotion Society shall pay the monthly stipend to the Fellows by providing budgetary support to the State Rural Livelihood Mission society.

The State Rural Livelihood Mission society shall make direct deposits into the bank account of each Fellow immediately upon confirming the attendance of the Fellow from the District Collector at the end of the month.

The second-year increment is subject to the Fellow’s satisfactory performance as determined by the National Rural Livelihood Promotion Society in consultation with the Programme Mentor.

Conditions*It is mandatory for the Fellows to purchase suitable health insurance and life and disability insurance coverage for the entire duration of the Fellowship, including the orientation period.*The Fellow shall not take up any type of employment with any other person, firm, or agency during the tenure of the Fellowship.*On successful completion of Fellowship, the Fellow is required to spend at least one year in public service as a paid full-time employee of the State Rural Livelihood Mission in the State she/he is assigned to.*Failure to join or complete the required one year of public service mandates the Fellow to return to the National Rural Livelihood Promotion Society the entire amount spent on academic programmes during the Fellowship (including orientation), plus an amount equivalent to the stipend of the last three months of the Fellowship period as compensation.

Sources and references

Guidelines

Eligibility Criteria

You must be a permanent resident of Gujarat.
You need to be a student currently enrolled in an educational program.
The scheme is exclusively for girl students.
You must be studying in any of the following educational levels: Primary, Secondary, Higher Secondary, or Higher Secondary Technical Education.
Your school must be either a government-run institution or a non-government (private) school.

How To Apply

The application for this scheme is entirely online. You will need to visit the official portal to submit your application.

Visit the online application portal: The Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) provides the platform for applications.
Fill in the application form: Complete all the required details accurately.
Upload necessary documents: Ensure all required documents are scanned and uploaded as per specifications.
Make payment: Pay the applicable fees online through UPI or at the bus depot.
Verify details: Complete the authentication process, usually involving an OTP sent to your registered mobile number.
Submit your application: Once all steps are completed, submit the form.

For more detailed information or to start your application, you can visit the official GSRTC website or use their mobile application available on the Google Play Store.

Documents Required

A recent passport-size photograph (less than 10 kilobytes).
Proof of your identity.
A Bonafide Certificate from your educational institution.
Your Student ID Card.
A Social Category Certificate, if applicable (e.g., for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe).
Your Previous Bus Pass, if you have had one before under this scheme.

FAQ’s

Can I renew my current bus pass online, or do I need to go to a physical office?

You can conveniently renew your bus pass through the same online system. The digital platform supports new applications, renewals, and checking your application status, so you don't need to visit physical offices.

What should I do if my girl student attends a private, unaided secondary school in Gujarat? Can she still get the bus fare discount?

Yes, absolutely. Girl students studying in non-government (private) schools are fully eligible for this fare concession. The scheme covers students from both government and non-government institutions for primary, secondary, and higher secondary education.

Are there any limits on which GSRTC buses or types of services I can use with this discounted pass?

The concession pass is valid for use on Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) buses. The specific routes and service classes you can use will be determined by what is selected and approved during your application process.

When applying online, what is the maximum size allowed for my passport-size photo?

When uploading your recent passport-size photograph, please ensure it is no larger than 10 kilobytes. You need to meet this file size requirement before you can successfully upload it.

Do I need to submit any certificate from my school when I apply for or get my bus pass verified?

Yes, it's possible that a Bonafide Certificate from your educational institution might be required for verification. You may also need to provide other proof of enrollment from your institute.

What payment methods can I use when I'm paying for my bus pass application?

You have a couple of options for payment. You can pay using the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) or choose to pay in cash at the bus depots. The total amount will include bus pass charges, any applicable Identity Document card fees, and toll charges.

If I've had a bus pass before, do I need to include my old pass details or the pass itself?

Yes, if you have previously held a bus pass under this scheme, it is listed as a required document. You should submit your previous bus pass as part of the application process when you are renewing or reapplying.

How does the system confirm that it's really me applying for the bus pass?

To verify your identity, the system sends a One-Time Password (OTP) to the mobile number you provide in your application. You must enter this OTP correctly to authenticate your application and proceed with the submission.

Is there a mobile app I can use to apply for or manage my bus pass, besides the website?

Yes, Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation has a mobile app available on the Google Play Store. This app makes it easy to access pass information, check bus schedules, submit applications, and manage other related services right from your phone.

If I belong to a reserved category like SC or ST, do I need to submit any special documents?

Yes, you will need to provide a Social Category Certificate to prove your status. Make sure you correctly fill in your category details in the application form and attach the necessary supporting documents.