Karnataka State govt. decides to give cash prize instead of laptops to SSLC toppers

The State government has decided to distribute cash prizes instead of laptops to students of government high schools who score highest marks in the SSLC examination.

However, the move has drawn the ire of many.

Under the Quality Assurance and Student Motivation Initiative Action Plan incentive programme, the government has been rewarding three class 10 toppers who studied in government schools from each taluk with a laptop, since 2010-11.

The government issued an order on January 22, directing the Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board (KSEAB) to instead distribute a cash prize of ₹50,000, instead of a laptop. The new directive will be applicable from the academic year 2024-25, as toppers for this year were yet to be rewarded under the scheme.

The government had already given an administrative approval for ₹3.25 crore to distribute laptops for toppers in 2025-26, even as laptops were not yet distributed for 2024-25. But mid-way the government has now decided to change the nature of the scheme based on a proposal by the KSEAB.

“If cash prizes are distributed to students instead of laptops, it will be beneficial for their future education. This money will help students enroll in good colleges and purchase textbooks and other equipment. The decision has been taken to help students,” said a senior official of the KSEAB.

The government, which has approved the KSEAB proposal, has directed that the cash prize be disbursed through the State Scholarship Portal (SSP) to the bank accounts linked to the students’ Aadhaar numbers via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

A total of 758 toppers eligible for the scheme for the academic year 2024-25 will also now get cash prizes, credited to their bank accounts, and not laptops.

Govt. decision opposed

However, the School Development Monitoring Committee (SDMC) has opposed the government’s decision. “The government’s move to suddenly change the nature of the scheme, which has been in effect for the last fifteen years, is not right. In the IT era, laptops are more useful and convenient for students to study optimally. However, in most cases, parents will end up using the cash prize amount provided to the students. Moreover, it is not possible to buy a good laptop for ₹50,000 at the current market. Therefore, the government should reinstate the scheme of providing laptops to students,” said Umesh G. Gangavadi, State president of the SDMC, adding that a petition would be submitted to the Chief Minister in this regard.