State Competitive Scholarship Examination for Classes III, V and VIII, Manipur 2024‑25

This is a Manipur state scheme for pupils in Class III, Class V and Class VIII. The Directorate of Education (Schools) issues the notifications that select the winners. The state’s selection committee picks 100 students in each of the three classes.

Selected pupils in 2024-25 received a monthly amount set by class, for two or three years. Pupils who studied in government, government-aided or recognised schools in Manipur, and who met the minimum marks in their annual exam, could sit the test.

Note on the year: This page covers the 2024-25 exam, the latest cycle whose results I could verify. The department has listed a form for 2025-26. I found no notice for 2026-27 on its official pages, so check with the department before you file.

What you get

For 2024-25, the notification gave Rs. 400 a month to 100 Class III pupils for 2 years, Rs. 500 a month to 100 Class V pupils for 3 years, and Rs. 700 a month to 100 Class VIII pupils for 2 years.

The 2023-24 cycle paid less: Class V pupils got Rs. 400 a month for 3 years, and Class VIII pupils got Rs. 650 a month for 2 years. Amounts change between cycles, so check the notice for the year you are applying in.

Who can apply

• Class: pupils in Class III, Class V or Class VIII. The examination is held for these three classes only.
• School: The Head of the school must certify that the pupil is a regular student, and the form lists government, government-aided and recognised schools, Sainik School, Navodaya, Kendriya Vidyalaya and government-sponsored residential schools of Manipur.
• Marks: The minimum is 60% for General, 55% for OBC and 50% for SC and ST pupils in the annual examination.
• Category: The form has boxes for General, SC, ST and OBC, so every category can apply.
• Family income and age: the forms I read do not set an income limit or an age limit.
• Domicile: the forms I read do not ask for a domicile certificate.
• Who cannot apply: the forms I read do not list exclusions beyond the marks and school rules.

How to apply

The 2024-25 form is a printed form filled by hand, and it goes through the school and the district education office. The official pages I read do not mention an online portal for this scheme.

1. The department’s page for the 2025-26 form links to a PDF of the application form and admit card. The file name on that link says 2024-25, so check the year printed on the form you download.
2. Fill the candidate part in capital letters with blue or black ballpen, and leave one box between words.
3. The Head of the school signs and seals the school part, and the Zonal Education Officer countersigns.
4. The candidate and the Principal or Headmaster must submit the filled form to the district officer before the last date, and the department does not accept late submissions.
5. The candidate collects the admit card from the District Zonal Education Officer at least one week before the examination.

Documents you need

• A photocopy of the mark sheet or progress report for the class.
• A photocopy of the Aadhaar card.
• A photocopy of the OBC, SC or ST certificate, needed only if the pupil reaches the exact cut-off marks.
• A passport-size photograph attested by the Head of the school and affixed to the form.
• Selected pupils submit an account details form to the Science Unit of the Directorate of Education (S), Lamphelpat.

How students are selected

For Class III and Class V, Part I is a 40-question Mental Aptitude Test, and Part II is a 60-question Scholastic Aptitude Test with 10 English, 15 Mathematics and 35 Environmental Studies questions. The paper runs for 120 minutes. For Class VIII, the Scholastic Aptitude Test has 10 English, 20 Social Science, 20 Science and 10 Mathematics questions.

Every question is objective, with four options, and each correct answer carries one mark. Candidates may not bring mobile phones or calculators into the hall.

The committee recommends 100 students per class from the examination. The department also publishes a waiting list. In 2024-25 the 100th name on the Class III list had 61 marks, the Class V list 72 marks and the Class VIII list 68 marks.

Renewal

The notices I read do not describe a renewal or re-application step. The award runs for the period set for each class: 2 years for Class III, 3 years for Class V and 2 years for Class VIII in 2024-25.

Important dates

• The examination for Classes III, V and VIII was held on Sunday, 23 February 2025 (2024-25 cycle).
• The selection notification for 2024-25 is dated May 2025.
• Selected students collected the account details form from 12 to 16 May 2025.
• The department’s download list carries the form for the 2025-26 cycle, dated 10 December 2025.
• 2026-27: I found no official notice with dates for this cycle. Call the Directorate of Education (S), Lamphelpat, Imphal West, at 0385-3146578.