KOLKATA NEWS: Educated unemployed youth across West Bengal have begun collecting degree certificates and other academic documents as preparations gather pace for the State government’s proposed Yuva Shakti Bharosa Card scheme, which is expected to be launched in October 2026. The scheme, announced in the State Budget, aims to provide monthly financial assistance to eligible unemployed residents. However, the State government is yet to issue a final notification or launch an online application portal.

Universities and colleges across the State have reported an increase in the number of former students seeking original and provisional degree certificates, which are expected to be among the key documents required for the scheme. At Gour Banga University in Malda, authorities have issued detailed guidelines for obtaining these certificates in response to the growing demand.

Applicants seeking an original degree certificate must submit the prescribed application form to the university’s Controller of Examinations. For a provisional certificate, candidates must fill in the designated application form and have it forwarded by the principal of their college or the head of the concerned university department. This requirement primarily applies to postgraduate students.

Documents Required: Applicants must submit a photocopy of the final marksheet, a copy of the registration certificate or admit card and a copy of a government-issued identity proof along with their application. The university has also instructed applicants to carry the original final marksheet for document verification.

Application Fee: Candidates are required to pay Rs 1,000 for an original degree certificate and Rs 500 for a provisional certificate. The fee must be deposited through a bank challan, and a copy of the challan must be submitted to the university’s finance office along with the application.

Who Will Be Eligible? According to the proposal announced in the State Budget, the scheme will be available to unemployed residents aged between 21 and 45 years. Eligible beneficiaries are expected to receive Rs 3,000 per month (for unemployed graduates) and Rs 2,000 per month (for other eligible unemployed applicants). The government has proposed that only applicants whose family’s monthly income is below Rs 1 lakh and who are not receiving benefits under any other social security scheme will be eligible to apply.

Application Process Yet to Begin: Despite the growing interest, the State government has not yet issued the final notification, announced the official launch date or opened the online application portal for the Yuva Shakti Bharosa Card scheme. As a result, applications are not being accepted at present. Nevertheless, many educated unemployed youth have started collecting academic certificates and other supporting documents so that they are prepared when the application process officially begins.