Deen Dayal 'SPARSH' Yojana: Fun-Learn-Earn

Hey there, students! Do you love collecting stamps or want to learn more about them?

The Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana is an exciting scholarship program just for you! It’s run by the Department of Posts in India to make collecting stamps (also called philately) super fun and interesting for students in Classes 6, 7, 8, and 9. Let’s break it down so it’s easy to understand!

What is the Deen Dayal ‘SPARSH’ Yojana?

The term SPARSH in the ‘Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana’ is an acronym that stands for Scholarship for Promotion of Aptitude & Research in Stamps as a Hobby

This is a special scholarship program to encourage students like you to explore the world of stamps. Stamps are like tiny pieces of art that tell stories about history, culture, science, and so much more! The program gives you a chance to learn, have fun, and even win money to help with your studies. Every year, 920 students across India (40 students from each of the 22 postal circles) get this scholarship. That’s a lot of stamp lovers!

If you win, you’ll get Rs. 6,000 per year (that’s Rs. 500 every month) to support your hobby and studies. Cool, right?

Who Can Join?

To be part of this awesome program, you need to meet a few simple rules:

Be in Class 6, 7, 8, or 9 : You must be studying in a recognized school in India.
Love Stamps : You should be interested in philately (collecting and studying stamps). If your school has a Philately Club , you need to be a member. Don’t worry if your school doesn’t have one—you can still join if you have your own Philately Deposit Account with the post office.
Good Grades : You should have scored at least 60% marks (or equivalent grades) in your last final exam (like Class 5 if you’re in Class 6, or Class 6 if you’re in Class 7, and so on). If you belong to the SC/ST category, you only need 55% marks.
Philately Account or Club Membership : When you apply, you must already be part of a school philately club or have your own philately account. You’ll need to mention this in your application.

How Does the Selection Work?

The scholarship is awarded based on two levels of activities. Let’s make it simple:

Level 1: Philately Written Quiz

You’ll need to fill out an application form to take part in the quiz. The last date to send your application and the quiz date will be shared on the India Post website (www.indiapost.gov.in or www.karnatakapost.gov.in). Keep checking these websites so you don’t miss out!

This is like a fun test where you answer Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) about topics like:
Current events (what’s happening in the world)
History (cool facts about the past)
Science (amazing discoveries)
Sports (your favorite games)
Culture (art, music, and traditions)
Geography (places and maps)
Philately (all about stamps!)
The quiz has 50 questions and you get 1 hour to answer them.
It happens at a regional level , organized by the post office in your area.
The quiz is just a way to select students for the next level, so don’t worry too much about the score—it’s like a stepping stone!

Level 2: Philately Project

If you do well in the quiz, you move to the next step: creating a Philately Project !
You’ll need to pick a topic from a list provided by the post office and make a project about it. The project is like a small story or report about stamps.
Rules for the project :
It should be 4 to 5 pages long .
You can use up to 16 stamps to make it colorful and interesting.
Write no more than 500 words (that’s like a short essay).
You have 15 days after the quiz results are announced to submit your project to your local postal division office.
The project is super important because the final winners are chosen based only on the project , not the quiz score.

The post office will share a sample project template and guidelines on their website after the quiz results are out, so you’ll know exactly what to do.

How Many Students Win?

From each class (6, 7, 8, and 9), 10 students are selected in every postal circle.
There are 22 postal circles in India, so that’s 10 students x 4 classes x 22 circles = 920 students across the country!
Each winner gets Rs. 6,000 per year (Rs. 500 per month) as a scholarship. How Will You Get the Money?

If you win, the scholarship money will be sent to a joint bank account (with you and your parents) in either:

India Post Payment Bank , or
Post Office Savings Bank (at a branch with core banking facilities).

This makes it easy for you to use the money for your studies or to buy more stamps for your collection!

Some Important Rules to Follow

Stay a Good Student : To keep getting the scholarship, you need to behave well and continue studying as a regular student.
Keep Your Philately Account Active : If you have a philately account, make sure it stays active during the scholarship period.
Apply Every Year : Even if you won the scholarship last year, you need to apply again to keep getting it. Your philately account should stay active without any breaks.
No Cheating : If the post office finds out that you didn’t follow the rules (like not meeting the eligibility criteria), they can stop your scholarship. How to Apply?

Applying is easy, but you need to follow these steps carefully:

Download the Application Form : Get the form from the India Post website (www.indiapost.gov.in).
Fill It Out : Make sure you write all the details, like your school, grades, and philately club membership or account.
Send It to the Post Office : Send your application by Registered Post or Speed Post to the Superintendent or Senior Superintendent of the postal division where your school is located.
Your school can also send applications for all interested students together in one envelope with a cover letter.

Keep in mind

Don’t Use Ordinary Post or Couriers : Applications sent by regular mail, private couriers, or handed in person won’t be accepted.
Check the Deadline : The last date to send your application will be announced on the India Post website. Keep checking so you don’t miss it! Why Should You Join? ( For 2025 September 5 Last Date for submission of application, this date may or may not be extended, act quickly apply now.)

Collecting stamps is like going on a treasure hunt! Each stamp has a story to tell—about famous people, beautiful places, or important events. This scholarship program is a great way to:

Learn new things about the world.
Show off your creativity through your philately project.
Win money to help with your studies or grow your stamp collection.
Make new friends who love stamps too!

Get Started

Join a Philately Club : If your school doesn’t have one, ask your teachers to start a club, or open your own Philately Deposit Account at a post office.
Start Collecting Stamps : Visit your local post office to buy stamps or ask your family and friends to share old stamps with you.
Learn About Stamps : Read books or check online to learn about famous stamps, their designs, and what they represent.
Practice for the Quiz : Brush up on topics like history, science, sports, and current events. You can find fun quizzes online or in books to practice MCQs.
Get Creative : Think about how you can make your philately project unique. Use colorful stamps and write a story that makes your project stand out! Where to Find More Information?

To stay updated, keep visiting these websites:
www.indiapost.gov.in
www.karnatakapost.gov.in

They’ll share important dates, quiz results, project guidelines, and more. You can also ask your school or local post office for help.

Why Is This Program Special?

The Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana is not just about winning a scholarship—it’s about discovering a fun hobby that teaches you about the world. Stamps are like little windows into history, culture, and science. Plus, you get to show off your skills and maybe even become a philately expert one day!

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your application form, start collecting stamps, and get ready to shine in the Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana! Good luck, stamp superstars!