PM-Vidya Lakshmi Portal: Eligibility, Application, Documents Required & More

Education is a transformative tool that has the power to unlock opportunities, empower individuals, and shape a brighter future. However, the cost of education can often act as a barrier for many aspiring students. Recognizing this challenge, and as part of its education loan scheme by the government, the Indian government has taken significant strides to facilitate access to education loans and scholarships through initiatives like the PM-Vidya Lakshmi portal.

What is PM-Vidya Lakshmi Portal?

Established in August 2015, under the Pradhan Mantri education loan, the PM-Vidya Lakshmi Portal is an innovative online platform for students to explore, compare, and apply for educational loans and scholarships. This PM education loan scheme by the government aims to make higher education accessible to all.

The PM-Vidya Lakshmi platform, a pivotal element of the PM education loan scheme by government, was launched to simplify the process of availing educational loans and scholarships. It serves as a one-stop solution for students seeking financial assistance to pursue higher education in India or abroad. The portal provides a user-friendly interface, enabling students to browse through various loan schemes and scholarships offered by different banks and government bodies.

To answer what is PM-Vidya Lakshmi education loan, encompasses financial support provided to students to cover various educational expenses, including tuition fees, books, accommodation, and other necessary costs associated with pursuing higher education. This initiative ensures that financial constraints do not hinder a student's educational aspirations.

PM-Vidya Lakshmi Education Loans Eligibility Criteria

The PM-Vidya Lakshmi education loan eligibility is designed to ensure that a broad range of students can avail of this opportunity. By meeting the PM-Vidya Lakshmi education loan eligibility criteria, students can unlock the doors to their future and embark on a journey of learning and growth without the burden of financial constraints. The PM-Vidya Lakshmi loan eligibility is as follows:

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  The applicant should be an Indian citizen.
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  The applicant must have a completion certificate of 10+2 to be eligible for loan application. 
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  The student can avail of the loan only once for either Undergraduate (UG), Post-Graduation (PG), or any integrated courses.
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  The applicant should have secured admission to a recognized institution in India or abroad. The institution should be approved by a competent authority or recognized by a government body.

Key Benefits of the PM-Vidya Lakshmi Portal 

The PM-Vidya Lakshmi loan subsidy provides students with a one-stop platform to access extensive information about different education loan schemes and government scholarships and subsidy schemes. It serves as a centralized hub for education loans and scholarships, offering a single window for students to explore their options. With the PM-Vidya Lakshmi portal, students have the convenience of tracking their education loans anytime and anywhere, ensuring easy accessibility and monitoring.

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  Comprehensive information: The portal offers a comprehensive database of information on various education loan schemes available from different banks and financial institutions. It provides details such as eligibility criteria, interest rates, repayment options, and more. This helps students and parents to make informed decisions regarding their education loan requirements.

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  Loan tracking and status updates: PM-Vidya Lakshmi allows students to track the status of their loan applications in real time. They can check if their application has been approved, rejected, or is still under review. This feature helps students stay updated and plan accordingly.

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  Increased Transparency: The portal promotes transparency by providing a platform where students can compare loan offerings from different banks. It ensures that students have access to all relevant information regarding PM-Vidya Laksmi education loan interest rates, processing fees, and other charges. This enables them to make well-informed decisions about their education loan.

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  Single window system: PM-Vidya Lakshmi portal serves as a single window system for students to apply for education loans. Rather than visiting multiple bank branches individually, students can apply online through the portal. This saves time and effort as they can explore various loan options and submit applications from a centralized platform.

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  Feedback and grievance redressal: The portal allows students to provide feedback on their loan experiences and rate the banks or institutions they have borrowed from. Additionally, it provides a grievance redressal mechanism to address any issues faced by students during the loan application or repayment process.

For students wondering which bank is best for PM-Vidya Lakshmi loan, the answer lies in the portal's ability to compare different banks' offerings. This feature ensures that students can identify the bank that best suits their needs in terms of interest rates, loan terms, and repayment schedules.

How to Use the PM-Vidya Lakshmi Portal?

To use the PM-Vidya Lakshmi portal, students need to follow the given steps on how to log in:

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  Visit the PM-Vidya Lakshmi website.
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  Locate the "Create an account" option in the top right corner.
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  Register on the portal by using a login ID and password.
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  Two separate OTPs will be sent to you on your mobile number and email id. Enter both the OTP on their respective cell and click “submit”. 
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  Now, click on the 'Login' option located at the top right corner of the page and select 'Students Login'.
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  Enter the login credentials you created during the PM-Vidya Lakshmi registration process.
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  Once logged in, you will be directed to the PM-Vidya Lakshmi dashboard.

The PM-Vidya Lakshmi dashboard consists of seven tabs that serve different purposes:

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  View bank loan schemes: Through this tab, you can search and discover suitable education loan schemes. It is important to complete the PM-Vidya Lakshmi education loan application form before applying for specific schemes.

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  Apply for education loan: This tab allows you to fill out the loan application form, which is the initial step for applying for a PM-Vidya Lakshmi education loan. It is a standardized document required for all loan applications on the PM-Vidya Lakshmi portal.

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  Select Bank/s for education loan: Choose from a wide range of banks offering education loans. Compare loan schemes, interest rates, and eligibility criteria to find the best option that suits your educational and financial needs.

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  Track loan application: The Application status tab provides real-time updates on the progress of your education loan application. It displays the current status of your application at each processing stage. The portal also facilitates communication with the bank, ensuring timely updates and information on your dashboard.

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  Apply for interest subvention: Eligible students can apply for interest subvention schemes through the PM-Vidya Lakshmi Portal. Avail of government-approved subsidies that reduce the burden of interest on your education loan during the moratorium period or as per scheme guidelines.

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  Initiate grievances: This tab enables you to raise grievances related to your loan application. You can select the type of grievance you have and submit it through the portal. The concerned bank will review your grievance, and you can track the status of your complaint on the portal.

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  Manage profile: You have the option to edit your profile information on the PM-Vidya Lakshmi portal. However, please note that the details in your profile do not directly impact your education loan application. While filling out the loan application form, you will be required to provide personal information separately.

By understanding the functionality of each tab on the dashboard, you can effectively navigate the PM-Vidya Lakshmi portal for your education loan-related activities.

How to Apply for PM-Vidya Lakshmi Education Loan via PM-Vidya Lakshmi Portal? 

To search and apply for education loans on the PM-Vidya Lakshmi portal dashboard, follow these steps:

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  Start by filling out the Common Education Loan Application Form (CELAF). This is a crucial initial step for your loan application. Access the dashboard and click on the 'Apply for Education Loan' tab.

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  Next, explore various education loan options available from different banks on the portal. Based on their eligibility, requirements, and convenience, you can apply for a suitable loan scheme.
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  Click on a particular scheme that interests you, and you will be redirected to a page providing detailed information about that specific scheme. Review the details carefully to ensure they align with your needs.
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  After the application is submitted, it will be forwarded to the selected bank(s) for further processing. The respective bank will evaluate the application, and upon approval and disbursement, the bank will update the status as ‘Sanctioned’ or ‘Disbursed’ on the PM-Vidya Lakshmi Portal.

Important Note: Keep in mind that you can apply for a loan from a maximum of three banks, and only one scheme per bank can be selected for the application.

How to Fill PM-Vidya Lakshmi Education Loan Form?

As mentioned, you must first fill out the Common Education Loan Application Form (CELAF) to apply for education loans on the PM-Vidya Lakshmi portal. There are 6 sections you must fill in to complete an education loan application. They are:

Basic information:

This section includes three questions: are you pursuing higher studies in India or not; is your parental income more than INR 4,50,000; have you been admitted to a NAAC/NBA accredited university or not? If you are applying for education abroad, the questions regarding your parental income limit and NAAC/NBA.

Personal information:

This section asks for the applicant’s and his/her parent’s details. You must submit the details, including basic personal data of you and your parent/husband, contact details, parental income, PAN number, and your academic score in the last qualifying exam. 

Present banker details:

Here you have to give details of the bank that facilitates your current transactions. In this section, you will see questions for the IFSC code, account details, whether you have any liability with the bank, and whether you are related to the present bank’s or any other bank’s chairman/ director/ employee. 

Course details:

In this section, you must include whether you are admitted in the merit quota or in the management quota, the name of the course and institution, and the starting and ending dates of the course. 

Cost of finance details:

In the cost of finance section, you must give details including the tuition fees, exam fees, books, stationery, equipment or computer, hostel expenses, sundries or travel, the total amount needed, own source or scholarship, and loan required every year. You also have to fill in the details of the security that you pledge and a proposed repayment period.

Upload documents:

This is the final section of the application form where you upload all the mandatory PM-Vidya Laksmi portal documents required. You must upload the following documents in this section: mark sheet, proof of admission to the course, proof of income, schedule of expenses for the course as given by the institution, form 16 (latest), IT returns (latest), copy of land records, undertaking letter if no PAN and Aadhar, and photos of the applicant, parent, and co-borrower. After uploading all these documents you submit the declaration, and your application is completed. 

What are the Documents Required for PM-Vidya Lakshmi Education Loan?

The following are the PM-Vidya Lakshmi education loan documents required:

Proof of identity:

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  Aadhaar Card
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  Passport
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  Voter ID Card
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  Driving License
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  PAN Card

Proof of address:

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  Aadhaar Card
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  Passport
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  Voter ID Card
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  Driving License
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  Utility bills (electricity bill, telephone bill, etc.)
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  Bank statement with address

Admission letter:

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  Offer letter from the educational institution where you have secured admission.

Academic records:

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  Mark sheets of class X, XII, and any previous qualifying exams.
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  Graduation or post-graduation degree certificates (if applicable).
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  Entrance exam scorecards (if required by the bank).
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  Fee structure: A document provided by the educational institution that outlines the tuition fees, hostel fees, or any other relevant expenses for the course.

Income proof:

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  Salary slips or income certificates for salaried individuals.
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  Income tax returns for the previous two or three years for self-employed individuals or business owners.
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  Bank statements for the previous six months.

List of Banks for Education Loans through PM-Vidya Lakshmi Portal

As of December 2024, there are 37 banks registered on the PM-Vidya Lakshmi portal, offering various education loan schemes. One notable participant is the Indian bank, which provides education loans through the PM-Vidya Lakshmi portal. 

What are Some Common Issues While Using PM-Vidya Lakshmi Portal?

Students often encounter issues with the PM-Vidya Lakshmi portal, such as inadequate updates on their loan application status. This can occur when banks fail to provide timely updates or fail to respond within the designated 15-day period. However, it's important to note that this problem is not attributed to the portal itself but rather lies with the banks.

Another challenge students face with PM-Vidya education loan is the requirement to submit collateral documents for loan amounts exceeding INR 7.5 lakhs. This may pose difficulties for students studying abroad, as INR 7.5 lakhs might not be sufficient for their educational expenses. Additionally, students who lack the necessary collateral security or mandatory documents have limited options for negotiation on the portal.

To address these challenges, GyanDhan offers assistance in securing education loans for studying abroad, with or without collateral. GyanDhan assesses your profile and connects you with suitable lenders while negotiating on your behalf to obtain the best education loan product. You can check your education loan eligibility and reach out to them for any inquiries related to studying abroad.

In summary, the PM-Vidya Lakshmi portal's limitations in providing comprehensive loan updates and restrictions on collateral requirements and negotiation options can be overcome by seeking assistance from platforms like GyanDhan.

Frequently Asked Questions