BIPF felicitates PGDS scholarship recipients for academic year 2025–26

Bhubaneswar, Dec 26: The Bansidhar & Ila Panda Foundation (BIPF) felicitated the recipients of the Professor Ghanashyam Dash Scholarship for Higher Education (PGDS) for the academic year 2025–26, reaffirming its commitment to nurturing meritorious students through financial aid and mentorship.

This year, the scholarship has been awarded to five outstanding students pursuing professional degrees. Four recipients are enrolled in MBBS programmes—Chumki Jena (AIIMS Bhubaneswar), Annapurna Chakrabarty (SCB Medical College & Hospital, Cuttack), Gyana Ranjan Behera (Shri Jagannath Medical College & Hospital, Puri), and Dhableswar Pujari (Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College & Hospital, Koraput). Additionally, Naba Jyoti Giri has been selected while pursuing B.Tech in Computer Science at NIT Rourkela, Odisha.

The PGDS scholarship is awarded annually to meritorious students pursuing professional degrees in engineering, medicine, STEM, and liberal arts. Under the scheme, selected candidates receive financial assistance covering up to 90 per cent of academic fees and eligible expenses for a four-year course, amounting to up to ₹6 lakh per recipient.

Instituted in 2005 by IMFA, the scholarship is named after the renowned historian Late Professor Ghanashyam Dash, father of late Ila Panda. The initiative aims to promote equal opportunity by easing financial barriers to higher education.

Since 2016, BIPF has been administering the scholarship and has further enriched it by introducing “UTSAAH”, a structured mentorship programme. Through over 20 modules, scholars receive mentoring, coaching, and virtual sessions focused on academic excellence, time management, career planning, mental wellness, AI skills, life and social skills, networking, leadership development, and oratory skills.

Congratulating the recipients, Shaifalika Panda, Trustee and Founder CEO of BIPF, said, “Education is fundamental; every individual educated uplifts families and transforms communities. By supporting meritorious students, we empower them to become contributors to national growth. Our mentorship programme further equips them with leadership qualities and agile skills to make informed choices in a rapidly evolving world.”

The PGDS scholarship continues to stand as a flagship initiative of BIPF, fostering talent and enabling promising students to achieve their academic and professional aspirations.