Karnataka Arivu Education Loan Scheme: Eligibility, Documents and How to Apply

Professional courses like MBBS, engineering, pharmacy and law can be expensive, and fees can put them out of reach for many families. To help students from religious minority communities in Karnataka, the state runs the Karnataka Arivu Education Loan Scheme. It offers a low-interest education loan with no collateral. This guide covers the benefits, eligibility, documents, application steps and the deadline you should know about.

Scheme at a Glance

Detail	Information
Scheme name	Karnataka Arivu Education Loan Scheme
Loan amount	Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 5,00,000 per academic year, depending on the course
Interest rate	2% per annum
Collateral	Not required
Repayment period	48 months
Beneficiaries	Minority students of Karnataka
Nodal agency	Karnataka Minorities Development Corporation Limited (KMDCL)
Mode of application	Online

Latest Update: Deadline for Christian Students

The last date for students of the Christian minority community to submit applications and renewals has been extended to 15 November 2026. The 27 June 2026 deadline for other minority communities has already passed for this cycle. If you are eligible and have not applied yet, complete the online application before the extended date.

What Is the Arivu Education Loan Scheme?

The scheme is run by the Karnataka Minorities Development Corporation (KMDC) to help students from notified religious minority communities pursue professional higher education. Students who secure admission through the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) CET or NEET into eligible Government or Private colleges can receive a loan for every academic year of their course.

Once a loan is approved, the money is not paid to the student. It is transferred directly to the bank account of the college through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

Key Benefits

• Affordable interest: A concessional rate of just 2% per annum.
• No collateral: You do not need to pledge any security to get the loan.
• Yearly support: The loan is available every academic year of the course, subject to renewal conditions.
• Direct payment to college: The amount goes straight to the institution’s bank account.
• Wide course coverage: Medical, dental, engineering, architecture, pharmacy, management, law, agriculture, AYUSH and allied courses.
• Govt. and private colleges: Students admitted under the Government Quota through KEA CET/NEET can benefit.

Course-wise Loan Amount

Course	Maximum Loan (Per Year)
MBBS, MD and MS	Rs. 5,00,000
BDS and MDS	Rs. 1,00,000
B.Ayush and M.Ayush	Rs. 50,000
B.E., B.Tech., M.E., M.Tech., B.Arch. and M.Arch.	Rs. 50,000
MBA, MCA and LLB	Tuition fee loan up to Rs. 50,000
B.Sc. in Agriculture, Horticulture, Dairy Technology, Forestry, Veterinary Science, Animal Science, Food Technology, Biotechnology, Fisheries, Sericulture, Home/Community Science, and Food Nutrition & Dietetics	Rs. 50,000
B.Pharm., M.Pharm., Pharm.D and D.Pharm.	Rs. 50,000

Who Is Eligible?

To qualify, an applicant must:

1. Belong to a notified religious minority community in Karnataka, such as Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists or Parsis.
2. Be a permanent resident of Karnataka.
3. Have parents’ annual income from all sources of not more than Rs. 8,00,000.
4. Have secured admission to an eligible professional course through KEA, via CET or NEET.
5. Be admitted to an eligible Government or Private college for one of the notified courses.
6. Have scored at least 60% marks in the qualifying examination. This requirement applies to all minority communities except Christians.

Parents or guardians who are Government employees must submit Form 16 as proof of income.

Documents Required

For a Fresh Application

• Minority Certificate from the competent authority
• Income Certificate from the competent authority
• Copy of Aadhaar card (as residence proof)
• CET and/or NEET admission ticket, as applicable
• SSLC / Class 10 marks card
• Diploma or PUC marks card
• Indemnity Bond
• Student Self-Declaration Form
• Parent Self-Declaration Form

For Loan Renewal

• Bonafide / study certificate
• College fee structure
• Previous year’s passed marks card
• Student bank account details
• Security deposit receipt for 12% of the previously sanctioned loan amount
• Copy of KEA admission order
• Minority Certificate and Income Certificate
• Indemnity Bond, Student Self-Declaration and Parent Self-Declaration

The indemnity bond and self-declaration forms are available on the KMDCL portal.

How to Apply

Applications are made online on the KMDCL Online Application Management Portal.

1. Open the portal and enter the student’s Aadhaar number and mobile number.
2. Verify the mobile number with the OTP you receive.
3. The portal verifies the Aadhaar through OTP authentication.
4. Select the Arivu Education Loan Scheme from the list.
5. Click Apply Online and fill in the student’s personal details, contact details and bank account details.
6. Upload the required documents.
7. Preview the form, then submit it.

What Happens After You Apply

A selection panel scrutinises your application and documents and selects eligible students. The list of selected students is forwarded to the bank or financial institution for sanctioning the loan. The amount is then transferred directly to the college or university. You can track your application status online through the KMDC portal.

Loan Renewal

Students who have already received the loan can apply for renewal every academic year until the course ends, subject to KMDC’s conditions. Parents’ annual income should still not exceed Rs. 8,00,000, and the maximum annual amount for each course stays the same. Remember to keep the 12% security deposit receipt ready.

Repayment

The loan must be repaid within 48 months, at 2% interest per annum. Most of the official information says repayment begins one year after successful completion of the course. One benefits line mentions six months instead, so please confirm the exact start date in the official guidelines or with KMDCL before you sign.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply? Minority students of Karnataka who are admitted through KEA CET/NEET to eligible professional courses and meet the income and marks conditions.

What is the maximum loan amount? Up to Rs. 5,00,000 per year for MBBS, MD and MS. Other courses have lower limits, as shown in the table above.

What is the income limit? Parents’ annual income from all sources must not exceed Rs. 8,00,000.

Is there a minimum marks requirement? Yes, 60% in the qualifying examination, except for students from the Christian community.

What are the interest rate and repayment period? 2% per annum, repayable within 48 months.

What is the last date to apply? 27 June 2026 for the general minority cycle, and 15 November 2026 for Christian students.

Can I renew the loan every year? Yes, until the course is completed, subject to KMDC conditions.

Contact Details

• WhatsApp helpline: 08277799990
• Helpline: 080-22860999
• Email: kmdc.ho.info@karnataka.gov.in, mwdhelpline@karnataka.gov.in, info.kmdc@karnataka.gov.in
• Address: Karnataka Minorities Development Corporation Limited, No. 39-821, Subedhar Chatra Road, Sheshadripuram, Bengaluru

Final Thoughts

The Arivu Education Loan Scheme makes professional education more reachable for minority students in Karnataka with a 2% rate and no collateral. If you qualify, gather your certificates early, apply on the KMDCL portal, and use the helplines if anything is unclear. Eligible Christian students should note that the window closes on 15 November 2026.