Bihar Student Credit Card: Eligibility, Loan Limit and How to Apply

The Bihar Student Credit Card is an education loan of up to ₹4 lakh for Bihar residents who have passed Class 12. The Bihar State Education Finance Corporation lends the money, and since the 2025 revision the loan is interest-free. You apply on the 7 Nishchay (MNSSBY) portal, then verify your documents at your District Registration and Counselling Centre (DRCC).

Key facts

What changed in 2025

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced on 16 September 2025 that loans under the scheme would carry no interest, as Careers360 reported. The Education Department then revised the scheme through resolution no. 3239 dated 4 October 2025, and asked for the portal form and guidelines to be updated on 17 October 2025.

The revised guidelines make the loan interest-free for all applicants. Students already repaying an older loan now repay only the remaining principal, without interest. The maximum repayment period also went up: from 60 to 84 instalments for loans up to ₹2 lakh, and from 84 to 120 instalments above ₹2 lakh.

Who is eligible

• You are a resident of Bihar.
• You passed Class 12 (Class 10 for polytechnic) from an institution recognised in Bihar. Bihar natives who studied at schools in the bordering blocks of Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh or West Bengal also qualify.
• You have taken admission, or been selected for admission, at an institution recognised by the relevant regulator in Bihar, another state or the Centre.
• You are no older than 25 on the date you apply, or 30 for a postgraduate course that needs a degree for entry.
• The course is on the scheme list. It has 42 entries, including BA, BSc, BCom, MA, BCA, MCA, BTech, MBBS, nursing, BBA, MBA, five-year LLB and polytechnic.

You cannot use the scheme for a second degree at the same level. A science graduate cannot fund another bachelor’s degree in arts or commerce, for example. Technical and management courses are exempt, and a graduate can still use it for an MBA or MCA. The portal FAQ adds that you should not be getting another allowance, scholarship, student credit card or education loan from any other source.

What the loan pays for

Tuition and other institute fees go straight to the college by RTGS or NEFT. If you live in the hostel, the hostel money also goes to the institution. If you live outside the hostel, living costs come to your bank account at fixed yearly rates:

Books and study material get a further ₹10,000 a year. The whole package still has to fit inside the ₹4 lakh limit. Use our government education loan schemes page to compare this scheme with central options.

How to apply on the 7 Nishchay portal

1. Open the MNSSBY portal and click New Application Registration.
2. Enter your name, mobile number and email, type the captcha and click Send OTP. Enter the OTP to register.
3. Log in with the user ID and password sent by SMS and email, and set a new password.
4. Fill in the Personal Information page and submit it.
5. Click Next, choose BSCC from the scheme list and click Apply.
6. Complete each tab: personal and income details, course details, loan request and your co-applicant’s details. You can save a draft at any tab.
7. Submit the form and download the acknowledgement PDF. You do not upload any documents online.
8. Visit your DRCC on any working day between 10 am and 6 pm with the signed PDF, photographs, self-attested copies and the originals.

At the DRCC you get a token number. A counter assistant checks your papers, authenticates your Aadhaar, scans the originals and hands them back with a receipt.

Documents checklist

• Aadhaar card of the applicant and the co-applicant
• Class 10, Class 12 and last qualifying exam mark sheets and certificates
• Scholarship or fee-waiver letter, if any
• Bank passbook copy showing branch, account number and IFSC
• Admission letter showing course duration (or a prospectus for colleges outside Bihar)
• Fee structure issued by the institution
• Two passport-size photos each of you and the co-applicant (parent, spouse or guardian)
• Address proof, such as a residence certificate, electricity bill, passport, driving licence or voter ID

After you apply: approval and instalments

The guidelines set a timeline for each stage:

• Third-party verification agency report: within 15 working days.
• Nodal officer’s recommendation to BSEFC: within 2 days of that report.
• BSEFC approval or objection: within 15 working days.
• Release of money after you ask for it: within 10 working days.

Once the loan is sanctioned, BSEFC sends an SMS and email asking you to visit the DRCC to sign the loan agreement. You receive the card there. For each later year or semester, upload your pass certificate or mark sheet and apply at the DRCC for the next instalment. If you leave the course midway, the remaining instalments stop. You can check progress through Application Status on the portal.

Repayment and what happens if you cannot repay

Repayment starts after the moratorium, which lasts until one year after your course ends. You repay only the principal. With no interest, the instalment is the loan divided by the number of months: a ₹2 lakh loan over 84 months works out to about ₹2,381 a month. To see what the same amount would cost as a bank loan, try our EMI calculator.

For other state and central student loan routes, see our Vidya Lakshmi and government schemes guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is the interest rate on the Bihar Student Credit Card?

Nil. The revised guidelines make the loan interest-free for all applicants. Students who took an earlier loan repay only the remaining principal.

How much loan can I get under the scheme?

Up to ₹4 lakh for the whole course, covering fees, living costs if you are not in a hostel, and ₹10,000 a year for books.

What is the age limit for the Bihar Student Credit Card?

You must be 25 or younger on the date you apply. For postgraduate courses that need a degree for admission, the limit is 30.

Can I study outside Bihar with this loan?

Yes, if the institution is recognised by its regulator and the course is on the scheme list. Class 12 must still be from Bihar, or from a school in a bordering block for Bihar natives.

Do I need to upload documents when applying online?

No. You submit the form online and carry self-attested copies and originals to the DRCC for verification.

When do I start repaying?

One year after your course ends. You then get up to 84 monthly instalments for loans up to ₹2 lakh, and up to 120 above that.

How do I contact the BSCC helpline?

Call the toll-free number 1800 3456 444, or visit your district DRCC. The portal lists the address and manager’s phone number for each district.

Sources

• Bihar Student Credit Card Yojana (revised) guidelines — Education Department, Government of Bihar (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• Letter no. 355 dated 17.10.2025 on revised application and guidelines — Education Department, Bihar (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• FAQ — MNSSBY 7 Nishchay portal, Government of Bihar (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• Process flow for Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme — MNSSBY portal (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• DRCC contact details and helpline — MNSSBY portal (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• Bihar Student Credit Card scheme revised: no interest, longer repayment — Careers360 (checked 16 Sep 2026)