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Kerala's EcoSense is distributing 45,880 scholarships of Rs 1,500 each across 986 local bodies after around 5 lakh students from nearly 9,000 schools participated. The target is 50,000 scholarships, with hands-on segregation, composting, reuse and resource-recovery learning.
WHY IN NEWS
On 14 September 2026, MoHUA highlighted Kerala's Student Green Brigade Scholarship-EcoSense as a large youth behaviour-change model under the broader SBM-U 2.0 vision of Garbage Free Cities.
TOP DATA & FACTS
- EcoSense aims to provide scholarships to 50,000 students in Kerala.
- In 2026, scholarships are being distributed to 45,880 students.
- The programme spans 986 Local Self Government Institutions.
- Around 5 lakh students participated.
- Nearly 9,000 schools took part.
- Each selected student receives Rs 1,500 and a certificate.
- Selection provides 50 scholarships per Grama Panchayat.
- Selection provides 75 scholarships per Municipality.
- Selection provides 100 scholarships per Corporation.
- Eligible cohorts include Classes 6-7, Classes 8-9 and first-year Higher Secondary/Vocational Higher Secondary students.
- The initiative is led by Kerala's Local Self Government Department with the General Education Department.
- Activities include source segregation, composting, repair shops, swap shops, household visits, MCF/RRF visits and Green Assemblies.
PRELIMS
- EcoSense aims to provide scholarships to 50,000 students in Kerala.
- In 2026, scholarships are being distributed to 45,880 students.
- The programme spans 986 Local Self Government Institutions.
- Around 5 lakh students participated.
- Nearly 9,000 schools took part.
- Each selected student receives Rs 1,500 and a certificate.
- Selection provides 50 scholarships per Grama Panchayat.
- Selection provides 75 scholarships per Municipality.
QUICK REVISION
- Authority/theme: Environment / Urban Governance.
- Anchor fact: EcoSense aims to provide scholarships to 50,000 students in Kerala.
- Second recall: In 2026, scholarships are being distributed to 45,880 students.
PROBABLE OBJECTIVE QUESTION
Consider the following statements:
- SBM-U 2.0 includes behavioural change alongside waste-management infrastructure.
- Kerala's EcoSense initiative engages students in waste-management practices.