NPCL Seedhi Scholarship: How a Power Company Invests in Its Community

Some of the most meaningful CSR programmes are the ones closest to home. Noida Power Company Limited (NPCL), which supplies electricity to Greater Noida, has chosen to invest in the education of young people in the very communities it serves. The result is the NPCL Seedhi Scholarship Kind Circle – a CSR scholarship and an employee giving programme, side by side.

Two initiatives, one circle

The NPCL Seedhi Scholarship Kind Circle is NPCL's education giving community on Kind Circle, run with Buddy4Study. It brings together:

1. The NPCL Seedhi Scholarship – NPCL's flagship CSR scholarship for college students from Greater Noida.
2. The NPCL Seedhi Employee Referral Programme – where NPCL employees donate and refer deserving students from their own networks.

The NPCL Seedhi Scholarship (CSR)

This scholarship supports bright students from Greater Noida whose families struggle to pay for higher education.

Support

Selected scholars receive ₹50,000 per year, continuing until they complete their degree, subject to renewal conditions. The scholarship can cover tuition, books, exam fees, project and lab needs, transport, essential living costs for students studying outside Greater Noida, and other education-related needs.

Who can apply

• Permanent residents of Greater Noida whose family is an NPCL electricity consumer
• Full-time undergraduate or postgraduate students, in professional or general courses, at a recognised institution in India
• At least 75% marks in Class 10, Class 12 and the previous year
• Total family income of up to ₹3,00,000 a year
• A recommendation letter from a school or college principal or professor

Preference is given to students from rural or underserved backgrounds, girls, first-generation learners, students with disabilities, orphans and children of single parents, students in crisis, and those at top institutions such as the IITs, NITs, IIMs and AIIMS.

Renewal

Scholarships are renewed each year based on academic performance, continued financial need and an annual review.

The Employee Referral Programme

NPCL's second initiative puts its people at the heart of giving. Employees contribute to the circle and refer meritorious students they know who cannot afford their education. Referred students apply on Buddy4Study with a reference code and go through the same verification as everyone else.

• Support: ₹15,000 towards education costs – fees, hostel, books, stationery, travel or coaching
• For: students in Class 11, Class 12 or an undergraduate course
• Eligibility: at least 60% in Class 10 and family income up to ₹3 lakh a year

This model is inspired by employee giving circles such as the EY GDS Employee Kind Circle. Read more about how employee giving works.

The impact so far

The circle has already awarded scholarships to its first group of ten scholars from the Greater Noida region, with most receiving ₹50,000 each. Every disbursal is recorded on the circle page, so NPCL, its employees and the public can see exactly where the money went.

Why this model works

• Rooted in community. The scholarship supports young people in the area NPCL serves every day.
• CSR and employees together. The company provides a large, structured programme; employees add their own giving and local knowledge.
• Transparent. Verified students, direct payments and a public record of every disbursal.
• Long-term. Support continues through the degree, giving students the security to focus on their studies.

What students can use the scholarship for

One of the strengths of the NPCL Seedhi Scholarship is how practical it is. It is not limited to tuition. Students can use it for books, exam fees, lab and project costs, transport and, for those studying away from home, essential living costs. That flexibility matters: for many students, it is these "other" costs that force them to drop out, even when tuition is covered.

Frequently asked questions

Who can apply for the NPCL Seedhi Scholarship?
Students from Greater Noida whose families are NPCL consumers, studying full-time at undergraduate or postgraduate level, with at least 75% marks and family income up to ₹3 lakh a year.

Is the scholarship renewed every year?
Yes, based on academic performance, continued need and an annual review.

Who makes the final selection?
Final selection rests with NPCL as the scholarship provider, after verification by the Kind Circle team.

Can your company do the same?

Yes. Any company can run a CSR scholarship, an employee giving circle, or both, on Kind Circle – focused on the communities, regions or courses that matter to its business. Read our guide to CSR scholarship programmes or write to kind@buddy4study.com.

Support the circle

Anyone who shares NPCL's belief in the young people of Greater Noida can contribute to the NPCL Seedhi Scholarship Kind Circle, with a one-time or monthly gift. Every donor receives an official receipt from Buddy4Study India Foundation.