Jharkhand boosts digital literacy: Laptops and smartphones for board exam toppers

As school students across Jharkhand begin to appear for board exams starting today, here is a news that will certainly encourage them to study harder! With an aim of boosting digital literacy in the state, Jharkhand has announnced a huge reward for students who will top the 10th and 12th board exams.

The Government of Jharkhand recently announced a cash award of Rs 3 lakh each for the state toppers of the Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC), CBSE and ICSE/ISC board exams. However, this is not all. If you are a board topper in the state, you are also entitled to get a laptop worth Rs 60,000 and a mobile phone worth Rs 20,000. This announcement was recently made by the government led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

Prize money of Rs 1-3 lakhs plus laptop and smartphone

According to state Education Minister Jagarnath Mahato, students securing top 3 positions in JAC, CBSE and ICSE boards would be rewarded by the government. Students securing first position, will get a laptop and smartphone along with Rs 3 lakhs prize money. Students getting the second position will be given a prize money of Rs 2 lakh along with laptop and smartphone. Students securing the third position will get a laptop and smartphone along with prize money of Rs 1 lakh. This initiative by the government is aimed at boosting digital literacy in the state.

Last year’s 68 toppers to be awarded

The education department has prepared a list of 68 such meritorious students. The awardees include 25 students from JAC Board, 20 from CBSE Board and 23 from ICSE Board. These children will be honoured by the Department of School Education and Literacy. The abovementioned awards will be given to the toppers in the board exams of 2022 and the award ceremony is being planned within March-April 2023. The department is awaiting the chief minister’s approval for fixing a date for the award ceremony for felicitating the toppers.

Board exams begin on 14th March 2023

Meanwhile, almost 8 lakh students have registered for the 10th and 12th exams this year, out of which around 4.50 lakh students are for matriculation and the rest for intermediate exams. The board examinations are slated to commence on 14th March 2023. The matriculation exam will continue till 3rd April while the intermediate exam ends on 5th April.