Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu recently announced a sweeping enhancement of the Dorjee Khandu Merit Scholarship during his visit to Tawang, marking one of the state’s most significant recent pushes to incentivise academic excellence.

The scholarship — instituted in memory of the late former chief minister Dorjee Khandu — has been raised dramatically, with awards for the top three meritorious students now set at ₹5 lakh, ₹3 lakh, and ₹2 lakh, a sharp jump from the earlier ₹35,000, ₹23,000, and ₹15,000. The revised structure will take effect from this academic year.

Khandu made the announcement while inaugurating newly constructed academic and administrative blocks at Tawang’s Dorjee Khandu Government College. Praising the institution for its rapid rise since its establishment in 2016, he commended Principal Dr. Yeshi Gyetsen and the faculty for transforming it into one of the state’s most disciplined and high-performing colleges.

Dedicating the new facilities to students and staff, the chief minister said the expansion strengthens Arunachal Pradesh’s implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, with an emphasis on improved access, quality, equity, and accountability across the higher education sector.

He also assured that proposals for additional teaching and non-teaching posts are being processed, and directed the Tawang deputy commissioner to fast-track furniture procurement, boundary works, and other campus requirements. Further, Khandu proposed the development of a dedicated sports ground near Tawang Stadium, affirming long-term, phased infrastructure upgrades.

Reiterating discipline as the foundation of success, Khandu urged students to uphold strong academic and personal conduct. The college has consistently demonstrated exceptional performance, recording more than 95 percent pass rates, including consecutive years of 100 percent results.