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Defence Families Only Army · Navy · Air Force · CG · CAPF
Shaurya Education Loan
Your parents serve the nation - SBI supports your future. Get interest rates starting from 8.9%, a low 5% loan margin, and a 6-month mortgage grace period, with loans up to ₹1.5 crore available. Apply in just 5 minutes.
- ✔ Only 5% margin - not 10%
- ✔ 6-month mortgage grace period
- ✔ Apply from place of posting
- ✔ Pre-approval before visa
- ✔ Zero foreclosure charges
₹1.5 Cr
Max abroad loan
8.9%
Interest Rate Starting from (secured)
5%
Margin money only
Get Free Loan Assistance
Our expert will call you within 1 working day
SBI Shaurya Education Loan is a specialised SBI education loan exclusively for wards and spouses of Defence (Army, Navy, Air Force), Indian Coast Guard, and Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel. For abroad studies it offers up to ₹1.5 crore at floating rate starting from 8.9% p.a. (secured). Key advantages over standard loans: only 5% margin money, a unique 6-month grace period to create the property mortgage after sanction, and the ability to apply from the co-borrower's current place of posting - no travel required.
Max abroad: ₹1.5 crore
Rate: 8.9%–9.4%
Margin: only 5%
6-month mortgage grace
Any recognised university
Loan takeover permitted
Check your eligibility in 3 questions
Answer below - get your instant Shaurya eligibility verdict
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Who qualifies
SBI Shaurya Education Loan Eligibility
SBI education loan eligibility for the SBI Shaurya scheme is designed exclusively for the wards and spouses of India’s defence and security personnel. Here’s a clear breakdown of the eligible categories and the required salary account criteria.
Indian Army
All ranks - Generals to Jawans. The co-borrower must hold a Salary account with SBI.
Eligible ✓ Indian Navy
All ranks. DSP account with SBI mandatory. Salary must remain with SBI throughout the full loan tenure.
Eligible ✓ Indian Air Force
All ranks. Defence Salary Package (DSP) Diamond/Platinum account with SBI required. Can apply at permanent home or place of posting.
Eligible ✓ Indian Coast Guard
Indian Coast Guard Salary Package (ICGSP) Diamond/Platinum account with SBI required. Same benefits as Army/Navy/Air Force.
Eligible ✓ CRPF · BSF · CISF · ITBP · SSB · NSG
All CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces). CAPF Salary Package account with SBI required at Diamond/Platinum level.
Eligible ✓ Student eligibility criteria
- Ward (child) or spouse of eligible defence/CG/CAPF personnel
- Indian citizen, minimum 18 years of age
- Confirmed admission to a recognised foreign university - full-time course
- Minimum 50% marks in qualifying examinations
- UG, PG, PhD or professional course (MBA, MS, CIMA, CPA, aviation etc.)
- Online-only or distance education programs - not eligible
- Short-term certificate courses under 1 year - generally not covered
Co-borrower requirements (most critical)
- Must be the service personnel (parent/spouse) - not a third party
- The co-borrower must hold a Salary account with SBI
- Can apply at permanent home branch OR current place of posting branch
- Salary account with another bank (PNB, HDFC etc.) - must transfer to SBI first
- Regular SBI account (not DSP/ICGSP category) - does not qualify
If the co-borrower's salary is not currently with SBI: Submit salary account transfer request to your unit's Paymaster/DDO → DDO orders change to SBI → SBI activates DSP account. This typically takes 2–4 weeks. Apply for the loan immediately after the account is activated.
Why Shaurya beats everything else
4 Exclusive Shaurya Education Loan Benefits no other Scheme Offers
These are not marginal improvements. Each benefit translates directly into lakhs of rupees saved or weeks of hassle removed - specifically for defence families.
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Only 5% margin - not 10%
Global Ed-Vantage requires a 10% margin, while Shaurya requires just 5%. On a ₹60L loan, GEV needs ₹6L from the family, while Shaurya requires only ₹3L. You keep ₹3L more in your bank
₹3.0L saved in margin on a ₹60L loan
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6-month mortgage grace period
Standard loans require the property mortgage before disbursement. For defence families where the co-borrower may be posted in Ladakh or a border region, this is practically impossible. Shaurya gives you 6 months after sanction to execute the mortgage.
Only education loan with post-sanction mortgage window
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Apply from place of posting
All other education loans require the co-applicant to apply at their permanent home SBI branch. Under Shaurya, the defence personnel can apply at either the permanent home branch OR the SBI branch nearest their current place of posting.
No travel from posting required - unique to Shaurya
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Loan takeover from any other bank
If your family has an education loan with HDFC Credila, Axis, or any NBFC at 12–15%, you can transfer it to Shaurya at ~8.9–10.15%. On ₹50L remaining balance over 8 years, a 3% rate cut saves approximately ₹9.7L.
Transfer existing high-rate loan - save up to ₹9.7L
Apart from SBI Shaurya, SBI Global Ed-Vantage is another popular SBI education loan scheme designed for students planning to pursue full-time higher education at recognised universities abroad.
Your total Shaurya advantage - live calculation
Adjust your loan amount to see exactly how much more you save with Shaurya vs Global Ed-Vantage secured
Shaurya margin (5%)
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self-fund required
GEV margin (10%)
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self-fund required
Margin saving
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stays in your bank
Total financial advantage
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margin + interest saving
Interest rates 2026
Shaurya Education Loan Interest Rate - Secured, Unsecured
8.9% p.a.
Female students - secured
9.4% p.a.
Male students - secured
8.9% p.a.
Female students - unsecured
9.4% p.a.
Male students - unsecured
How much can I borrow
Shaurya Education Loan for Abroad - Loan limits, Margin and Collateral rules
Shaurya's 5% margin and 6-month mortgage grace make it the most financially accessible secured education loan for eligible defence families.
Loan limits
Studies abroadUp to ₹1.5 crore
Studies in IndiaUp to ₹40 lakh
Collateral-free limitUp to ₹7.5 lakh
Top-up loan facilityAvailable (within limit)
Margin money
Up to ₹4 lakhNil
Above ₹4 lakh (India)5% of total cost
Above ₹4 lakh (Abroad)5% of total cost
GEV secured (for comparison)10% of total cost
Collateral rules
Up to ₹7.5LNo collateral
Above ₹7.5LProperty / FD / LIC (100–110%)
Mortgage creation window6 months after sanction
Third-party collateralAccepted
What's covered
Shaurya Education Loan Eligible Courses for Study Abroad
Unlike Global Ed-Vantage Unsecured which is restricted to 100 listed universities, Shaurya accepts any recognised foreign university - no list restriction.
Degree programs
Full-time UG, PG, and PhD at any recognised foreign university
MBA, MS, MCA, MIM, MEM
All disciplines - engineering, medicine, management, law, sciences
MBA, MS, MCA, MIM, MEM
All disciplines - engineering, medicine, management, law, sciences
Professional courses
CIMA London (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants)
CPA USA (Certified Public Accountant)
ICWA, CA, CFA (international)
Medical degrees at recognised institutions abroad
CPA USA (Certified Public Accountant)
ICWA, CA, CFA (international)
Medical degrees at recognised institutions abroad
Specialised courses
Commercial pilot training (DGCA-approved)
Aeronautical engineering programs
Shipping / maritime courses
Nursing programs at recognised institutions
Aeronautical engineering programs
Shipping / maritime courses
Nursing programs at recognised institutions
No university list restriction - key Shaurya advantage
Global Ed-Vantage Unsecured is limited to 100 SBI-listed premier universities only. SBI Shaurya accepts admission to any recognised foreign university - whether it is on SBI's premier list or not. A defence family's child admitted to a mid-ranked US university not on SBI's list still qualifies for the full ₹1.5 crore at Shaurya's preferential rates.
Full expense coverage
What does SBI Shaurya Education Loan Cover
Shaurya covers more than any standard education loan.
Tuition & academic fees
College / university tuition fees
Hostel / boarding charges
Examination fees
Library fees
Laboratory fees
Hostel / boarding charges
Examination fees
Library fees
Laboratory fees
Travel & living
Airfare / travel expenses
Accommodation abroad
TCS on LRS remittances
Contingency expenses (up to 5% of tuition)
Accommodation abroad
TCS on LRS remittances
Contingency expenses (up to 5% of tuition)
Study materials
Books and study material
Equipment and instruments
Laptop / computer
Uniforms
(all capped at 20% of tuition)
Equipment and instruments
Laptop / computer
Uniforms
(all capped at 20% of tuition)
Project & thesis
Study tours
Project work expenses
Thesis-related expenses
Research costs
(capped at 20% of tuition)
Project work expenses
Thesis-related expenses
Research costs
(capped at 20% of tuition)
Institutional deposits
Caution deposit (refundable)
Building fund
Institutional receipts required
(capped at 10% of tuition)
Building fund
Institutional receipts required
(capped at 10% of tuition)
NOT covered by Shaurya education loan
Family travel costs Vehicle (car) purchase Personal shopping Non-course activities Expenses beyond CoA letter
Plan your finances
Shaurya Education Loan EMI Calculator - Calculate Monthly Instalment
Adjust the sliders to see your exact EMI, total interest, and total repayment. Includes moratorium impact.
SBI Education Loan EMI Calculator
Adjust any slider - results update instantly
Moratorium interest payment strategy
Monthly EMI (after moratorium)
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Principal borrowed
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SI during moratorium
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Interest during repayment
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Total repayment
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Moratorium ends
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Loan fully repaid
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Moratorium period (simple interest only)
Repayment period (EMIs)
Amortisation Schedule
| Year / Phase | Opening balance | Interest charged | Principal paid | Total paid this year | Closing balance |
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Amortisation table updates automatically when you change the sliders above. Use the button to open in Excel or Google Sheets.
Document checklist
SBI Shaurya Education Loan Documents Required
Carry originals + 2 sets of self-attested copies. The co-applicant defence documents are what distinguish Shaurya from standard loan applications.
Student documents
- Aadhaar card (original + copy)
- PAN card
- Valid passport (mandatory for abroad)
- Class 10 marksheet + certificate
- Class 12 marksheet + certificate
- Graduation marksheets (semester-wise)
- GMAT / GRE / IELTS / TOEFL scorecard
- Admission / offer letter (final, not provisional)
- Fee structure / Cost of Attendance (CoA) letter
- Passport-size photographs (2)
- Gap certificate (self-declaration if applicable)
Co-applicant - defence-specific documents
- Aadhaar + PAN card
- DSP / ICGSP / CAPF Salary Package account proof (Diamond/Platinum category)
- Latest 3 months salary slips
- Service ID card / Defence identity proof
- Posting order (if applying from posting location)
- Form 16 / ITR (last 2 years)
- 6-month bank statement (DSP salary account)
- Relationship proof (birth certificate / marriage certificate)
- Passport-size photographs (2)
Collateral documents (above ₹7.5L)
- Original title deed / sale deed
- Encumbrance certificate (EC) - last 13 years
- Latest property tax receipt
- Approved building plan (local authority)
- Property valuation report (SBI-approved valuer)
- NOC from housing society (if flat)
- For FD: Original FD receipt + lien letter
- For LIC: Policy document + assignment deed
Shaurya advantage: You have 6 months after sanction to execute the mortgage registration. No emergency preparation needed.
Step-by-step process
How to Apply for SBI Shaurya Education Loan
Apply online through WeMakeScholars - SBI's official partner. Minimum visits, expert guidance at every step, and posting-branch flexibility.
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Expert Calls You
Within 1 working day. We check eligibility & guide on documents
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Branch Assignment
We assign you to the fastest SBI branch - not just the nearest
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Loan Sanctioned 🎉
Visit the Branch to receive your sanction letter & disbursement
What to do if salary account is not with SBI: Submit a salary account transfer request to your unit's Paymaster / Drawing & Disbursing Officer (DDO) → DDO issues order to change salary to SBI Defence Salary Package account → SBI activates Diamond/Platinum DSP account within 5–10 working days → Apply for Shaurya loan immediately after activation. This process typically takes 2–4 weeks.
After graduation
Shaurya Education Loan Repayment - Moratorium, Prepayment
Same repayment structure as all SBI education loans - but the Shaurya mortgage grace period uniquely extends the planning window for defence families.
Phase 1
Moratorium
Course duration. No EMI. Simple interest accrues. Use Shaurya's 6-month mortgage window if not yet done.
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Phase 2
Grace period
6 months post-course. No EMI. Time to find employment. Simple interest continues.
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Phase 3
Repayment
EMIs begin. Up to 15 years. Zero prepayment penalty.
Zero
Foreclosure / prepayment charges - repay early, save interest
Simple
Interest during moratorium - not compound - significantly lower cost than NBFCs
Already have a loan?
Transfer your existing education loan to SBI Shaurya - save lakhs in interest
If you currently have an education loan from a private bank or NBFC at 12–15%, you can transfer it to Shaurya at 8.9%. The interest saving over the remaining tenure can be substantial.
Who should consider loan takeover?
Defence families who took an education loan from HDFC Credila, Axis Bank, ICICI, Avanse, Auxilo, or any NBFC at rates of 12–15% before knowing about Shaurya.
Process:
- Collect existing loan statement + original sanction letter
- Collect NOC from existing lender (if available - not mandatory)
- Approach SBI branch with Shaurya eligibility (DSP account)
- SBI pays off existing lender - new Shaurya loan created
- No foreclosure penalty from SBI side for the new loan
Important: The existing lender may charge a foreclosure fee on the old loan. For most NBFCs charging 2–4%, the saving from Shaurya's lower rate outweighs the one-time foreclosure cost within 12–18 months.
Takeover saving calculator
See how much you save by switching to Shaurya
Remaining loan balance -
Current interest rate -
Remaining tenure -
Total interest saved by switching to Shaurya (8.9%)
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Defence family stories
What defence families say about SBI Shaurya Education Loan
Each story below validates a specific Shaurya benefit - not just generic testimonials.
★★★★★
RV
Rajan Verma
₹55L sanctioned | Secured | 9.65%
"My father was posted in Ladakh when we applied. We got the sanction in 12 days. The 6-month mortgage grace was everything - my father came home 4 months later and we registered the mortgage then. No other bank would have waited. Nobody told me about Shaurya at first - WeMakeScholars pointed us to it."
✓ 6-month mortgage grace used | ✓ 12-day sanction
★★★★★
PM
Priya Menon
₹42L sanctioned | Secured | 9.15%
"My father's posting was in Vizag. We applied at the SBI branch near his naval base - not our home in Pune. Everything was processed locally. Saved us from 3 cross-country trips. Got 9.15% as a girl student. HDFC had quoted us 12.5% for the same amount."
✓ Applied from posting | ✓ 9.15% girl rate
★★★★★
AS
Ankit Sharma
₹48L - Loan takeover from NBFC | 9.65%
"We didn't know CRPF qualified for Shaurya. We had ₹48L outstanding with Avanse at 14.2%. WeMakeScholars told us to transfer - saved us approximately ₹11L over 9 remaining years. The CAPF salary package account took 3 weeks to activate with SBI, then loan processed in 16 days."
✓ CAPF eligible | ✓ ₹11L saved via loan takeover
★★★★★
KT
Kavya Thakur
₹38L sanctioned | Secured | 9.15%
"ETH Zurich is not on SBI's 100-institution list - so Global Ed-Vantage Unsecured would not have worked. Shaurya had no list restriction. ₹38L at 9.15% (girl student) with only 5% margin - we self-funded ₹2L instead of what would have been ₹6L under GEV Secured."
✓ No university list restriction | ✓ Only 5% margin
★★★★★
SR
Siddharth Rao
₹45L sanctioned | Secured | 9.65%
"My father retired from the Army 4 years ago - his pension account is with SBI. I wasn't sure if I qualified for Shaurya. The WeMakeScholars expert confirmed retired personnel with SBI pension accounts are eligible. Sanctioned in 15 days at 9.65%."
✓ Retired personnel eligible | ✓ Better rate than GEV
★★★★
NB
Neha Bhat
₹72L sanctioned | Secured | 9.15%
"BSF counts as CAPF - that was the first thing to confirm. ₹72L for LSE at 9.15% as a girl student. The 5% margin saved us ₹8L in self-funding vs what GEV would have needed. One issue: our local SBI branch had not heard of Shaurya. WeMakeScholars assigned us to a Scale 3 branch which processed it correctly."
✓ BSF/CAPF eligible | ✓ ₹8L margin saved
4.9★
Rating from defence applicants
2,000+
Defence families funded
6
Service branches covered
14 days
Average approval time
₹11L
Avg saving vs private banks
Discuss with the Education loan team
Every question answered
SBI Shaurya Education Loan FAQ - 21 questions across 7 categories
Covers eligibility edge cases, rate queries, collateral rules, application process and more - specific to defence families.
SBI Shaurya Education Loan is a special education loan scheme for wards and spouses of Defence (Army, Navy, Air Force), Indian Coast Guard, and CAPF personnel. For study abroad, it offers up to ₹1.5 crore at floating rates starting from 9.15% p.a. (secured). Key exclusive benefits: only 5% margin money, 6-month post-sanction mortgage grace period, and ability to apply from the co-borrower's place of posting.
Yes. All Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel - CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, SSB, NSG - are eligible for Shaurya. The co-borrower must hold a CAPF Salary Package account at Diamond or Platinum category with SBI, and the salary must remain with SBI for the full loan tenure.
Yes, provided the retired co-borrower's pension account is with SBI and remains with SBI for the full loan tenure. Confirm the pension account is under the Defence Salary Package (DSP) category at Diamond/Platinum level. Approach your SBI branch to verify eligibility for the pension account holder scenario.
The salary or pension account must be transferred to SBI under the Defence Salary Package (DSP/ICGSP/CAPF) category before applying for Shaurya. Submit a salary transfer request to your unit's Paymaster/DDO → DDO orders the change → SBI activates DSP account within 2–3 weeks. Apply for Shaurya immediately after activation.
Yes. The co-borrower must hold a Diamond or Platinum category Defence Salary Package (DSP/ICGSP/CAPF) account with SBI - not just a regular SBI savings account. If the account is not at Diamond/Platinum level, visit the SBI branch to check if an upgrade is possible based on salary structure.
As of 2026, the Shaurya secured rate starts at approximately 9.65% p.a. for male students and 9.15% p.a. for female students (floating, EBR-linked). An additional 0.5% concession applies for students who opt for SBI RiNn Raksha insurance. Unsecured rates are approximately 0.60% higher than the secured rate. Rates are reviewed periodically - verify at sbi.co.in before applying.
SBI views Defence Salary Package accounts as the lowest credit risk in its retail portfolio - stable government salary, pension guarantee, and institutional backing make default probability very low. SBI passes this reduced risk to the borrower as a lower spread, resulting in approximately 1% lower rate than Global Ed-Vantage secured for the same loan amount.
Up to ₹1.5 crore for study abroad under the Shaurya scheme. Up to ₹40 lakh for studies in India. Above ₹40 lakh abroad requires liquid collateral or property (100–110% of loan value). For loans up to ₹7.5 lakh, no collateral is needed.
SBI has specifically structured the Shaurya scheme to reduce financial barriers for defence families. The margin requirement is 5% (for loans above ₹4 lakh) vs 15% under Global Ed-Vantage secured. On a ₹60L loan, this means the family needs to arrange just ₹3.15L instead of ₹9L - a saving of ₹5.85L in upfront cash.
Yes - Shaurya has a top-up loan facility. If the student commences a second specialised professional course during the moratorium period of the first loan, a top-up education loan can be sanctioned within the overall limit (₹40L India / ₹1.5Cr abroad). This is subject to security requirements at the aggregate loan limit.
Yes. This is one of Shaurya's most important features. You can apply at the SBI branch near the co-borrower's current place of posting - not necessarily the permanent home branch. There is no need for the service personnel to take leave or travel home just for the loan application.
For loans up to ₹7.5L (no collateral): 7–10 working days from complete file submission. For collateral-based loans above ₹7.5L: 14–20 working days, including property valuation (5–7 days) and legal opinion (5–7 days). Start the application at least 60 days before your university fee payment deadline.
The initial application can be submitted online through WeMakeScholars or SBI YONO app. However, document submission and loan agreement signing require a branch visit - specifically a Scale 2 or Scale 3 SBI branch that handles Shaurya. Apply online first; we assign the right branch for you.
After the Shaurya loan is sanctioned, the co-borrower has 6 calendar months to formally execute and register the property mortgage at the sub-registrar office. Standard loans require this BEFORE disbursement. The 6-month grace is unique to Shaurya - specifically designed for defence families where the service personnel may be posted away from their permanent residence.
Accepted: Residential property (house/flat), commercial property, open plot with boundary, fixed deposit (FD), LIC/life insurance policy, government bonds, and third-party collateral from relatives or friends. Not accepted: Agricultural land. The collateral value must cover 100–110% of the loan amount.
No. Agricultural land is not accepted as collateral under any SBI education loan scheme, including Shaurya. If the family's only property is agricultural land, explore either the collateral-free route (up to ₹7.5L) or ask a relative who owns non-agricultural property to offer third-party collateral.
EMIs start after the moratorium period ends - which is your course duration plus 6 months. For a 2-year MS: moratorium = 2.5 years → first EMI due 2.5 years after first disbursement. If the student does not find employment within the grace period, contact the SBI branch before missing any payment to discuss restructuring options.
Zero. There are no prepayment or foreclosure charges on any SBI education loan, including Shaurya. You can repay partially or fully at any time without penalty. This is a major advantage over NBFCs which typically charge 2–5% foreclosure fees.
Yes. Under Section 80E of the Income Tax Act, 100% of the interest paid on the Shaurya education loan is deductible from taxable income - with no upper cap. This deduction is available for up to 8 consecutive assessment years from the year repayment begins. Available only under the old tax regime.
Yes - loan takeover from any other financial institution to SBI Shaurya is explicitly permitted. Bring your existing loan statement, original sanction letter, and lender details to the SBI branch. SBI pays off the existing lender and creates a new Shaurya loan at preferential rates. The existing lender may charge a foreclosure fee - factor this into your saving calculation.
Depends on your remaining balance, current rate, and remaining tenure. At a typical 3% rate reduction (e.g. from 13% to 9.65%), on ₹40L remaining balance over 8 years, you save approximately ₹7.8L in total interest. Use the takeover calculator on this page to calculate your exact saving.