Soumyabrata Sengupta Collaborates with Government of India to Launch CQMH Abdul Hamid Scholarship Initiative

Kolkata | September 15, 2026

Author, media researcher and entrepreneur Soumyabrata Sengupta has collaborated with the Government of India to launch the CQMH Abdul Hamid Scholarship Initiative, a new scholarship programme aimed at helping talented students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds prepare for India’s premier defence entrance examinations.

As part of the initiative, Sengupta has already committed ₹25 crore towards the scholarship programme and has pledged to contribute additional funds, if required, to ensure that deserving students are not prevented from pursuing their aspirations because of financial constraints.

The scholarship is designed primarily for academically strong students graduating from schools across India, with particular focus on institutions such as Army Public Schools, Sainik Schools, Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) and Rashtriya Military Schools (RMS), while remaining accessible to eligible students from other schools as well.

Under the initiative, deserving students from underprivileged backgrounds who perform strongly in their Class XII examinations will be eligible for financial assistance towards enrolment in specialised coaching and preparatory programmes for competitive defence examinations, including examinations and selection processes associated with the National Defence Academy (NDA), Indian Naval Academy (INA) and Officers Training Academy (OTA).

The objective is to address a persistent barrier faced by talented young Indians: the gap between academic potential and access to quality competitive-examination preparation.

For many students, the cost of professional coaching, study materials, test series and other preparatory resources can become a significant obstacle. The CQMH Abdul Hamid Scholarship Initiative seeks to ensure that financial circumstances do not determine who gets the opportunity to compete.

Speaking about the initiative, Soumyabrata Sengupta said:

“India has no shortage of talented young people. What we sometimes lack is equal access to opportunity. A student should not have to abandon the dream of serving the nation simply because his or her family cannot afford coaching for a competitive examination.”

He added:

“The CQMH Abdul Hamid Scholarship is intended to bridge that gap. We want to identify young people with ability, determination and a genuine desire to serve, and give them the opportunity to prepare at the highest level. I have committed ₹25 crore to begin this effort and I am prepared to contribute more whenever necessary so that financial limitations do not stand between a deserving student and his or her ambition.”

The initiative has been named in honour of Company Quartermaster Havildar Abdul Hamid, the decorated Indian Army soldier and recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest military gallantry award. His courage, sacrifice and commitment to the nation continue to serve as an inspiration to generations of Indians.

The scholarship programme is intended to support thousands of young students over the coming years, creating a broader ecosystem of educational opportunity for students aspiring to join India’s Armed Forces.

The initiative will focus on identifying deserving candidates through transparent eligibility and selection criteria, with scholarship assistance directed towards recognised coaching and preparatory programmes relevant to the students’ chosen defence career pathways.

Sengupta said that the long-term vision is larger than simply funding coaching.

“This is ultimately about nation-building. When we invest in a young person’s education, confidence and opportunity, we are investing in the future of the country. If even a small percentage of the students supported through this initiative go on to serve India with distinction, the purpose of this scholarship will have been fulfilled.”

The CQMH Abdul Hamid Scholarship Initiative represents an effort to combine educational opportunity, social mobility and national service, with the broader goal of enabling capable young Indians from financially disadvantaged families to compete for careers in the Armed Forces on an equal footing.