PM CARES for Children helps children who lost parents to COVID-19 with Rs.10 lakh corpus at 18, free school (KVS/Navodaya), PM-JAY Rs.5 lakh insurance. Apply at pmcaresforchildren.in.
About this scheme
PM CARES for Children 2026 — COVID Orphans: ₹10 Lakh at 18 + Free Education + Health
✅ ₹10 lakh at age 18 + free school education + PM-JAY ₹5 lakh health insurance + scholarship
Full Scheme Details →📢 Latest Update — June 2026:
PM CARES for Children continues to support children who lost both parents, a surviving parent, or their legal guardian to COVID-19 during the period March 2020 to December 2021. Identification of eligible children and online enrolment at pmcaresforchildren.in remains open through the District Collector and District Child Protection Officer (DCPO). If your child was identified earlier but a benefit has not started, check the official portal and confirm the application status with your district office.
⚡ Key Facts at a Glance
PM CARES for Children — Complete Support for COVID Orphans
PM CARES for Children is a Central Government support package for children who lost their parents, surviving parent, or legal guardian to COVID-19 during the period March 2020 to December 2021. Rather than a one-time payment, it bundles long-term financial security, schooling, health cover, and higher-education support so that an affected child is cared for from school age right up to early adulthood. You can read more about other nationwide programmes on our central government schemes page.
The package is built around a Rs.10 lakh corpus created in the child's name. The interest from this corpus provides a monthly stipend until the child turns 23, and the full corpus amount becomes accessible at age 18. Alongside this, the scheme guarantees free schooling, PM-JAY health insurance, and scholarships for higher studies.
Example: Suppose a 9-year-old whose only surviving parent passed away due to COVID-19 in 2021 is enrolled. The child is admitted to a nearby Kendriya Vidyalaya or Navodaya school with no fees, receives a monthly stipend from the corpus interest, is covered by a PM-JAY Rs.5 lakh health card, and on turning 18 can access the Rs.10 lakh corpus along with a higher-education scholarship. You can see the official programme details on the PM CARES for Children scheme page.
Who is Eligible — Complete Criteria 2026
- ✅ Children who lost both parents to COVID-19 between March 2020 and December 2021
- ✅ Children who lost their only surviving parent to COVID-19 in the same period
- ✅ Children who lost their legal guardian / adoptive parent / single adoptive parent to COVID-19 in this period
- ✅ Child must have been below 18 years of age on the date of death of the parent or guardian
- ❌ Children whose parents died of causes other than COVID-19
- ❌ Deaths that occurred outside the eligible window (before March 2020 or after December 2021)
- ❌ Child who had already turned 18 on the date of the parent's death
How to Apply — Step-by-Step 2026
- Visit the portal: Go to pmcaresforchildren.in to begin an online application, or approach the District Collector / DCPO office for offline help.
- Choose how to apply: The application can be filed online by the child or surviving guardian, or the District Collector / DCPO can register the child on their behalf.
- Fill in child and guardian details: Enter the child's name, date of birth, and details of the deceased parent or guardian as per official records.
- Upload documents: Attach the child's Aadhaar, the COVID-19 death certificate of the parent or guardian, and the child's birth certificate (see the documents table below).
- Submit and track: Submit the form, note the reference / application ID, and follow up with the district office to track verification and approval.
Documents Required
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Child's Aadhaar | Identity of the beneficiary child |
| COVID-19 death certificate of parent / guardian | Proof that the death was due to COVID-19 in the eligible period |
| Child's birth certificate | Proof of age and date of birth of the child |
| Other records (as asked by district office) | Any additional verification documents — check the official portal |
Myth vs Reality
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| "The Rs.10 lakh is paid as cash right away." | It is a corpus in the child's name; the interest funds a monthly stipend until age 23 and the full amount is accessible at age 18. |
| "It only covers school fees." | It also includes PM-JAY Rs.5 lakh health insurance and a higher-education scholarship after age 18. |
| "Any orphaned child is eligible." | Only children who lost parents or guardian to COVID-19 between March 2020 and December 2021 qualify. |
| "You must travel to Delhi to apply." | Applications are filed online at pmcaresforchildren.in or locally through the District Collector / DCPO. |
Important Dates & Deadlines 2026
- ✅ Eligibility window: Parent / guardian death due to COVID-19 between March 2020 and December 2021
- ✅ Application: Year-round / no fixed last date publicised — check the official portal for the current status
- ✅ Corpus access: Full Rs.10 lakh accessible when the child turns 18
- ✅ Monthly stipend: From corpus interest until the child turns 23
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: The monthly stipend / benefit has not started — what should I do?
First confirm that the application was approved and the corpus was set up. Visit pmcaresforchildren.in to check status, and follow up with the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) handling the case. Keep your application reference ID ready when you enquire.
Q: How do I check my application status?
Use the official portal pmcaresforchildren.in with your application reference ID, or ask the District Collector / DCPO office where the application was filed. They can tell you which stage of verification or approval the case is at.
Q: My application was rejected. Can I do anything?
Find out the reason for rejection from the district office — it is often a missing or unclear document, such as the COVID-19 death certificate or birth certificate. Correct the issue, gather the right proof, and re-submit. The DCPO can guide you on what is acceptable.
Q: The corpus or benefit amount seems wrong — how do I get it corrected?
Do not assume an error before checking the official records. The corpus is built around Rs.10 lakh accessible at 18, with a monthly stipend from the interest until 23. If the figures shown still look incorrect, raise it with the DCPO and, if needed, file a grievance (see the helpline section below).
Q: Is Aadhaar / eKYC needed for the child?
The child's Aadhaar is one of the listed documents for the application. Make sure the child's name and date of birth on Aadhaar match the birth certificate. If details do not match, get them corrected first, then upload — confirm any eKYC step on the official portal.
Q: I am a new applicant — where do I start?
Begin at pmcaresforchildren.in, or visit your District Collector / DCPO office for help. Keep the child's Aadhaar, the COVID-19 death certificate of the parent or guardian, and the birth certificate ready before you start.
Q: Does the scheme work differently in my state?
PM CARES for Children is a central scheme, so the core benefits are the same across the country. The schooling option may be a Kendriya Vidyalaya, Navodaya, or a State residential school depending on what is available locally. Your District Collector / DCPO coordinates the implementation in your area.
Q: How do I complain if nothing is moving?
If your enquiries with the district office do not help, you can lodge a complaint on the central public grievance portal at pgportal.gov.in, quoting your application reference ID and the details of the issue.
Helpline Numbers & Grievance Portal
- 🌐 Official portal: pmcaresforchildren.in — applications, status, and scheme details
- 🏢 District office: District Collector / District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) for in-person help
- 📝 Grievance: File complaints at pgportal.gov.in
- 📞 Helpline: Check the official portal for the current contact number
For other family-support and education programmes, browse our scheme guides and updates.
📋 संक्षिप्त जानकारी (हिंदी में)
PM CARES for Children उन बच्चों के लिए है जिन्होंने मार्च 2020 से दिसंबर 2021 के बीच COVID-19 के कारण अपने माता-पिता या अभिभावक को खो दिया। इस योजना में बच्चे के नाम पर Rs.10 लाख की राशि (कॉर्पस) बनाई जाती है, जो 18 वर्ष की आयु पर उपलब्ध होती है, और ब्याज से 23 वर्ष तक मासिक भत्ता मिलता है। साथ ही KVS, नवोदय या राज्य आवासीय स्कूल में मुफ्त शिक्षा (कक्षा 1-12), PM-JAY के तहत Rs.5 लाख का स्वास्थ्य बीमा, और 18 वर्ष के बाद उच्च शिक्षा छात्रवृत्ति दी जाती है। आवेदन pmcaresforchildren.in पर ऑनलाइन या जिला कलेक्टर / DCPO कार्यालय के माध्यम से किया जा सकता है। आवश्यक दस्तावेज: बच्चे का आधार, माता-पिता का COVID मृत्यु प्रमाण पत्र, और जन्म प्रमाण पत्र। नवीनतम जानकारी के लिए आधिकारिक पोर्टल देखें।
🇮🇳 हिंदी में पढ़ें (Read in Hindi)
PM CARES for Children — COVID अनाथ बच्चों को सहायता
COVID में माता-पिता खोने वाले बच्चों को 18 वर्ष पर Rs.10 लाख, मुफ्त KVS/Navodaya शिक्षा, PM-JAY Rs.5 लाख बीमा।
pmcaresforchildren.in पर apply करें या DCPO office जाएं।
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