The Dr. Banikanta Kakati Merit Award is an initiative of the Government of Assam’s Higher Education Department, administered through the Directorate of Higher Education, Assam. The programme recognises meritorious students who achieve strong results in the Higher Secondary Final Examination and provides an online application service for eligible candidates.

For the 2026 award cycle, applicants must score at least 80% in the examination conducted by the Assam State School Education Board and be residents of Assam. Students studying at institutions outside the state may also apply if they hold a valid Assam Permanent Residence Certificate. Students in the betterment and reappearance categories are not eligible.

Applications are accepted online only; offline submissions are not entertained. The website supports the application process with registration and login facilities, application guidance, eligibility information, important dates, and notices about updates such as application editing and selecting “Others” for an institution outside Assam. It also provides contact details for queries and publishes information about provisional and final beneficiary lists