The Karnataka government has changed its reward plan for top scorers in government high schools’ SSLC exams. Starting from the 2024-25 academic year, students will get ₹50,000 cash instead of laptops. Since 2010-11, three toppers from each taluk were given laptops under the Quality Assurance and Student Motivation Initiative Action Plan. On January 22, the government ordered the Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board (KSEAB) to switch the prize to cash. About 758 toppers in 2024-25 will receive the prize directly in their bank accounts via the State Scholarship Portal using Aadhaar-linked accounts and Direct Benefit Transfer. A senior KSEAB official said, "If cash prizes are distributed to students instead of laptops, it will be beneficial for their future education. This money will help students enroll in good colleges and purchase textbooks and other equipment. The decision has been taken to help students." Interestingly, the government had already approved ₹3.25 crore for giving laptops to toppers for the 2025-26 academic year but decided to change plans midway following KSEAB's proposal. However, the School Development Monitoring Committee (SDMC) is unhappy with the change. Its state president, Umesh G. Gangavadi, said, "The government’s move to suddenly change the nature of the scheme, which has been in effect for the last fifteen years, is not right. In the IT era, laptops are more useful and convenient for students to study optimally. However, in most cases, parents will end up using the cash prize amount provided to the students. Moreover, it is not possible to buy a good laptop for ₹50,000 at the current market. Therefore, the government should reinstate the scheme of providing laptops to students." The SDMC plans to submit a petition to the Chief Minister to demand the return of laptop rewards for toppers.