🎓 Scholarship Guide

Government Scholarships
for Indian Students

Lakhs of scholarships go unclaimed every year because students don't know they exist. If you are SC, ST, OBC, minority, or disabled — the government has a scholarship for you.

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What is the National Scholarship Portal (NSP)?

The National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) is the one-stop government platform for all central government scholarships. It covers scholarships from multiple ministries — Ministry of Education, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Ministry of Social Justice, Ministry of Minority Affairs, and more.

Over 120 scholarship schemes are available on NSP. Once you register on NSP with your Aadhaar, you can apply for multiple scholarships with one application.

✅ All NSP scholarships are completely free to apply. No agent, no fees, no middlemen. Apply directly at scholarships.gov.in. If anyone asks for money to "process" your scholarship, they are scamming you.

Major Scholarships Available

SC Students
Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC
For SC students in Class 9–10. Family income below ₹2.5 lakh/year. ₹3,500–₹7,000/year.
SC Students
Post-Matric Scholarship for SC
For SC students after Class 10. Family income below ₹2.5 lakh/year. Covers full tuition + maintenance allowance.
ST Students
Pre & Post-Matric Scholarship for ST
For Scheduled Tribe students. Similar benefits to SC scholarships. Income limit ₹2.5 lakh/year.
OBC Students
Post-Matric Scholarship for OBC
For OBC students after Class 10. Family income below ₹1 lakh/year. Covers tuition fees.
Minority Students
Pre & Post-Matric Minority Scholarship
For Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi students. Income below ₹2 lakh/year. ₹10,000–₹20,000/year.
Disabled Students
Scholarship for Students with Disabilities
For students with 40%+ disability. Income below ₹2.5 lakh/year. ₹3,500–₹20,000/year depending on level.
Merit Based
Central Sector Scheme (CSS)
For top 82,000 students scoring above 80th percentile in Class 12 board exams. ₹10,000–₹20,000/year. No caste restriction.
Girls
Begum Hazrat Mahal Scholarship
For minority girls in Class 9–12. ₹5,000–₹6,000/year. Income below ₹2 lakh/year.

How to Apply — Step by Step

  1. Go to scholarships.gov.in
    This is the only official NSP portal. Beware of fake websites.
  2. Click "New Registration"
    Choose the appropriate category (Student, Institution). Enter your name, date of birth, mobile number, and email.
  3. Verify with Aadhaar
    Link your Aadhaar number for verification. Your name must match your Aadhaar exactly.
  4. Log in and fill your application
    Select the scholarship scheme you want to apply for. Fill in academic details, bank account number, and family income.
  5. Upload documents
    Upload scanned copies of all required documents (see below).
  6. Submit and note your Application ID
    Your application goes to your institution first for verification, then to the government. Track status on NSP portal.

⚠️ Application window is typically July–November. Check scholarships.gov.in every year for the current year's opening dates. Missing the deadline means waiting a full year.

Documents Required

📄 Aadhaar Card 📄 Bank Account (in student's name) 📄 Caste Certificate (SC/ST/OBC) 📄 Income Certificate (from tehsildar) 📄 Previous Year Marksheet 📄 Current Year Admission/Fee Receipt 📄 Bonafide Certificate from Institution 📄 Domicile/Residence Proof

✅ Open a bank account in the student's own name before applying. Money is sent directly to the student's account via DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer). A joint account with parents is also acceptable.

Common Reasons Applications Get Rejected

  • Name mismatch — Name on Aadhaar doesn't match name on documents. Fix your Aadhaar first.
  • Bank account not in student's name — The account must belong to the student, not parents.
  • Institution not registered on NSP — Ask your college/school to register on NSP if they haven't.
  • Missing institution verification — Your institution must verify and forward your application. Follow up with your school/college office.
  • Applying in wrong category — Make sure you select the correct scheme for your caste/category.
  • Income certificate expired — Income certificate must be from the current financial year.

Check the official NSP portal for current scholarship openings and deadlines.

🎓 Apply at scholarships.gov.in →

Official Source

All information on this page is sourced from the official National Scholarship Portal of the Government of India.

scholarships.gov.in ↗

NSP Helpline: 0120-6619540 (Mon–Fri, 9:30AM–6PM)

This page is for informational purposes only. MeraHaq is not affiliated with the Government of India or any ministry. Scholarship amounts and eligibility may change — always verify on the official portal.