Documents required for NSP scholarship application (2026)
Direct answer. NSP is the unified portal for ~30 central scholarship schemes (PMS-SC/ST/OBC, Merit-cum-Means for Minorities, Top Class for SC/ST, etc.). Documents vary slightly by scheme but core set: Aadhaar + income certificate + caste certificate + bank passbook + institute verification + previous-year mark sheet. Apply at scholarships.gov.in.
Mandatory documents
Aadhaar — Identity + DBT routing
Income certificate — Family income proof; from Tehsildar (typical limit Rs. 2.5L for PMS-SC/ST)
Caste certificate — For SC/ST/OBC/Minority schemes
Bank passbook + cancelled cheque — Aadhaar-linked account preferred
Class 10 mark sheet — For post-matric (proves you're past matric)
Previous-year mark sheet — For renewal applications + merit-cum-means
Institute Bonafide certificate — On college letterhead with student ID, fee details
Institute fee receipts — For reimbursement-based schemes
Domicile certificate — For state-specific schemes
Photograph — Recent, white background
Optional / situational documents
Disability certificate — For PwD scholarships
Marriage certificate — For married women applying
Father's death certificate — For widow-of-deceased schemes
Bank statement (last 6 months) — Some schemes require
Affidavit of family income (if no ITR) — For self-employed families
Specifications + key rules
Aadhaar-bank linkage is mandatory — DBT fails without it.
Income certificate must be from Tehsildar/SDM (not employer); validity typically 1 year.
Renewal is auto-recommended for continuing students if last year's scholarship was credited — login + click renewal.
State top-ups layer on central NSP — check state portal (e.g., MahaDBT, e-Pass Karnataka, Tamil Nadu e-District).
Multiple scholarships — generally barred; only one per student per year for same purpose.
Scheme deadlines — strict, typically October-November each year. Late application not accepted.
Where to apply
If you don't have all documents
If your application is verified by institute but stuck at district/state, file RTI to State Welfare Department under §6 for processing officer + verification chain status + projected disbursement.
→ Use our 🪄 AI RTI Drafter to generate a free §6(1) application asking for the rejection reason in 60 seconds.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for multiple scholarships?
Generally no — one scholarship per student per year. Some institute-specific allow combination with central.
Do I need Aadhaar-linked bank?
Yes — DBT routing requires Aadhaar-bank linkage.
What if my college isn't registered on NSP?
College must register on NSP first. Escalate to State Welfare Dept + UGC/AICTE.
Income certificate — annual?
Yes — typically 1-year validity. Renew before next application cycle.
What if scholarship hasn't come in months?
Check status at scholarships.gov.in → if stuck at “District/State Verified”, file RTI to State Welfare Dept.
Summary + next steps
Gather mandatory documents above before applying — saves a re-visit
Apply via official portal (link above) — no agent needed
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If rejected for “documents inadequate”: request specific deficiency under §4(1)(d) RTI Act
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🎤
AwaazRTI — voice-to-RTI in 11 Indian languages
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Sources
Statutory references: as cited in Specifications above
Official portal: linked in “Where to apply” above
RTI Act 2005 §§4, 6, 7, 19
Last reviewed: 25 April 2026.