National Scholarship Portal (NSP) 2026

Direct answer. NSP is the single national portal for 100+ central + state government scholarships. Pre-matric, post-matric, merit-cum-means, top-class, minority, disability, single-girl-child, defence — all in one login. Apply at https://scholarships.gov.in. Aadhaar + bank required. ₹0 application fee. Portal opens ~June; deadlines cluster Sept–Nov; DBT credit Jan–March.

• Single portal: https://scholarships.gov.in
• Login with Aadhaar / Mobile + OTP.
• Annual cycle: portal opens ~June, deadlines Sept–Nov, DBT Jan–March.
• From AY 2026–27: one merit-based + one or more welfare-based schemes per application.
• Helpline: 0120-6619540, toll-free 1800 118 111 / [email protected].
• Stuck? 🪄 RTI in 60 sec.

NSP launched 2015 as a Mission Mode Project under the National e-Governance Plan. Replaced multiple disjoint scheme-specific portals. Currently lists 100+ scholarship schemes from central ministries and departments + many states and UTs.

• Pre-matric SC (Ministry of Social Justice) — for SC students Class 1–10.
• Pre-matric ST (Ministry of Tribal Affairs).
• Pre-matric OBC (Ministry of Social Justice).
• Pre-matric Minority (Ministry of Minority Affairs) — Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi; Class 9–10 only (Classes 1–8 dropped from 2022-23).
• Pre-matric Disabilities (DEPwD).
• Amounts vary by scheme, class and day-scholar/hosteller status — check the scheme's guidelines on NSP for current rates.

• Post-matric SC/ST/OBC/EBC/Minority/PwD — for Class 11 onwards.
• Maintenance allowance + course fee + tuition fee.
• Sample: Post-matric SC pays ₹230/month (day scholar) to ₹820/month (hostel) + course fees.

• Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (shown as PM-USP CSSS on the portal) — above 80th percentile in Class 12, ₹10,000–20,000/year.
• National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMSS) — Class 9 onwards, ₹12,000/year.
• Top Class Education — for SC/ST/OBC in central institutes (IITs, IIMs, NITs).

• National Fellowship for SC/ST/OBC (UGC-administered) — for MPhil/PhD.
• Maulana Azad National Fellowship — minorities, MPhil/PhD.
• PM Special Scholarship Scheme — J&K + Ladakh students.
• National Overseas Scholarship — for SC/ST/De-notified Tribes for studies abroad.
• Ishan Uday — North-East students for graduation.

• CBSE Merit Scholarship for Single Girl Child — Class 11–12.
• Some states run their own girl-child education support (e.g. Karnataka's Bhagyalakshmi, MP's Ladli Lakshmi) — mostly education bonds, not NSP scholarships.

• PM's Scholarship Scheme for Wards of Armed Forces / CAPF / Police personnel.

• Indian citizen.
• Student in recognised institution (Class 1+, school / college / university).
• Aadhaar + bank account in student's name.
• Income certificate within the scheme's cap — most central schemes sit at ₹2.5 lakh/year (SC/ST schemes, PM-YASASVI for OBC/EBC/DNT, minority merit-cum-means); a few allow more.
• Caste / Disability / Minority / Domicile certificate as applicable.

1. Aadhaar card (mobile-linked)
2. Bank passbook (Aadhaar-seeded, student's name)
3. Income certificate from Tehsildar/SDM (only valid issuer)
4. Caste / Disability / Minority / Domicile certificates as applicable
5. Mark sheets of last qualifying exam
6. Bonafide certificate from current institution (with Principal seal)
7. Photograph + signature scan
8. Tuition / course fee receipt (post-matric)

1. Visit https://scholarships.gov.in.
2. First-time: generate a One Time Registration (OTR) number first — Aadhaar-based e-KYC (NSP OTR app supports face authentication). OTR is required from AY 2024-25 and lasts your whole academic career.
3. Returning: “Login” with credentials.
4. “Fresh Application” — pick academic year.
5. Fill: personal details, course details, family income, caste, address.
6. Upload documents (each < 200 KB, PDF/JPG).
7. Choose scholarships to apply for (system auto-matches eligibility).
8. Submit → receive Application ID (save).
9. Institution verifies in 15 days.
10. District / State verifies in 30 days.
11. DBT credit in Jan–March of academic year.

• Late application — annual deadline is hard. Set calendar alert mid-October.
• Income certificate from Patwari (not valid) — use Tehsildar/SDM-issued only.
• Bonafide certificate missing — for college students, principal-attested bonafide is critical.
• Aadhaar–bank name mismatch — single character difference rejects DBT.
• Multiple bank accounts — keep one Aadhaar-seeded account for DBT.
• Skipping institution verification follow-up — Principal/Office must verify; nudge them in writing.
• State scholarship claimed twice — sometimes both NSP central + state portal flag duplicate.

• DBT only — no cheques. Aadhaar-seeded bank mandatory.
• State Scholarship Portals — e.g. Maharashtra (MahaDBT) and Karnataka (SSP) — process state scholarships separately. Apply on both NSP and your own state's portal for full coverage.
• PFMS integration — direct fund release via PFMS to bank.
• Renewal must be done annually by 31 October — auto-renewal not available.

Yes, within limits — from AY 2026–27 NSP allows one merit-based scheme plus one or more welfare-based schemes, subject to each scheme's eligibility. Check the combination in NSP before you submit.

Depends on scheme:

• Pre-matric SC/ST: usually ₹2.5–3 lakh cap
• Post-matric SC/ST: ₹2.5–3 lakh
• OBC/EBC/DNT (PM-YASASVI): ₹2.5 lakh
• Merit-cum-means (minorities): ₹2.5 lakh
• EWS-linked schemes: ₹8 lakh

Use NSP eligibility checker.

Jan–March of the academic year, after institution + district + state verifications. If delayed past May → file RTI for sanction status.

No — scholarships are grants. Only education loans are repayable.

Renewal blocked if you change institution/course mid-year without prior approval. Apply for transfer approval at the previous institution before moving.

File an RTI application to the State Welfare Department (or the scheme's ministry) asking for the rejection reason on record. A First Appeal under §19(1) RTI lies only if that RTI is refused or not answered within 30 days. Or correct the issue (income certificate, bonafide etc.) and reapply next year.

Yes — National Fellowship for SC/ST (UGC), Maulana Azad National Fellowship (minorities), Inspire Fellowship (science). Most have age limit 30 / 35.

Yes — private colleges affiliated with recognised universities are eligible. Private deemed universities also OK. Unrecognised private institutes blocked.

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• National Scholarship Portal
• Ministry of Social Justice
• Ministry of Tribal Affairs
• Ministry of Minority Affairs
• Ministry of Education
• Helpline: 0120-6619540

• NSP scholarship status & renewal (2026)
• Post-matric scholarship status (2026)

Last reviewed: 1 September 2026.