Scholarships (National Scholarship Portal)
Scholarships for students, applied for on the National Scholarship Portal.
Help with fees and study costs; some scholarships also pay a monthly allowance. Every scholarship has its own rules.
Who can apply
- Students.
- Many scholarships are meant for SC, ST, OBC and minority students. Some merit and state scholarships are open to all.
- Each scholarship has its own family-income limit, so check the limit for the one you want.
Documents usually needed
- Aadhaar
- Income certificate
- Caste certificate (if applying under SC/ST/OBC)
- Previous year marksheet
- Bank account in the student's name
- Admission / fee receipt from the school or college
How the National Scholarship Portal works
- Many central and state scholarships accept applications on one portal, scholarships.gov.in.
- You register once (One Time Registration) and then apply for the scholarship that matches your course, class and category.
- Your school or college verifies the application, and then the nodal officer approves it. The scholarship is paid to your bank account.
How to apply, step by step
- Keep your Aadhaar, income certificate, caste certificate (if applicable), last marksheet, admission or fee receipt and bank passbook ready.
- Open scholarships.gov.in and complete the One Time Registration using your details and mobile number.
- Log in, choose the scholarship scheme that fits your class, course and category, and read its conditions.
- Fill in the form, upload the documents and submit.
- Take a printout or save the acknowledgement. Your institute must verify your application before the last date.
- Check your application status on the portal and make sure your bank account is linked to Aadhaar so the money can reach you.
Common types of scholarship
- Pre-matric scholarships for school students (rules differ by category and state).
- Post-matric scholarships for students after Class 10.
- Merit-cum-means scholarships for students who have good marks and a family income below a limit.
- State scholarships, which have their own portals, income limits and dates.
Tips to avoid rejection
- Apply before the last date and check that your institute has verified your form.
- Use the same name and date of birth on Aadhaar, marksheet and bank account.
- Upload clear, valid documents. An income certificate usually has to be recent.
- Renew your scholarship every year if the scheme requires it.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for a scholarship on NSP?
Students of eligible classes and courses. Each scheme has its own rules for category, marks and family income, so read the scheme details first.
Is there a fee to apply?
No. Applying on the National Scholarship Portal is free. Do not pay anyone who promises to get you a scholarship.
When is the last date?
Dates change every year and differ by scheme. Check the notice on scholarships.gov.in.
Why was my application rejected?
Common reasons are a missed last date, a mismatch in details, unclear documents, or institute verification not completed. The portal shows the reason, and you can fix it if the window is still open.
Apply on the official website
This is general information, not an official government page. Rules, amounts and limits change and differ by state. Please confirm on the official website. See our disclaimer.