Top Government Scholarships 2025-26 on NSP: Central, UGC, AICTE & State Schemes
Job Description
Explore the top government scholarships on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) for 2025-26, including Central Sector, Post-Matric SC/ST/OBC/Minority, UGC and AICTE schemes. Know eligibility for school to PhD students, scholarship amounts, key dates (extended to mid-December 2025 for many schemes) and how to apply online at scholarships.gov.in.
Top Government Scholarships on NSP 2025-26
Major central and state government schemes available on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) for school, college and research students across India.
Portal: scholarships.gov.in · School to PhD
Table of Contents
National Scholarship Portal (NSP) Overview
The National Scholarship Portal is the Government of India’s unified platform that lists and processes applications for central, UGC, AICTE and many state government scholarships.
For 2025-26, dozens of schemes for Class 1 to PhD students are live on NSP with application windows typically running from July–August to November–December each year.
Students create a single NSP account and can apply for all eligible government scholarships listed under their state, ministry and category.
Top Central Sector Scholarships on NSP
| Scheme | Ministry | Key Eligibility | Typical Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College & University Students | Ministry of Education | Top-performing Class 12 students (80%+ in recognised boards), pursuing regular UG/PG, family income ≤ prescribed limit. | About ₹10,000 per year at UG level and ₹20,000 per year at PG level (for full duration if renewal criteria met). |
| National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) | Ministry of Education | Class 8 students from government/aid schools, clearing NMMS exam, with income ceiling. | Stipend of around ₹12,000 per year up to Class 12, subject to renewal conditions. |
| Prime Minister’s Scholarship Schemes (various ministries) | MoD, MHA & others | Wards/widows of defence, CAPF, police personnel; admission to professional/technical courses. | Fixed annual amount (for example, ₹30,000–₹36,000 per year) for professional degree duration. |
Post-Matric & Minority Scholarships on NSP
| Scheme Group | Target Students | Level | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST/OBC | SC/ST/OBC students in recognised institutions | Class 11 to Postgraduate, including professional courses | Admission & tuition fees (capped), plus monthly maintenance allowance for day scholars/hostellers. |
| Pre-Matric & Post-Matric Scholarships for Minorities | Minority communities (Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi) | Class 1–10 (Pre-Matric), 11–PhD (Post-Matric) | Fee reimbursement, hostel support and maintenance grants, subject to income and performance norms. |
| Merit-cum-Means Scholarship for Professional & Technical Courses | Minority students in professional/technical degrees | UG/PG professional streams | Course fee reimbursement up to a notified limit plus monthly stipend for hostellers and day scholars. |
These schemes are typically renewed yearly if students pass with required marks and remain within the income ceiling.
UGC & AICTE Scholarships on NSP
| Category | Example Schemes | Who It Helps | Typical Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| UGC – University/College Level | Post Graduate Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child, Post Graduate Merit Scholarship for Rank Holders, etc. | PG students, single girl child, rank holders and special categories. | Monthly stipend plus contingency for 2 years of postgraduate studies. |
| UGC – Research Fellowships | NET-JRF linked fellowships, SC/ST/OBC fellowships, minority and PwD fellowships. | Research scholars enrolled in MPhil/PhD programmes. | Fellowship + HRA + contingency grants as per UGC norms. |
| AICTE – Technical Education | Pragati (Girls), Saksham (PwD), AICTE PG (GATE) Scholarship, and others. | BTech/BE, diploma, and MTech/MArch students in AICTE-approved institutions. | Annual tuition support plus monthly stipend (for example, GATE stipend at PG level). |
Major State Government Schemes Listed on NSP
Many states list their own post-matric and merit-cum-means scholarships on NSP in addition to running separate state portals.
| State Type | Typical Schemes on NSP | Beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|
| SC/ST/OBC-focused | State Post-Matric SC/ST/OBC schemes linked to NSP workflows. | Domiciled SC/ST/OBC students studying within or outside their state. |
| Minority-focused | State minority scholarships co-funded with the Centre or run independently but processed through NSP. | Minority students from the respective states in approved courses. |
| Merit & Means | State merit-cum-means and special category schemes for professional courses. | High performing students with financial need in technical/medical degrees. |
How to Apply for Government Scholarships on NSP
Step-by-Step NSP Application
- Visit scholarships.gov.in and click on New Registration; read and accept the guidelines.
- Register with basic details (name, mobile, email, state, bank details) to get your NSP Application ID.
- Log in as a fresh or renewal applicant and complete your profile (personal, academic, institute and bank information).
- Choose eligible schemes from the list shown for your category and course, then fill individual scholarship forms.
- Upload required documents (photo, signature, marksheets, income/caste certificates, institute verification, etc.) in the specified format.
- Submit and lock the application before the last date; take a print or PDF copy of the final form for records.
Key Tips
- Use a valid Aadhaar-linked bank account and keep your mobile number active for OTP verification.
- Ensure your institute is registered and verified on NSP; otherwise, you may need to coordinate with the institute first.
- Track application status regularly and respond promptly if any correction or verification is requested.
