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Scholarships in India 2026-27: Eligibility, Amounts and Last Dates
Scholarships in India for the 2026-27 session are open on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), which has accepted applications since 1 June 2026. For most central schemes the last date for students is 31 October 2026, followed by institute verification until 15 November 2026. Private scholarships run on separate portals and often close earlier, so each programme's own date matters.
Scholarships in India at a glance (status on 9 October 2026)
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Main portal | National Scholarship Portal, scholarships.gov.in (Government of India, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology) |
| Portal opened for 2026-27 | 1 June 2026 |
| Last date for students (most central schemes) | 31 October 2026 |
| Institute verification and defective application window | Until 15 November 2026 |
| District, State or Ministry nodal officer verification | Until 30 November 2026 |
| Registration needed first | One Time Registration (OTR), a 14 digit number created with Aadhaar or Aadhaar Enrolment ID |
| New rule from 2026-27 | One merit-based scheme and one or more welfare-based schemes per student, as per scheme eligibility |
These are the dates shown on the official NSP announcements and scheme listing. Individual schemes can differ, and state schemes follow state timelines, so treat the date on your own scheme's NSP entry as final.
What kinds of scholarships are available in India?
Indian scholarships fall into three broad groups: central government schemes, state government schemes and private or CSR programmes. Each group has its own portal, deadlines and paperwork.
Central government schemes are run by ministries and bodies such as the Ministry of Education, AICTE, UGC, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. NSP marks each one as either merit based or welfare based, and that label now decides how many schemes you can combine. The Central Sector tab on NSP listed 31 schemes when we checked on 9 October 2026.
State government schemes are hosted on NSP for some states and on separate state portals for others. The state filter on NSP currently lists 24 states and union territories. If your state is not on that list, look for its own scholarship portal through the state education or social welfare department.
Private and CSR scholarships come from companies, foundations and trusts. They usually need a separate application, and many add an aptitude test or interview. A useful way to think about the difference between awards that reward marks and those that reward need is covered in this guide to merit-based and need-based scholarships.
Which government scholarships are open for 2026-27?
The table below covers the main central schemes that appear on NSP for 2026-27. Amounts are given only where they are stated in the official scheme guidelines. For every other scheme, the specification PDF on NSP is the place to confirm the benefit.
| Scheme | Who it is for | Benefit | NSP status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM-USP Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (CSSS) | Students above the 80th percentile in their Class 12 board stream, in regular degree courses, with family income up to ₹4.5 lakh a year | ₹12,000 a year for graduation (first three years) and ₹20,000 a year at postgraduate level | Listed for renewal applications; renewal closes 31 October 2026 |
| National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) | Students selected through the state exam after Class 8, studying in government, government aided or local body schools, with family income up to ₹3.5 lakh a year | ₹12,000 a year from Class 9 to Class 12, with 1,00,000 fresh scholarships a year | Open; 31 October 2026 |
| AICTE Pragati Scholarship for Girl Students | Girls admitted to the first year (or second year through lateral entry) of an AICTE approved technical degree, maximum two girls per family, family income up to ₹8 lakh a year | ₹50,000 a year, for up to four years in a degree course | Degree and diploma versions open; 31 October 2026 |
| PM YASASVI Top Class Education in College for OBC, EBC and DNT Students | OBC, EBC and DNT students in college courses | As per scheme specification on NSP | Open for fresh applications; 31 October 2026 |
| Post Matric Scholarship for SC Students (centrally sponsored) | SC students studying after Class 10, with family income up to ₹2.5 lakh a year under the existing norms | Maintenance allowance and fee reimbursement, which differ by course group | Reported as 31 October 2026; state level dates can differ |
| Scholarships for Students with Disabilities (Pre Matric, Post Matric and Top Class) | Students with disabilities; the student must first give consent on the UDID portal | As per scheme specification on NSP | Open; 31 October 2026 |
| National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students | ST students pursuing higher education | As per scheme specification on NSP | Open; 31 October 2026 |
| National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies (UGC) and Ishan Uday for the North Eastern Region | Postgraduate students (UGC scheme) and students from the North Eastern Region (Ishan Uday) | As per scheme specification on NSP | Opened 16 September 2026; closes 31 October 2026 |
| Prime Minister's Scholarship Schemes for wards of police, armed police and railway personnel | Wards of eligible police, Central Armed Police Forces, Assam Rifles and railway personnel | As per scheme specification on NSP | Open; 31 October 2026 |
A note on the Central Sector Scholarship Scheme: on 9 October 2026 NSP showed it for renewal applicants only. A first year student looking to apply fresh should watch the NSP announcements for any fresh application notice.
Which scholarship should you check first?
Start with the scheme that matches your class and category, then work outwards. This short map saves time before you open the portal.
| If you are | Check these first |
|---|---|
| In Class 8 or 9 at a government school | NMMSS (state selection exam) and your state's pre-matric scheme |
| In Class 11 or above and belong to SC, ST, OBC or a minority community | Post-matric schemes under the centrally sponsored and state tabs on NSP, or your state portal. The SC and ST scholarship guide explains the categories in more detail |
| A girl in engineering or a technical diploma | AICTE Pragati. Girls looking for wider support can also read about Wings for Her |
| A student with a disability | Scholarships of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and AICTE Saksham. Give UDID consent first |
| A high scorer in Class 12 boards with family income up to ₹4.5 lakh | PM-USP CSSS (watch for fresh application notices) |
| From the North East | Ishan Uday and the NEC merit scholarship |
| Not covered by any of the above | Institute scholarships, state schemes and private or CSR programmes |
How many scholarships can one student take?
From the 2026-27 session, a student can apply for one merit-based scheme and one or more welfare-based schemes on NSP, as long as each scheme's own eligibility allows it. This is stated in the portal's announcements and it changes how you should plan. Pick your best merit scheme first, then add welfare schemes you genuinely qualify for.
Read the scheme conditions before you stack awards. The Central Sector Scholarship Scheme guidelines, for instance, exclude students already availing another merit scholarship, a state scholarship, a fee waiver or a reimbursement scheme. AICTE Pragati stops the award and asks for a refund if the student receives other financial assistance during the course.
Private and CSR scholarships in India
Private scholarships are not on NSP, and their dates are set by each provider. Reliance Foundation is a clear example. Its Undergraduate Scholarships 2026-27 are meant for first year students of full-time degree courses. The programme offers up to ₹2 lakh over the degree, requires a Class 12 score of at least 60 per cent and an aptitude test, and accepts household income up to ₹15 lakh a year, with preference for families earning under ₹2.5 lakh. The Postgraduate Scholarships target select programmes in engineering, technology, energy and life sciences. The published application window for both ran from 14 August to 5 October 2026, so it has already closed for this cycle.
The lesson for students is simple. Government deadlines in late October can make you feel there is time, while a private programme may have closed weeks earlier. When you search for scholarships, note the closing date of each one next to its name on the day you find it. The Scholarlify scholarship list can help you filter by category, level and state and keep a running view of what is open.
What documents are required for scholarships in India?
Keep scanned copies of the following before you start, because NSP forms time out and mismatched details are a common reason for rejection.
- Aadhaar number or Aadhaar Enrolment ID, used to create the OTR
- Savings bank account in the student's own name, seeded with Aadhaar so that Direct Benefit Transfer works
- Latest marksheet, and Class 12 marks for schemes such as CSSS
- Family income certificate (the CSSS guidelines ask for it only from fresh applicants)
- Bonafide or enrolment certificate from the institute
- Caste or community certificate where the scheme is category specific
- UDID details and portal consent for disability schemes
- Recent passport-size photograph
How to apply for scholarships on the National Scholarship Portal
To apply on NSP, create your OTR first, then log in, choose the scheme that fits you and submit the form with documents. The steps below follow the order the portal expects.
- Create your OTR. Go to the OTR page or use the NSP OTR app, and complete face authentication. If authentication fails, check that your Aadhaar biometrics are unlocked on the myAadhaar portal. If you see error 904, update the UIDAI Aadhaar FaceRD app.
- Check Aadhaar seeding. Confirm that your bank account is linked to Aadhaar. NPCI's BASE platform allows seeding and de-seeding in self-service mode.
- Test your eligibility. Use the Scholarship Eligibility option on NSP to see which schemes match your profile.
- Apply for the scheme. Log in with your OTR, pick the scheme, fill in the form and upload documents. Students with disabilities must first sign in on the UDID portal and give consent to share their details.
- Submit and save the application ID. Download or screenshot the final submission.
- Follow verification. Your institute verifies the application first, then the district, state or ministry officer. Use the Application Status page on NSP to watch progress.
- Track the payment. Selected students receive money through Direct Benefit Transfer. The Know Your Payment tool on PFMS shows the status using Aadhaar, bank account number or NSP application ID.
Three dates people confuse
The 31 October date is when the student's form must be submitted. It is not the date by which everything is finished. Your institute must verify the application by 15 November 2026, and defective applications can be corrected only up to the same date. District, state or ministry verification then closes on 30 November 2026. If your institute is slow to verify, the application can fail even though you applied on time, so ask the scholarship nodal officer at your college to confirm verification in the first week of November.
Be careful with third party websites too. Some pages show earlier dates for NMMSS, such as 30 September or 31 August, while the official NSP scheme listing on 9 October 2026 shows 31 October 2026. When aggregator pages disagree, the NSP entry for your scheme is the one to follow.
Common mistakes that cost students a scholarship
- Waiting for the last week. Portals tend to slow down near closing dates, and verification needs time after you submit.
- Name mismatch. The name on Aadhaar, the marksheet and the bank passbook should match exactly.
- Unseeded bank account. A payment cannot reach an account that is not linked to Aadhaar for DBT.
- Skipping the UDID step. Disability scheme forms cannot be submitted without the consent on the UDID portal.
- Treating renewal and fresh applications alike. Renewal needs at least 50 per cent marks and 75 per cent attendance under CSSS, for example, so read the rule for your scheme.
- Paying an agent. The only charge mentioned in the portal notice is the ₹30 Common Service Centre fee, so be cautious about anyone asking for more.
Frequently asked questions about scholarships in India
What is the last date to apply for scholarships in India 2026-27?
For most central schemes on the National Scholarship Portal, students can apply until 31 October 2026. Institute verification runs until 15 November 2026 and nodal officer verification until 30 November 2026. Private scholarships have their own dates, so check the provider's page. The Reliance Foundation window, for example, ran from 14 August to 5 October 2026.
Who can apply for scholarships in India?
Any Indian student who meets a scheme's conditions can apply. Conditions usually cover class or course, marks, family income, category (SC, ST, OBC, minority), disability status, gender or state of residence. There is no single eligibility rule, so check the specification of each scheme before you apply.
Can I apply for more than one scholarship at the same time?
Yes, within limits. From 2026-27, NSP lets a student apply for one merit-based scheme and one or more welfare-based schemes, subject to each scheme's own conditions. Some schemes, such as the Central Sector Scholarship Scheme, also bar students who already receive another merit scholarship, a state scholarship or a fee waiver.
Which documents are required to apply for a scholarship?
Most applications need an Aadhaar-based OTR, an Aadhaar-seeded bank account in the student's own name, the latest marksheet, a family income certificate, a bonafide or enrolment certificate and a passport-size photograph. Category, domicile or UDID documents are needed only for schemes that ask for them.
Is there a fee to apply on the National Scholarship Portal?
You can file an application directly on the National Scholarship Portal. The only charge mentioned in the portal notice is for Common Service Centres, which is fixed at ₹30 for the whole activity, including OTR generation and form filling. Be wary of anyone who asks for more money to 'guarantee' a scholarship.
Has the Reliance Foundation scholarship for 2026-27 closed?
The published application window for the Reliance Foundation Undergraduate and Postgraduate Scholarships 2026-27 was 14 August to 5 October 2026. We did not find an official extension when we checked on 9 October 2026. Students should look at the Reliance Foundation scholarship portal for any later notice.
What to do next
Spend ten minutes today on three things: create or fix your OTR, confirm that your bank account is seeded with Aadhaar, and note your scheme's date from the NSP listing. Then check your eligibility on Scholarlify and explore matching scholarships before the 31 October 2026 deadline passes.
Sources and official references
- National Scholarship Portal, home page and announcements (Academic Year 2026-27)
- NSP, Schemes on NSP (Central Sector listing with 2026-27 dates)
- PM-USP CSSS guidelines, Ministry of Education
- NMMSS revised guidelines, Department of School Education and Literacy
- AICTE Pragati Scholarship (Degree) guidelines
- Reliance Foundation Scholarships portal (application window as published by the foundation's outreach partner and education press)
- Careers360, NSP last date 2026-27 (supporting source for centrally sponsored scheme dates)
Scholarship dates, amounts and rules can change. This article reflects what was published on the official sources listed above on 9 October 2026. Scholarlify is an information platform and does not guarantee the award of any scholarship.