The AICTE Pragati Scholarship gives ₹50,000 a year to girl students admitted to AICTE-approved technical degree and diploma courses, provided family income is ₹8 lakh a year or less. For 2026-27, the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) shows 31 October 2026 as the last date for student applications. Selection is purely on marks in the qualifying exam, so the form you submit and the verification that follows matter as much as your score.
Published 13 October 2026. Details last checked on 14 October 2026 against the NSP schemes page and the scheme guidelines linked on NSP (dated July 2020, still the ones NSP links this year). Dates can change, so confirm on scholarships.gov.in before you submit.
AICTE Pragati Scholarship 2026-27 at a Glance
| Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | AICTE Pragati Scholarship Scheme for Girl Students (Technical Degree and Technical Diploma) |
| Run by | All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), under the Ministry of Education |
| Who it is for | Girls admitted to the first year of a degree or diploma course, or the second year through lateral entry, in an AICTE-approved institution |
| Family income limit | ₹8 lakh a year from all sources |
| Amount | ₹50,000 a year, paid as a lump sum |
| Seats | 5,000 each for degree and diploma, shared among states and UTs |
| Where to apply | National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) |
| Last date on NSP | 31 October 2026 |
What Is the AICTE Pragati Scholarship?
AICTE started Pragati to help more young women enter technical education. It is listed on NSP as two separate schemes, one for Technical Degree and one for Technical Diploma, and you apply under the one that matches your course. The money is a lump sum for college fees, a computer, books, stationery, equipment and software. AICTE does not ask you to submit bills for these expenses.
One thing to know up front: the scheme is merit based. A good income certificate gets you into the pool, but your rank in your state or UT decides whether you receive the scholarship.
Who Can Apply for AICTE Pragati 2026-27?
You can apply if you are a girl student admitted to an AICTE-approved institution, your family income is within ₹8 lakh, and you fall in one of the entry categories below.
| Course | Who is eligible | Merit is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Technical Degree | Admitted to the first year, or to the second year through lateral entry | Percentage in Class 12 or equivalent |
| Technical Diploma | Admitted to the first year, or to the second year through lateral entry | Percentage in Class 10 or equivalent |
Other conditions from the guidelines:
- Family limit: a maximum of two girl children from one family can receive the scholarship.
- Income: not more than ₹8 lakh a year from all sources during the current financial year, shown by an income certificate issued by the State or UT government.
- Gap: the gap between passing the qualifying exam and taking admission should not be more than two years.
- Institution: your college or polytechnic must be approved by AICTE for that year.
- No double benefit: you should not receive another scholarship, stipend or salary during the course. If you do, the scholarship is discontinued and the amount has to be refunded to AICTE.
Students who are already in the second year through regular promotion, and not lateral entry, cannot apply fresh. They can only renew an award they already hold.
How Much Is the AICTE Pragati Scholarship Amount?
The amount is ₹50,000 for every year of study, paid once a year by Direct Benefit Transfer to your bank account. How many years you get depends on how you entered the course.
| Course | First year admission | Lateral entry (second year) |
|---|---|---|
| Technical Degree | Up to 4 years | Up to 3 years |
| Technical Diploma | Up to 3 years | Up to 2 years |
No extra grant is given for hostel or medical charges. So a degree student admitted in the first year can receive up to ₹2 lakh over the four years, and a diploma student up to ₹1.5 lakh over three years, as long as every renewal goes through.
How Many Scholarships Are Available in Each State?
AICTE earmarks 5,000 scholarships for degree and 5,000 for diploma each year. They are split among 23 states and UTs according to the share of AICTE-approved seats, with a minimum of 50 scholarships per state. Here is how a few large states are split.
| State | Degree scholarships | Diploma scholarships |
|---|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu | 800 | 700 |
| Maharashtra | 553 | 624 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 566 | 318 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 422 | 700 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 285 | 192 |
The rest are listed in the scheme guidelines. Girls from 13 UTs and North Eastern states, including Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, get the scholarship if they are eligible and submit the form, without a quota. If one category does not receive enough applications, its unfilled seats move to the other.
AICTE Pragati Scholarship Last Date 2026-27
The last date for student applications on NSP is 31 October 2026. The NSP listing for both the degree and diploma schemes carries the same dates.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| NSP scheme opened | 1 June 2026 |
| Last date for student applications | 31 October 2026 |
| Defective application correction and institute verification | Until 15 November 2026 |
| District, state and ministry level verification | Until 30 November 2026 |
| Merit list | No date announced |
Do not leave it for the last week. Your college has to verify the form, and a form that is not verified is not considered. AICTE also says it publishes the provisional merit list on its own website, so keep an eye on the AICTE site after the verification dates.
How Are Students Selected?
Selection is based only on marks. NSP and AICTE prepare a merit list for each state or UT, as per the number of seats given to it.
- Degree: your percentage in Class 12 or the equivalent decides your rank. If two students tie, the one with higher Class 10 marks ranks higher, and then the older student.
- Diploma: your Class 10 percentage decides your rank. Ties are broken by age first, then by lower family income.
- Reservation: seats follow Government of India norms. If a reserved seat remains vacant, it moves to the general category. A student who qualifies on general merit is counted in the general category.
- CGPA: if your marksheet shows CGPA, it is converted by multiplying by 9.5. If both CGPA and total marks are printed, total marks are used.
If you want to question the merit list, you have one month from the date it is published. Queries about payment failing because of a wrong account number are accepted for six months from the publication of the list.
Documents Required for AICTE Pragati
The guidelines name one document, the income certificate. Students are usually asked for the rest on NSP, so keep these ready.
- Aadhaar number and an Aadhaar-linked mobile number for One Time Registration
- Income certificate issued by the State or UT government, showing family income up to ₹8 lakh
- Class 12 marksheet (degree) or Class 10 marksheet (diploma)
- Admission proof or bonafide certificate from the AICTE-approved institution
- Bank account details, with the account linked to Aadhaar
- Passport-size photograph
Your college can tell you if the portal asks for anything more.
How to Apply for AICTE Pragati on NSP
- Open scholarships.gov.in and complete One Time Registration with your Aadhaar-linked mobile number. If you are new to the portal, our NSP scholarship 2026-27 registration guide explains the process.
- Log in and select the scheme named "AICTE - Pragati Scholarship Scheme For Girl Students (Technical Degree)" or "(Technical Diploma)", whichever matches your course.
- Fill in your personal, academic, institute and bank details. Enter your qualifying exam marks exactly as they appear on your marksheet.
- Upload your income certificate and other documents as clear scans.
- Submit the form and note your application ID.
- Ask your college nodal officer to verify it on NSP. After that, the state's technical education department or the district and state nodal officers check it as the second level.
If the form is returned as defective, you can fix it until 15 November 2026.
Renewal Rules for AICTE Pragati
You have to renew every year to keep the scholarship. Submit your passing certificate or marksheet along with a letter from the Head of the Institution through NSP. A student who is not promoted to the next class forfeits the scholarship, and a student who fails or drops out in a later year is not eligible for further payments.
Common Mistakes That Cost Students the Scholarship
- Choosing the wrong scheme. Degree and diploma are separate on NSP, and a form filed under the wrong one can be rejected.
- Wrong marks. Your rank comes straight from the marks you enter, so a typing mistake can push you far down the list.
- An outdated income certificate. The income has to be for the current financial year and issued by the State or UT government.
- Missing the college verification. Only verified applications are considered. Remind your institute before 15 November 2026.
- Applying from a non-approved institution. The course must be at an AICTE-approved institute.
- Taking another scholarship. Receiving other assistance during the course can lead to a refund demand.
If You Do Not Get Pragati, Look at Other Options
Pragati has limited seats, so many eligible girls miss out. Our guide to merit-based and need-based scholarships explains how the two types work and which one suits your profile. If you are in the first year of a regular undergraduate degree, you may also look at the Reliance Foundation Scholarship 2026-27, although its application window has closed for this cycle. Girls looking for guidance can also look at Wings for Her on Scholarlify.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last date for AICTE Pragati Scholarship 2026-27?
The last date for student applications on NSP is 31 October 2026 for both the degree and diploma schemes. Institute verification runs until 15 November 2026, and district, state and ministry verification until 30 November 2026.
Who is eligible for the AICTE Pragati Scholarship?
Girl students admitted to the first year of a degree or diploma course, or the second year through lateral entry, in an AICTE-approved institution. Family income must not exceed ₹8 lakh a year, and only two girl children per family can benefit.
How much money does AICTE Pragati give?
₹50,000 a year, paid as a lump sum by Direct Benefit Transfer. A degree student can receive it for up to four years and a diploma student for up to three, depending on the year of entry.
How are Pragati scholars selected?
On merit. Degree students are ranked by their Class 12 percentage and diploma students by their Class 10 percentage, in a merit list prepared for each state or UT.
Can I take Pragati and another scholarship together?
No. The guidelines say the scholarship is conditional on you not receiving any other scholarship, stipend or salary during the course. If you do, it is discontinued and the amount has to be refunded.
Do I have to renew AICTE Pragati every year?
Yes. You renew through NSP by uploading your marksheet and a letter from your Head of Institution. If you are not promoted, the scholarship stops.
What to Do Next
Check that your college is approved by AICTE, get your income certificate ready, and submit your NSP application well before 31 October 2026. To see what else is open for your course and state, browse the Scholarlify scholarship list.