AICTE Saksham Scholarship 2026-27 pays ₹50,000 a year to students with a disability of 40% or more who have taken admission in an AICTE-approved technical degree or diploma course. Applications are open on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) until 31 October 2026, and your institute must verify the form by 15 November 2026. Family income must not exceed ₹8 lakh a year.
Last verified on 15 October 2026 against the NSP scheme listing and the official Saksham guidelines.
AICTE Saksham Scholarship 2026-27 at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Scheme name | AICTE Saksham Scholarship Scheme for Specially Abled Students (Technical Degree and Technical Diploma) |
| Run by | All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), under the Ministry of Education |
| Application portal | National Scholarship Portal, scholarships.gov.in |
| Type on NSP | Welfare based scheme |
| Who can apply | Students with 40% or more disability in AICTE-approved technical degree or diploma courses |
| Family income limit | ₹8 lakh a year from all sources |
| Amount | ₹50,000 a year |
| Last date for students | 31 October 2026 |
| Institute verification | Until 15 November 2026 |
| Helpline (from the official FAQ) | saksham@aicte-india.org, 011-29581118 |
What is the AICTE Saksham Scholarship?
The AICTE Saksham Scholarship is a central government scheme that helps specially abled students study technical courses. AICTE implements it for the Ministry of Education. The older guideline documents still call it an MHRD scheme, which is the Ministry's former name.
NSP lists two versions: one for Technical Degree and one for Technical Diploma. There is no entrance test and no rank list to compete in. Under the official guidelines, every eligible student whose application is verified gets the award.
Important dates for AICTE Saksham Scholarship 2026-27
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Scheme opened on NSP | 1 June 2026 |
| Last date for student applications | 31 October 2026 |
| Defective application verification | Until 15 November 2026 |
| Institute verification | Until 15 November 2026 |
| District, State or Ministry nodal officer verification | Until 30 November 2026 |
Submitting your form by 31 October is only the first half of the job. If your institute does not verify the application by 15 November, it can still fail even though you applied on time. Ask your college's scholarship nodal officer to confirm verification in the first week of November.
Some education sites reported a December deadline for the previous cycle, so extensions have happened before. Do not plan around one. The date on your scheme's NSP entry is the one that counts.
Who can apply for the AICTE Saksham Scholarship?
You can apply if you have a disability of at least 40%, your family income is within ₹8 lakh, and you are in the first year of a technical degree or diploma (or the second year through lateral entry) at an AICTE-approved institute.
| Condition | What the scheme asks for |
|---|---|
| Disability | 40% or more, shown by a certificate from a competent authority |
| Family income | Not more than ₹8 lakh a year from all sources in the current financial year, with an income certificate issued by the State or UT government |
| Admission | First year of a degree or diploma, or second year through lateral entry, in an AICTE-approved institute |
| Gap after qualifying exam | Not more than two years between passing the qualifying exam and taking admission (degree guidelines) |
| Other scholarships | You must not be receiving any Central, State or AICTE scholarship |
| Bank account | A general savings account in your own name, seeded with Aadhaar. Minor, joint and FRILL accounts are not accepted |
A small wording point: the guideline says income "not more than" ₹8 lakh, while the FAQ says "less than" ₹8 lakh. If your family income sits exactly at the limit, check with your nodal officer or write to AICTE before applying.
You are not eligible if you are in the third year, in a postgraduate course, in a dual degree, in a non-technical course, or in an institute that AICTE has not approved for the year. The official FAQ confirms all of these.
Scholarship amount and benefits
The award is ₹50,000 for every year of study, paid as a lump sum by Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into your bank account. It is meant for college fees, a computer, stationery, books, equipment and software. No extra grant is paid for hostel or medical charges.
| Course | How you entered | Maximum years of support |
|---|---|---|
| Technical degree | First year | 4 years |
| Technical degree | Second year, lateral entry | 3 years |
| Technical diploma | First year | 3 years |
| Technical diploma | Second year, lateral entry | 2 years |
Over a full four-year degree, that adds up to ₹2 lakh. There is no fixed quota. Some older websites quote 1,000 awards a year, but the guideline hosted on NSP says all eligible students get the scholarship, and the FAQ confirms there is no reservation percentage.
Can you combine Saksham with another scholarship?
From 2026-27, NSP lets a student apply for one merit-based scheme and one or more welfare-based schemes. Saksham is a welfare-based scheme. Our guide to scholarships in India 2026-27 explains how that rule works across NSP.
Saksham's own conditions are stricter. They say you should not be receiving any Central, State or AICTE scholarship, and AICTE can ask for a refund of the full amount if you receive other financial assistance during the course. Until AICTE or your nodal officer tells you in writing that stacking is allowed for Saksham, do not assume it is. If you want to understand why schemes are labelled this way, this explainer on merit-based and need-based scholarships is a good start.
Saksham, Pragati and Swanath: which AICTE scheme fits you?
AICTE runs three scholarship schemes on NSP for technical students, and each has its own conditions.
| Scheme | Meant for | NSP category |
|---|---|---|
| Saksham | Students with 40% or more disability | Welfare based |
| AICTE Pragati Scholarship | Girl students, maximum two per family | Merit based |
| Swanath | Other eligible categories under its own guidelines | Welfare based |
A girl student with a disability should read the guidelines of both Saksham and Pragati and ask AICTE which route suits her, because the conditions differ.
Documents required for AICTE Saksham Scholarship
Keep clear scans ready before you log in. The official FAQ lists these uploads:
- Class 10 certificate and marksheet
- Class 12 certificate and marksheet (degree level)
- ITI certificate and marksheet (diploma lateral entry)
- Diploma certificate and marksheet (degree lateral entry)
- Category certificate, if applicable
- Study or bonafide certificate from your institute
- Annual family income certificate
- Promotion certificate, for renewal
On top of this, the application needs your Aadhaar, an Aadhaar-seeded bank account in your own name, and your disability certificate. Applications without a disability certificate, or with one not issued by a competent authority, are rejected directly.
The income certificate must be for the current year, issued by an authority such as a Tehsildar, District Magistrate or Block Development Officer, and carry a signature and stamp. The bonafide certificate needs the Principal's signature and seal, and the "strike off whichever is not applicable" lines must be struck off.
How to apply for AICTE Saksham Scholarship on NSP
To apply, give UDID consent, create your One Time Registration (OTR), then pick the Saksham scheme for your course level on NSP and submit the form with documents.
- Check your UDID details and give consent. The 2026-27 NSP announcement asks students with disabilities to give UDID consent first. NSP links to the UDID portal for this.
- Create your OTR. Use the OTR page or the NSP OTR app and complete face authentication.
- Confirm Aadhaar seeding. Your bank account should be linked to Aadhaar, or DBT will fail.
- Log in and choose the scheme. Open "Apply for Scholarship" for 2026-27 and select AICTE Saksham Scholarship Scheme for Specially Abled Student, Technical Degree or Technical Diploma, to match your course.
- Fill the form and upload documents. Enter your academic, income and disability details exactly as they appear on your certificates.
- Submit and save your application ID. Take a screenshot of the final submission.
- Ask your institute to verify. Do this well before 15 November 2026.
- Track the status and payment. Use the NSP Application Status page and the PFMS Know Your Payment tool.
Selection process
There is no separate test. Your application is checked in stages: your institute verifies it first, then the nodal officer verifies it at the next level. AICTE uploads the provisional list on its portal. If you have a query about the list, raise it within one month of publication. Queries about non-payment because of a wrong bank account number are entertained only up to six months from the date the list is published.
Renewal of the scholarship
Renewal is also done on NSP. You submit your passing or promotion certificate along with a letter or certification from the Head of the Institution. If you fail to get promoted or drop out, you lose the scholarship for later years.
Common mistakes that lead to rejection
- Wrong course or institute. The course must be technical and approved by AICTE for the current year.
- Missing or invalid disability certificate. It must come from a competent authority.
- Old or unsigned income certificate. It must be for the current year, in your name or a family member's name, with signature and stamp.
- Blurred or irrelevant uploads. A blurred Class 12 copy or the wrong document in place of it is a listed rejection reason.
- Another scholarship running at the same time. This is one of the direct rejection reasons in the FAQ.
- Skipping institute verification. The form is not final until your college verifies it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the last date to apply for AICTE Saksham Scholarship 2026-27?
Students can apply until 31 October 2026 on NSP. Institute verification and defective application correction run until 15 November 2026, and nodal officer verification until 30 November 2026.
Who is eligible for the AICTE Saksham Scholarship?
Students with a disability of 40% or more, family income within ₹8 lakh a year, and admission to the first year of a technical degree or diploma (or the second year through lateral entry) at an AICTE-approved institute. They must not be receiving any other Central, State or AICTE scholarship.
How much money does the Saksham Scholarship give?
It gives ₹50,000 for every year of study, paid as a lump sum through DBT. Degree students can receive it for up to 4 years, and diploma students for up to 3 years. Lateral entry students get one year less.
Which documents are needed for the Saksham Scholarship?
You need your Class 10 and Class 12 documents as applicable, a bonafide certificate, an income certificate, a disability certificate, Aadhaar and an Aadhaar-seeded bank account in your name. Add a category certificate if it applies to you, and a promotion certificate if you are renewing.
Can a third-year student apply for the Saksham Scholarship?
No. The official FAQ says third-year students are not eligible. Only first-year students, or second-year students admitted through lateral entry, can apply for a fresh scholarship.
Who can I contact if I face a problem?
For scheme questions, the official FAQ gives saksham@aicte-india.org and 011-29581118. For portal problems, write to helpdesk@nsp.gov.in.
What to do next
Spend ten minutes today on three things: check your UDID details, make sure your bank account is linked to Aadhaar, and ask your institute who handles scholarship verification. Then open NSP and complete your form before 31 October 2026.
If you are not sure Saksham is the right scheme for you, the Scholarlify scholarship list lets you filter by level, category and state. If you want one-to-one help with your application, you can also look at the Scholarlify mentorship programme.
Sources and official references
- National Scholarship Portal, Schemes on NSP (2026-27 dates)
- AICTE Saksham Scholarship Scheme guidelines (Degree), hosted on NSP
- AICTE Saksham Scholarship Scheme FAQ, hosted on NSP
- AICTE Saksham Scholarship guidelines (Diploma), hosted on NSP
- Careerindia, NSP scholarship alert and verification guide (supporting source for UDID consent)
Scholarship dates, amounts and rules can change. This article reflects what the official sources listed above showed on 15 October 2026. Scholarlify is an information platform and does not guarantee the award of any scholarship.