AICTE Swanath Scholarship 2026-27 pays ₹50,000 a year to technical degree and diploma students who are orphans, wards of martyred armed forces personnel, or children who lost a parent to Covid-19. 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, and the awards are limited to 1,000 for degree and 1,000 for diploma students.
Last verified on 15 October 2026 against the NSP scheme listing and the official Swanath guidelines.
AICTE Swanath Scholarship 2026-27 at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Scheme name | AICTE Swanath Scholarship Scheme for Students (Technical Degree and Technical Diploma) |
| Run by | All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Student Development Cell |
| Application portal | National Scholarship Portal, scholarships.gov.in |
| Type on NSP | Welfare based scheme |
| Who can apply | Orphans, wards of parents who died of Covid-19, and wards of martyred Armed Forces and Central Paramilitary Forces personnel, studying in AICTE-approved courses |
| Family income limit | ₹8 lakh a year from all sources |
| Amount | ₹50,000 a year |
| Number of awards | Maximum 2,000 a year (1,000 degree and 1,000 diploma) |
| Last date for students | 31 October 2026 |
| Institute verification | Until 15 November 2026 |
| Helpline (from the official FAQ) | consultant2stdc@aicte-india.org, 011-29581118 |
What is the AICTE Swanath Scholarship?
The AICTE Swanath Scholarship is a central scheme that supports children who have lost one or both parents, or whose father or mother was martyred in service, so they can finish a technical degree or diploma. AICTE implements it, and NSP lists one version for Technical Degree and one for Technical Diploma.
The scheme is easy to misread. NSP labels it a welfare based scheme, but the official guideline says selection is done on marks, and only 2,000 awards are available each year. So it is not a "everyone who qualifies gets it" scholarship. Eligible students are ranked, and the top scorers in each group are selected.
Important dates for AICTE Swanath 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 |
The 31 October date is only the date for submitting your form. If your institute does not verify the application by 15 November, it may not reach the merit list even though you applied on time. Ask your college's scholarship nodal officer to confirm verification early in November.
Dates can be revised, so keep an eye on the NSP announcements. The date shown against your scheme on NSP is the one that counts.
Who can apply for the AICTE Swanath Scholarship?
You can apply if you belong to one of the listed categories, your family income is within ₹8 lakh, and you are currently studying in a regular degree or diploma course at an AICTE-approved institute. Unlike some other AICTE schemes, you do not have to be a first-year student.
| Condition | What the scheme asks for |
|---|---|
| Category | Orphan, or either or both parents died due to Covid-19, or ward of Armed Forces or Central Paramilitary Forces personnel martyred in action (Shaheed) |
| Family income | Not more than ₹8 lakh a year from all sources in the financial year of application, with an income certificate from the State or UT government |
| Course | AICTE-approved institute and course, degree or diploma, in regular mode, in any year from 1st to 4th |
| 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 |
One thing to check yourself: the May 2025 guideline adds a fourth category, a parent who has a critical life-threatening disease such as cancer, or who died or became severely disabled (above 80%) in an accident, as defined in the RPwD Act 2016. The FAQ on NSP lists only the first three categories. If you fall in the fourth category, write to AICTE and confirm before you apply.
You will be rejected if you are in a non-technical course, a postgraduate course or a dual degree, or if your course or institute is not approved by AICTE for the current year.
Scholarship amount and benefits
The award is ₹50,000 for every year of study, paid as a lump sum by Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). It is meant for college fees, a computer, stationery, books, equipment and software. No extra grant is paid for hostel or medical charges.
The number of years you get depends on which year you are in when you receive the award.
| Course | Your current year | Maximum years of support |
|---|---|---|
| Degree | 1st year | 4 years |
| Degree | 2nd year | 3 years |
| Degree | 3rd year | 2 years |
| Degree | 4th year | 1 year |
| Diploma | 1st year | 3 years |
| Diploma | 2nd year | 2 years |
| Diploma | 3rd year | 1 year |
How many scholarships are given and how are students selected?
AICTE awards a maximum of 2,000 Swanath scholarships a year: 1,000 for degree students and 1,000 for diploma students. Selection is based on marks, and reservation follows Government of India norms.
| Level | Marks used for ranking | Tie-breakers, in order |
|---|---|---|
| Degree | Percentage in Class 12 or equivalent (any five subjects) | Class 10 percentage, then older age, then lower family income |
| Diploma | Percentage in Class 10 or equivalent | Older age, then lower family income |
If your marksheet shows CGPA, AICTE converts it to a percentage by multiplying by 9.5. If it shows both CGPA and total marks, total marks are used.
This marks-based ranking is why it helps to understand how schemes are classified. Our explainer on merit-based and need-based scholarships shows why a scheme can be called welfare based for eligibility and still rank students by marks.
Can you combine Swanath with another scholarship?
From 2026-27, NSP lets a student apply for one merit-based scheme and one or more welfare-based schemes. Our guide to scholarships in India 2026-27 explains that rule in detail.
Swanath's own conditions are stricter. The official FAQ says students already receiving a Central, State or AICTE scholarship are not eligible. If AICTE finds you received other financial help during the course, the scholarship is stopped and the full amount has to be refunded by demand draft. Do not assume you can stack Swanath with another scheme. Ask AICTE in writing first.
Swanath, Saksham and Pragati: which AICTE scheme fits you?
AICTE runs three scholarship schemes on NSP, and each has its own conditions.
| Scheme | Meant for | NSP category |
|---|---|---|
| Swanath | Orphans, Covid-19 wards, wards of martyred personnel | Welfare based |
| Saksham | Students with 40% or more disability | Welfare based |
| AICTE Pragati Scholarship | Girl students, maximum two per family | Merit based |
Swanath covers students in any year of study, while Saksham and Pragati are for first-year and lateral entry students.
Documents required for AICTE Swanath Scholarship
Your documents depend on your category. The official FAQ lists these uploads:
If you are an orphan
- Death certificates of both parents (if available), or a certificate from the Tehsildar or SDM in the prescribed format
- Bonafide certificate from your institute
- Class 12 and Class 10 marksheets (degree), or Class 10 marksheet (diploma)
- Category certificate (SC, ST or OBC-NCL), if applicable
If one or both parents died due to Covid-19
- Death certificate that clearly says the death was due to Covid-19
- Current year income certificate showing family income below ₹8 lakh, if one parent is alive
- Bonafide certificate, marksheets and category certificate, as above
If you are a ward of martyred Armed Forces or Central Paramilitary Forces personnel
- Death certificate and the Shaheed certificate issued by the force
- Current year income certificate showing family income below ₹8 lakh
- Bonafide certificate, marksheets and category certificate, as above
Aadhaar is mandatory, and so is an Aadhaar-seeded bank account in your name. The orphan document list does not mention an income certificate, but the eligibility clause asks for one, so keep a current one ready anyway.
An income certificate must be for the current year, issued by an authority such as a Tehsildar, Magistrate or Block Development Officer, and carry a signature and stamp. A bonafide certificate without the Principal's signature and seal will lead to rejection.
How to apply for AICTE Swanath Scholarship on NSP
To apply, create your One Time Registration (OTR), then pick the Swanath scheme for your course level on NSP and submit the form with your documents.
- Create your OTR. Use the OTR page or the NSP OTR app and complete face authentication.
- Confirm Aadhaar seeding. Your bank account must be linked to Aadhaar, or DBT will fail.
- Collect your category documents. Get the certificates for your category before you start, because orphan and death certificates can take time.
- Log in and choose the scheme. Open "Apply for Scholarship" for 2026-27 and select AICTE Swanath Scholarship Scheme, Technical Degree or Technical Diploma, to match your course.
- Fill the form and upload documents. Enter your marks and income 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.
Renewal of the scholarship
Renewal is done on NSP. You submit your promotion certificate along with a bonafide certificate from the Head of the Institution. If you fail to get promoted, drop out, or do not apply for renewal in time, you lose the scholarship for the remaining years.
Common mistakes that lead to rejection
- Wrong course or institute. The course must be technical and approved by AICTE for the current year.
- Wrong or blurred category document. The FAQ lists a blurred copy, a certificate in someone else's name, or the wrong category certificate as reasons for rejection.
- Old or unsigned income certificate. It must be for the current year and carry a signature and stamp.
- Marksheet problems. A blurred, inaccessible or irrelevant document in place of the Class 10 or Class 12 marksheet is a listed reason.
- Another scholarship running at the same time. This is one of the direct rejection reasons.
- Skipping institute verification. Only verified applications are considered for the award.
Frequently asked questions
What is the last date to apply for AICTE Swanath 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 Swanath Scholarship?
Orphans, children who lost either or both parents to Covid-19, and wards of martyred Armed Forces or Central Paramilitary Forces personnel, with family income within ₹8 lakh a year. They must be studying in an AICTE-approved degree or diploma course and must not be receiving any other Central, State or AICTE scholarship.
How much money does the Swanath 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, reduced if you are already in a later year.
Which documents are needed for the Swanath Scholarship?
You need Aadhaar, an Aadhaar-seeded bank account, a bonafide certificate, your Class 10 and Class 12 marksheets as applicable, and the documents for your category, such as death certificates, an orphan certificate or a Shaheed certificate. An income certificate is needed for the Covid-19 and martyred personnel categories.
Can second, third and fourth year students apply?
Yes. The scheme is open to students in any year of an AICTE-approved course. A diploma student in the third year, for example, can receive the scholarship for one year only.
How are Swanath scholars selected?
By marks. Degree students are ranked on their Class 12 percentage and diploma students on their Class 10 percentage. Ties are broken by Class 10 marks, age and family income, as the official guideline describes.
What to do next
Spend ten minutes today on three things: check that your bank account is linked to Aadhaar, find out which category certificate you need, and ask your institute who handles scholarship verification. Then open NSP and complete your form before 31 October 2026.
If you are not sure Swanath 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 Swanath Scholarship Scheme guidelines (May 2025), hosted on NSP
- AICTE Swanath Scholarship Scheme FAQ, hosted on NSP
- AICTE Swanath Scholarship guidelines (Diploma), hosted on NSP
- Careerindia, NSP scholarship alert and verification guide (supporting source for dates)
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.