Why SC and ST Students Are Missing Scholarships Every Year
Every academic year, thousands of SC and ST students leave money on the table. The reason is rarely ineligibility. The reasons are more often: not knowing the scheme exists, missing the application window, uploading the wrong income certificate, or failing to get the application verified by the institution on time.
The National Scholarship Portal brings together more than 100 central and state government scholarship schemes under one login. Yet first-generation students and those in rural areas are frequently unaware of what is available to them. This guide is your complete reference for SC/ST scholarships India for the 2025-26 academic year. Visit the Scholarlify scholarship list to search and filter scholarships by category, state, and course.
12 SC/ST Scholarships in India You Should Not Miss in 2025-26
Post-Matric Scholarship for SC Students (PMS-SC)
Administered by: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India Eligibility: SC students studying in Class 11 and above (post-matriculation). Annual family income must not exceed Rs. 2.5 lakh from all sources. Students must be enrolled in a recognised institution. Benefits: Maintenance allowance ranging from Rs. 230 to Rs. 1,200 per month for day scholars and hostellers respectively, depending on course group. Reimbursement of compulsory non-refundable fees. Additional allowances for study tours (Rs. 1,600 per year), thesis printing (Rs. 1,600 per year), and book grants (Rs. 1,200 per year). Students with disabilities receive extra allowances. Application: Apply through the National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in or through your state's dedicated portal. Typical deadline: Applications usually open between July and September and close by October to November each year. Official reference: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (socialjustice.gov.in)
Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC Students
Administered by: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Eligibility: SC students studying in Classes 9 and 10. Annual family income limit of Rs. 2.5 lakh. Benefits: Maintenance allowance and other educational support provided directly to the student's bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Application: National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) or state portal.
Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Students
Administered by: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India Eligibility: SC students admitted to a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate course at a notified top-class institution (including all IITs, IIMs, IIITs, AIIMS, NITs, NIFTs, NIDs, National Law Universities, and other central government institutions). Annual family income from all sources must not exceed Rs. 8 lakh. A maximum of two siblings from one family can avail this scheme. Benefits: Full tuition fee and non-refundable charges covered. For private institutions, this is capped at Rs. 2 lakh per year. An academic allowance of Rs. 86,000 is provided in the first year and Rs. 41,000 in every subsequent year for living expenses, books, stationery, and a computer or laptop with accessories. 30 percent of slots are reserved for SC girl students. Total scholarships available for 2025-26: 4,500 (as per official scheme guidelines)
Application deadline: Applications opened in June 2025; revised deadline was December 15, 2025. Application: Apply through NSP at scholarships.gov.in. Complete the One-Time Registration (OTR) process first. Official reference: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (tcs.dosje.gov.in) This is one of the most generous scholarships for SC students in professional and premier institution courses, yet it remains underutilised.
Post-Matric Scholarship for ST Students
Administered by: Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India Eligibility: ST students pursuing any recognised course from a recognised institution where the minimum qualification is Class 10 or above. Benefits: Financial assistance transferred directly to students' bank accounts through DBT. Funds are released by the Ministry to State Governments and Union Territories, which then disburse to students. Application: Apply through the National Scholarship Portal or the relevant State Portal. Students must complete Aadhaar-based One-Time Registration. Official reference: Ministry of Tribal Affairs (tribal.nic.in)
National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students (NFST)
Administered by: Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India Eligibility: ST students pursuing higher education. The fellowship component supports research (MPhil and PhD) students. Benefits: Fellowship amounts for research students; scholarship component for those pursuing graduation and post-graduation. Application: Apply online through the Ministry of Tribal Affairs portal. The deadline for 2025-26 was extended to give students additional time. Check the official portal for updated deadlines. Official reference: Ministry of Tribal Affairs (tribal.nic.in)
National Overseas Scholarship for ST Students (NOS)
Administered by: Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India Eligibility: ST students (and candidates from de-notified tribes) seeking to pursue higher studies abroad. Shortlisted candidates for 2025-26 were listed on the official Ministry of Tribal Affairs portal. Benefits: Funding for pursuing masters and doctoral programmes at universities outside India. Application: Apply online through the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. NOS Advertisement for 2025-26 is available at tribal.nic.in. Official reference: Ministry of Tribal Affairs (tribal.nic.in)
SHRESHTA Scheme (Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas)
Administered by: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Eligibility: Meritorious SC students in Classes 9 to 12. Students are placed in reputed private residential schools. Benefits: Full residential and academic expenses covered at empanelled private schools. Designed to reduce the gap in quality of schooling between SC students and those from better-resourced backgrounds. Application: Through the National Scholarship Portal. Check socialjustice.gov.in for current eligibility and empanelled school lists.
UGC Post-Doctoral Fellowship for SC and ST Candidates
Administered by: University Grants Commission (UGC) Eligibility: SC and ST candidates who have completed their PhD and wish to pursue post-doctoral research in Indian universities or research institutions. Benefits: Fellowship stipend plus contingency grant. Check UGC notification for the current cycle amounts. Application: Through the UGC or National Scholarship Portal. Refer to UGC notification for deadlines. Official reference: University Grants Commission (ugc.gov.in)
Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child (for SC Families)
Administered by: University Grants Commission (UGC) Eligibility: Single girl children enrolled in the first year of a regular, full-time Masters degree programme. The institution must be UGC-recognised, a state or central government institution, or an institute of national importance. This scheme is open to students including those from SC families. Benefits: Rs. 36,200 per year (Rs. 3,100 per month) for two years, totalling Rs. 72,400, transferred through DBT. Application: Through the National Scholarship Portal. Official reference: UGC notification (ugc.gov.in)
State-Level Post-Matric Scholarships for SC/ST Students
Each state runs its own post-matric scholarship programmes in addition to the central government scheme. Income limits and portal requirements vary. Examples: Maharashtra: Applications submitted through MahaDBT portal. The scheme covers SC and Neo-Buddhist category students with an annual family income of Rs. 2.5 lakh or below. Apply at mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in. Delhi: Applications submitted through the E-District Delhi Portal. Last date to apply for 2025-26 was March 31, 2026. Telangana: Applications through TS ePASS portal. SC students qualify with family income up to Rs. 2.5 lakh annually. Tuition fee is reimbursed directly to the college; maintenance charges are transferred monthly to the student's bank account. Karnataka: Applications through the SSP (State Scholarship Portal). SC/ST students must have family income up to Rs. 2.5 lakh. For 2025-26, NSP One-Time Registration is mandatory before final submission on SSP. Always check your state's social welfare or SC/ST welfare department website for the current year's deadlines.
ONGC Scholarship for SC and ST Students Administered by: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC Foundation) Eligibility: SC and ST students pursuing graduate-level professional courses (engineering, MBBS, MBA). A total of 1,000 scholarships are reserved for SC and ST students each cycle. Benefits: Financial support to offset course costs in professional degree programmes. Application: Through the ONGC Foundation website. Check ongcscholar.org for current cycle dates.
Dr. Ambedkar Post-Matric Scholarship for Economically Backward Classes (EBC) and OBC Students
While this scheme primarily targets OBC and economically backward students, it is listed here because SC students who also fall under certain state-specific categories may be eligible in some states. Check with your state's social welfare department for applicability. Note: This is a separate scheme from the main PMS-SC and is administered at the state level.
Required Documents for SC/ST Scholarship Applications
Most schemes on the National Scholarship Portal require the following. Collect and verify these before the application window opens.
- Aadhaar card (linked to your mobile number and to your bank account)
- Valid caste certificate issued by a competent authority (Tehsildar or SDM rank or above)
- Income certificate issued by the relevant state authority (not just a declaration)
- Bank passbook or account details in the student's name
- Bonafide certificate from the current institution
- Mark sheet of the last qualifying examination
- Admission receipt or fee receipt from the institution
- Passport-size photograph
For the Top Class Education scholarship, an additional affidavit is required confirming that you are not the third sibling availing the scheme.
Common mistake: Students often submit an income certificate from a Patwari or village-level officer. Most NSP schemes and state portals require income certificates issued by a Tehsildar or SDM. Verify the required issuing authority based on your state's guidelines before getting the certificate made.
How to Apply Through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) Step by Step
Step 1: Visit the official NSP portal at scholarships.gov.in.
Step 2: Complete the One-Time Registration (OTR). You will need your Aadhaar number and an active mobile number linked to it. The OTR involves face authentication through the NSP OTR mobile application. Once completed, you receive a unique OTR number.
Step 3: Log in using your registered mobile number and OTP.
Step 4: Browse available scholarship schemes. The portal will display schemes for which you may be eligible based on your category, state, and education level.
Step 5: Select the appropriate scheme and fill in the application form with your personal details, academic qualifications, institution details, and bank account information.
Step 6: Upload scanned copies of all required documents in the specified format and size.
Step 7: Submit the application and note down your application ID.
Step 8: Your institution must verify your application within the specified time. Follow up with your college office or principal proactively if they have not done so within two weeks.
Step 9: After institution verification, your application moves to district and then state-level verification.
Step 10: Once fully verified, the scholarship amount is transferred directly to your Aadhaar-linked bank account through DBT, typically between January and March of the academic year.
Common Mistakes Box
- Submitting an income certificate from the wrong authority: Use only Tehsildar or SDM-issued certificates. Patwari-issued certificates are not accepted on NSP.
- Aadhaar not seeded to bank account: Any mismatch in name, even a single character difference, will result in DBT rejection. Verify this at your bank before applying.
- Not following up with institution: The institution must verify your application on NSP within the deadline. Many students lose their scholarship because their college office did not verify on time. Submit a written request to your principal or student welfare officer after you submit online.
- Applying for multiple scholarships for the same course: Students generally cannot receive more than one central scholarship for the same course at the same level. Check NSP scheme guidelines before applying to multiple schemes.
- Skipping the OTR: For 2025-26, the One-Time Registration on NSP is mandatory even for state-level portals such as Karnataka's SSP. Without an OTR number, the final submission is blocked.
- Missing the institute verification window: The annual application cycle typically runs from September to November. Institute verification deadlines are strict. Missing this window means waiting another year.
How to Use Scholarlify for SC/ST Scholarship Search
- Scholarlify is a free Indian scholarship search and mentorship platform that helps students find schemes they qualify for without spending hours reading government circulars.
- You can use the Scholarlify scholarship list (https://scholarlify.com/scholarshiplist) to filter SC/ST scholarships by state, course level, and income eligibility.
- The Scholarlify mentorship programme (https://scholarlify.com/mentorship) connects students with counsellors who can guide them through the application process, particularly for first-time applicants who are unsure about documentation.
- The Wings for Her programme (https://scholarlify.com/wingsforher) offers dedicated support for girl students seeking scholarships, including those reserved for SC/ST women applicants.
- Check Scholarlify results (https://scholarlify.com/results) to track which scholarships are currently active. Visit the Scholarlify blog (https://scholarlify.com/blog) for scheme-specific updates. Create your free account on the Scholarlify dashboard (https://dashboard.scholarlify.com/) to save scholarships and set reminders for deadlines.
- For more about Scholarlify's mission: https://scholarlify.com/about
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is the income limit for SC/ST scholarships in India for 2025-26?
For most post-matric scholarships for SC and ST students, the annual family income limit is Rs. 2.5 lakh from all sources. The Top Class Education Scholarship for SC students has a higher income ceiling of Rs. 8 lakh, making it accessible to a broader group of students in premier institutions.
Q2. Can an SC student apply for both a central government scholarship and a state scholarship?
Generally, students cannot receive two central government scholarships for the same course at the same level. However, a central scholarship and a state-specific scheme may sometimes be compatible. You must check the specific scheme guidelines on scholarships.gov.in and your state portal. The NSP OTR system is designed to flag and prevent dual-benefit claims.
Q3. Is it mandatory to complete One-Time Registration (OTR) on NSP for 2025-26?
Yes. OTR on the National Scholarship Portal is mandatory for all applicants. Without a valid OTR number, your application cannot be submitted on NSP or most linked state portals, including Karnataka's SSP portal for the 2025-26 cycle.
Q4. What happens if my institution does not verify my application on time?
If your institution does not verify your application before the portal deadline, your application will not be processed for that year. You would have to reapply in the next academic year. Proactively follow up in writing with your principal or student welfare officer after submitting online. Keep a copy of your acknowledgment.
Q5. Can ST students apply for the National Overseas Scholarship to study abroad?
Yes. The National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) is specifically for ST students (and candidates from de-notified tribes) who wish to pursue Masters or PhD programmes at universities outside India. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs manages this scheme and publishes the advertisement and selection list on tribal.nic.in.
Q6. Are SC/ST scholarships renewed every year automatically?
No. Most scholarships require annual renewal. You must submit a fresh application each year with updated income certificates, academic records, and enrolment proof. For the Top Class Education scholarship, renewal is not granted if you change your institution or fail to clear all subjects in the previous academic year.