Scholarship Guide for Indian Students 2026 — Merit, Need-Based, Government and Private
Scholarships for Indian students in 2026: merit and need-based, government and private — who can apply, what you get, and when, from Class 9 to college.
Indian students can get scholarships from the central government (through the National Scholarship Portal), their state government, their college and private foundations. Some are purely on merit, most combine merit with a family income limit, and some are for particular categories. Here are the main ones at each stage, with what they give.
Merit scholarships
| Scholarship | For | What you get | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| INSPIRE Award – MANAK | Classes 6–10 | ₹10,000 for a selected science idea or project | Nominated by your school |
| INSPIRE-SHE | BSc/BS/integrated MSc | ₹80,000 a year, up to 5 years | Top 1% of your board, JEE Advanced/NEET top 10,000, or other merit routes |
| CBSE Single Girl Child Merit Scholarship | Classes 11–12 | Monthly scholarship for two years | Only child, 60%+ in CBSE Class 10 |
| IIT tuition fee remission | IIT B.Tech students | Full tuition waiver for SC/ST/PwD and for family income under ₹1 lakh; two-thirds for ₹1–5 lakh | Apply at your IIT after admission |
NTSE has not been held since 2021 and KVPY was merged into INSPIRE in 2022 — see NTSE status and KVPY and INSPIRE.
Government scholarships with an income limit
| Scholarship | For | What you get | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| NMMS | Class 9–12 | ₹12,000 a year | Clear your state's Class 8 exam; government/aided school; income up to ₹3.5 lakh |
| Pre-/Post-Matric for SC and ST | Class 9 to PG | Allowance (pre-matric); fees + allowance (post-matric) | Income up to ₹2.5 lakh |
| PM YASASVI (OBC, EBC, DNT) | Class 9 to PG | ₹4,000 a year (Class 9–10); fees + allowance after Class 10 | Income up to ₹2.5 lakh |
| Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships | College | ₹12,000 a year (UG, first three years); ₹20,000 (PG) | Top 20% of your board's Class 12 results; income up to ₹4.5 lakh |
| Prime Minister's Scholarship Scheme | Professional degrees | ₹2,500 a month (boys), ₹3,000 (girls) | Wards of ex-servicemen |
Details and how to apply: government scholarships guide and NSP step by step.
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| Scholarship | For | What you get | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reliance Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship | First-year UG, any stream | Up to ₹2 lakh over the degree (about 5,000 a year) | Merit-cum-means; household income under ₹15 lakh |
| Azim Premji Foundation Scholarship | Girls starting a UG degree or diploma | ₹30,000 a year for the course | Studied Classes 10 and 12 in government schools |
| Tata Trusts, Aditya Birla, HDFC Bank Parivartan, Sitaram Jindal and others | Various | Varies | Check each foundation's official page for the current round |
| Aggregators (Buddy4Study, Vidyasaarathi) | Various | Varies | Useful for discovering corporate scholarships — always apply on the sponsor's official link |
By stage
Classes 8–10
- NMMS exam in Class 8 — NMMS guide
- INSPIRE Award – MANAK through your school
- Pre-matric scholarships for SC, ST and OBC students in Classes 9–10
- Olympiads (NSEJS, IOQM) for strong science and maths students
Classes 11–12
- Post-matric scholarships for SC, ST and OBC students
- CBSE Single Girl Child scholarship
- NMMS renewal if you are an awardee
- State merit scholarships — see our state guides for Rajasthan, Maharashtra, UP, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat and MP
College
- Central Sector Scheme and INSPIRE-SHE
- AICTE Pragati for girls in technical courses — scholarships for girls
- Institution fee waivers — ask your college; many go unclaimed
- Private foundation scholarships (above)
How to improve your chances
- Keep your marks up — most scholarships need minimum marks to win and to renew.
- Get your income certificate early — it is the document that delays most applications.
- Apply to several that fit you, not just one.
- Register on NSP as soon as it opens and complete One Time Registration in advance.
- Keep a folder of scans — marksheets, income and caste certificates, Aadhaar, bank details, photo.
- Ask your college about internal scholarships during admission.
Scholarship rules change every year. Verify on the National Scholarship Portal, your state portal or the sponsor's official website before applying.
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What are the main scholarships for school students in India?
NMMS (₹12,000 a year from Class 9 to 12, via a Class 8 exam), the pre-matric scholarships for SC, ST and OBC students in Classes 9–10, the INSPIRE Award – MANAK (₹10,000 for science ideas, Classes 6–10) and the CBSE Single Girl Child scholarship in Classes 11–12. NTSE and KVPY are no longer running.
How do I apply for scholarships in India?
Government scholarships are on the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) after One Time Registration, or on your state's scholarship portal. Private scholarships have their own application pages — apply there directly.
Are scholarships available for general category students?
Yes. Merit scholarships such as INSPIRE-SHE and the Central Sector Scheme (income-limited), NMMS (income-limited), IIT income-based fee remission and many private scholarships are open to all categories.
Can I hold more than one scholarship?
Usually one government scholarship at a time; many private scholarships allow you to hold a government one alongside. Read each scheme's rules.
When should I start applying?
The National Scholarship Portal usually opens around June–July. College and private scholarships open around admission time (June–September). Keep your income certificate, marksheets and an Aadhaar-seeded bank account ready before then.