Scholarships for Girl Students in India 2026 — Complete List
Scholarships for girls in India in 2026: AICTE Pragati, UGC single girl child PG, CBSE single girl child and state schemes like Kanyashree — who can apply.
The main scholarships for girls in India are AICTE Pragati (₹50,000 a year in technical courses), the UGC PG Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child (₹36,200 a year) and the CBSE Single Girl Child scholarship, plus state schemes such as Kanyashree (West Bengal) and Kanya Sumangala (Uttar Pradesh). Girls can apply for all general scholarships too. Here is who each scheme is for.
National schemes for girls
| Scheme | Who it is for | What you get | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| AICTE Pragati | Girls in the first year (or second year by lateral entry) of an AICTE-approved degree or diploma; family income up to ₹8 lakh; up to two girls per family | ₹50,000 a year for the course (about 5,000 degree and 5,000 diploma awards a year) | National Scholarship Portal |
| UGC PG Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child | A single girl child in the first year of a full-time master's degree | ₹36,200 a year for two years | National Scholarship Portal |
| CBSE Merit Scholarship for Single Girl Child | CBSE students who are the only child, passed Class 10 with 60%+ and study in Class 11–12 within CBSE's fee limit | A monthly scholarship for Classes 11 and 12 — check the current amount in CBSE's guidelines | cbse.gov.in (usually opens in the autumn) |
State schemes for girls (examples)
| State | Scheme | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| West Bengal | Kanyashree Prakalpa | ₹1,000 a year (K1) for unmarried girls aged 13–18 in education, and a one-time ₹25,000 (K2) at 18 if still studying and unmarried |
| Uttar Pradesh | Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangala Yojana | ₹25,000 in six instalments from birth to admission to graduation or a two-year diploma |
| Maharashtra | Tuition and exam fee waiver for girls | Full tuition and exam fees in notified professional UG courses for OBC, EWS and SEBC girls with family income under ₹8 lakh |
| Rajasthan | Gargi Puraskar and Balika Protsahan Puraskar | Awards for girls who score 75%+ in the Rajasthan board's Class 10 and Class 12 exams |
Many states run more — check your state's scholarship portal. Our state guides cover Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Rajasthan.
Schemes that have stopped
The Begum Hazrat Mahal scholarship for minority girls was run by the Maulana Azad Education Foundation, which was ordered closed in February 2024, and the central minority post-matric scholarship has taken no new students since 2022-23. See our minority scholarship guide.
How to apply
National schemes are on the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) after One Time Registration — see our NSP guide. CBSE's scheme is on cbse.gov.in, and state schemes use their own portals.
Merit scholarships reward strong marks
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Start freeFrequently Asked Questions
Which are the main scholarships for girls in India?
Nationally: AICTE Pragati (₹50,000 a year for girls in technical degree or diploma courses), the UGC PG Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child (₹36,200 a year for two years of PG) and the CBSE Merit Scholarship for Single Girl Child (Classes 11–12). States add their own — for example Kanyashree in West Bengal, Kanya Sumangala in Uttar Pradesh and the fee waiver for girls in Maharashtra.
Are there scholarships for girls in engineering?
Yes. AICTE Pragati gives ₹50,000 a year to girls in the first year (or second year by lateral entry) of an AICTE-approved degree or diploma course, with family income up to ₹8 lakh. Up to two girls per family can apply, through the National Scholarship Portal.
Is INSPIRE-SHE a scholarship for girls?
No — SHE stands for Scholarship for Higher Education. INSPIRE-SHE is open to all students in natural-science degrees who meet its merit criteria.
Can girls apply for general scholarships too?
Yes. Girls can apply for every general scholarship, such as NMMS and the Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships, as well as girl-specific schemes.