Hurry: The last date for most NSP 2026-27 pre-matric and post-matric scholarships is 31 October 2026. Deadlines can differ by scheme and extensions are announced only on the official portal — verify your scheme's date on scholarships.gov.in before applying.
The National Scholarship Portal (NSP) is the Government of India's single platform for applying to central scholarship schemes run by different ministries. If you are pursuing B.Ed, D.El.Ed, graduation or a diploma on the way to CTET/UTET, a post-matric scholarship can cover a good part of your fees and expenses.
Key Details
| Portal | National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) |
| Academic Session | 2026-27 |
| Applications Opened | 1 June 2026 |
| Last Date (most pre & post-matric schemes) | 31 October 2026 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Fee | None (free) |
| Payment Mode | DBT to Aadhaar-seeded bank account |
Scheme-wise Last Dates & Eligibility
| Scheme | Last Date | Key Eligibility | Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities | 31 Oct 2026 | 40%+ disability, Class 11 to PG, family income under ₹2.5 lakh | Maintenance allowance, book grant, disability allowance |
| Top Class Education for Students with Disabilities | 31 Oct 2026 | 40%+ disability, graduation/PG/diploma, income under ₹6 lakh | Up to ₹2 lakh per year |
| Top Class Education for SC Students | 31 Oct 2026 | SC, full-time UG/PG at notified institutions, income under ₹6 lakh | Full tuition fee + allowances |
| National Fellowship & Scholarship for ST Students | 31 Oct 2026 | ST students at notified institutions, income under ₹6 lakh | Scheme-based |
| PM YASASVI Top Class (OBC/EBC/DNT) | 31 Oct 2026 | OBC/EBC/DNT students at notified institutions | Scheme-based |
| AICTE Pragati (Girls) | 31 Oct 2026 | Girls in first year of technical diploma/degree, income under ₹8 lakh | Up to ₹50,000 per year |
| AICTE Saksham (Specially-abled) | 31 Oct 2026 | 40%+ disability, first year of technical diploma/degree, income under ₹8 lakh | Up to ₹50,000 per year |
| AICTE Swanath | 31 Oct 2026 | Orphans / wards of parents lost to COVID / police martyrs, income under ₹8 lakh | Up to ₹50,000 per year |
| Central Sector Scheme (Renewal) | 30 Sep 2026 (closed) | Above 80th percentile in Class 12, income under ₹8 lakh | Up to ₹20,000 per year |
Post-matric scholarships for minority students (family income up to ₹2 lakh) and the Merit-cum-Means scholarship for professional/technical courses (income under ₹2.5 lakh) are also available — check their current deadline on the portal.
Award amounts and income limits above are as listed for the 2026-27 cycle by scholarship aggregators. The official scheme guidelines on scholarships.gov.in are final.
Who Should Apply?
- Students in Class 11, 12, diploma, ITI, graduation, PG, B.Ed or D.El.Ed
- Students who meet the scheme's category (SC/ST/OBC/minority/PwD/girls etc.)
- Family income within the scheme's limit
- Studying at a recognised institution that is registered on NSP
Documents to Keep Ready
- Aadhaar card (linked to your mobile number)
- Bank account seeded with Aadhaar (for DBT)
- Previous year marksheet
- Income certificate
- Caste certificate (if applicable)
- Disability certificate (if applicable)
- Fee receipt and admission proof / bonafide certificate
- Passport-size photograph
How to Apply on NSP
- Visit scholarships.gov.in.
- Complete your One Time Registration (OTR) using your Aadhaar and mobile number, if you haven't already.
- Log in with your OTR ID and fill the application form for 2026-27.
- Select the scheme(s) you are eligible for.
- Enter academic, bank and family-income details carefully.
- Upload the required documents.
- Review and final submit the form, then save the application acknowledgement.
- Make sure your institute verifies your application on NSP — an unverified application is not considered.
Important Tips
- Don't wait for the last day — the portal is slow near the deadline.
- Your name must match exactly across Aadhaar, marksheet and bank account.
- Apply for only one scholarship scheme for the same course, unless the rules allow otherwise.
- Keep checking your application status after submission for any objections.
Beware of scams: Applying on NSP is free. Nobody can "guarantee" your scholarship for a fee.
More Financial Aid Resources
Preparing for CTET/UTET while managing your B.Ed or D.El.Ed fees? Read our CTET vs UTET comparison, and check the Scholarships page for more schemes as we verify them.