Central Government Scholarships for Students

Government scholarships may be broadly categorized into two categories, namely: 

(i) Centrally-funded government scholarships

(ii) State-funded government scholarships 

State-financed scholarships are sponsored and disbursed by the governments of each state, as opposed to centrally supported scholarships, which are sponsored by the Government of India and distributed by various states. The Government of India provides funding for the central government scholarships, which are distributed at the state/district level. No matter which state they are from, Indian residents are eligible for these scholarships. 

Some of the major departments of the Government of India which are involved in providing scholarship opportunities for students include:

• The Ministry of Minority Affairs
• Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disability
• Ministry of Human Resource Development
• Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment 
• University Grants Commission (UGC)
• All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and many more.

The following is a comprehensive list of scholarships being given by various central government departments: 

Pre-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities

Pre-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities is a program for class 9–10 physically challenged students. This scholarship is provided by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Government of India. The main goal of the scholarship is to aid disabled students in their academic endeavors and to provide them with the skills necessary to sustain themselves financially and obtain respectable positions in society. 

Post matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities

Post Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities is a program for students with physical disabilities from Class 11 through graduate school. The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Government of India, is providing the scholarship. The chosen candidates will receive a disability allowance, a book grant, and reimbursement for any required non-refundable expenses.

Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Minorities

The Pre-Matric Scholarships Scheme for Minorities is a program for students from minority populations in grades 1–10. The Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India, is providing the scholarship. The scholarship will be given for studies in India at a public or private school, including residential government institutions and suitable private institutes that have been transparently chosen and announced by the administrations of the corresponding state government and union territory. The program intends to motivate minority community parents to enroll their children in school, ease their financial burden and support their ongoing efforts to ensure that their children finish their education. Admission/tuition expenses as well as a maintenance grant will be awarded to the chosen candidates.

Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for Minorities 

An effort for Class 11 to Ph.D. students from minority populations is the Post Matric Scholarships Scheme for Minorities. The Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India, is providing the scholarship. The scheme aims to offer underprivileged and deserving students from minority populations financial aid so they may enroll in professional and technical programs. 

Merit Cum Means Scholarship for Professional and Technical Courses CS

The Merit Cum Means Scholarship for Professional and Technical Courses CS (Minorities) is a program for students from minority communities who are enrolled in undergraduate or graduate technical or professional programs by the Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA), Government of India. The scholarship’s goal is to give deserving, impoverished students from minority populations the necessary financial support so they may enroll in technical and professional programs. The chosen candidates will be given a maintenance stipend and course expenses.

National Means Cum Merit Scholarship

The National Means Cum Merit Scholarship Scheme is a program for ninth-graders enrolling in public, publicly-aided, and locally-run schools by the Department of School Education and Literacy, Government of India. The program intends to give financial aid to deter meritorious students from economically disadvantaged sections from dropping out of class in the eighth grade and to encourage them to continue their education at the secondary level. The chosen applicants will be given a scholarship worth INR 12,000 a year.

Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships for College and University Students 

The Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India has launched the NSP Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students to assist Class 12 graduates who are enrolled in college or university. The scholarship intends to give money to deserving students from low-income households so they may cover some of their living expenses while pursuing higher education. The chosen individuals would get annual scholarships worth up to 20,000 INR.

Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme for Central Armed Police Forces and Assam Rifles

The Welfare and Rehabilitation Board, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has created the Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme for Central Armed Police Forces and Assam Rifles for the dependent widows and wards of Central Armed Police Forces and Assam Rifles members. This program has also been expanded to include the dependent children of State Police employees who die in terrorist or Naxal assaults. Under this program, the chosen individuals would receive up to INR 3,000 each month.

Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme for RPF/RPSF 

An initiative of the Ministry of Railways, Government of India, is the Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme for RPF/RPSF for the wards and widows of former RPF/RPSF members. This program’s goal is to motivate applicants to continue their technical and professional education. The chosen individuals would be given up to INR 3,000 in scholarships each month.

National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students 

An effort for ST students taking professional courses at the Graduate/PG level and M.Phil/Ph.D. level is the NSP National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, is providing the scholarship. With this plan, ST students will receive financial aid to entice them to seek higher education. The chosen individuals will also get additional perks, including scholarships of up to INR 45,000 (one time).

Scholarships for Top Class Education for Students with Disabilities

The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Government of India, has launched scholarships for top-class education for students with disabilities. This initiative supports high-quality education among disabled students who are pursuing studies at the graduate/post-graduate/diploma level. The major purpose of the scholarship is to acknowledge and encourage quality education amongst individuals with disabilities by providing them with complete financial assistance.

Financial Assistance for Education of the Wards of Beedi/Cine/ IOMC/LSDM Workers – Pre-Metric

Students in grades 1 to 10 are invited to apply for financial assistance for the education of the wards of Beedi/Cine/IOMC/LSDM Workers – Pre-Matric 2019–20 program administered by the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India. The major goal of this program is to prevent child labor in any risky industry.

Financial Assistance for Education of the Wards of Beedi/ Cine/ IOMC/ LSDM Workers – Post Matric

An initiative for students enrolled in Class 11 to postgraduate level at any government institution is the NSP Financial Assistance for Education of the Wards of Beedi/Cine/IOMC/LSDM Workers – Post-Matric 2022–23. The Government of India’s Ministry of Labour and Employment is providing the scholarship. The major goal of this program is to prevent child labour in any risky industry. The chosen individuals would get annual scholarships of up to INR 25,000.

Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY)

An opportunity is available to students studying for bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the scientific stream under the Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY). The chosen individuals will get a contingency grant and a scholarship worth up to INR 7,000 per month (equivalent to four months of fellowship per annum).

Swarna Jayanti Fellowships Scheme

Young scientists having a Ph.D. in science, engineering, or medicine are encouraged to apply for the Swarna Jayanti Fellowships Scheme, which is sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. The project and the fellowship will both last for a total of five years. A stipend of INR 25,000 will be given each month to the chosen fellows.

PG Scholarships for Professional Courses for SC/ST

An initiative called PG Scholarships for Professional Courses for SC/ST is for students enrolled in postgraduate programs in professional fields. The Government of India’s University Grants Commission (UGC) is providing the scholarship. The scholarship’s goal is to give students from underprivileged backgrounds the financial support they need to pursue postgraduate courses in professional fields including engineering and technology, management, pharmacy, etc. at Indian universities, colleges, and institutes. For the duration of the PG course, chosen applicants for the M.E./MTech. the program will get INR 7,800 per month, while students enrolled in other programs will receive INR 4,500.

Post Graduate Merit Scholarship for University Rank Holders

An opportunity is provided to University Rank Holders (1st and 2nd) at the UG level who have been enrolled in a PG course called the Post Graduate Merit Scholarship for University Rank Holders 2022–23 by the Government of India’s University Grants Commission (UGC). The following UG-level students from the following streams are eligible to apply for the scholarship:

Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Earth Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Social Sciences, Commerce, Languages

Post Graduate Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child

A project called the Post-Graduate Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child 2022–2023 is for female students up to the age of 30 who is also the lone female child in their household. The University Grants Commission (UGC), Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, is providing the scholarship. The scholarship’s objectives are to support girl education and cover the direct expenses associated with it at all levels. For a period of two years, the chosen applicants would get INR 36,200 annually.

ISHAN UDAY – Special Scholarship Scheme for Northern Eastern Region

The Special Scholarship Scheme Ishan Uday for NER is a program for North-Eastern Region Class 12 graduates. The scholarship seeks to advance higher education in the North-Eastern Regionand boost the GER (Gross Enrollment Ratio). The University Grants Commission (UGC), a division of the Indian government’s Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), is providing the scholarship. Each year, 10,000 new scholarships are given out through this program. The chosen applicants will earn INR 5,400 per month for regular degree studies, and for technical, medical, professional, and paramedical courses, INR 7,800 per month.

AICTE Pragati Scholarship for Girls

The AICTE Pragati Scholarship for Girls 2022–23 is a program for female students who have been admitted to the first or second year of a diploma or degree-level study at any institution that year that has received AICTE approval. The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is implementing the program to assist girls who are pursuing technical education in their growth. The chosen applicants will get INR 50,000 per year for each year of study, up to a maximum of 3 years for first-year students enrolled directly and a maximum of 2 years for first-year students admitted via lateral entry. 

AICTE- Saksham Scholarship Scheme

The AICTE-Saksham Scholarship Scheme is a program for students with disabilities who have been admitted to the first year of a technical degree or diploma program at any institution that has received AICTE approval. The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is putting this Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) scheme into action to inspire and assist children with disabilities to pursue technical education. Each academic year, students will get INR 50,000 as a scholarship.