Guidance
Scholarships
Central, state, and private scholarships for Class 10, Class 11–12, and undergraduate students in India.
Scholarships after Class 12 in India: the complete 2026-27 list
If you're finishing Class 12, you likely qualify for more scholarships than you think — most students only ever hear about one or two. This guide covers central government schemes, state government schemes, and private/corporate awards, organized so you can find what actually applies to you.
Last verified: 1 September 2026. Amounts and deadlines change every academic year — always confirm the current cycle on the scheme's official page before applying.
How to use this list
Most students qualify for more than one scholarship at once (a central scheme plus a state scheme, for instance) — check eligibility for several rather than stopping at the first match. None of the schemes below charge an application fee. Any site or agent asking you to pay to "process" a scholarship application is not legitimate.
1. Central government schemes
| Scheme | Who it's for | Typical amount | Where to apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) | Class 9-12, family income under ₹3.5 lakh/year | ₹12,000/year | National Scholarship Portal |
| Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship (CSSS) | Top 20th percentile in Class 12 boards, family income under ₹4.5 lakh/year | ₹10,000-20,000/year, renewable through graduation | National Scholarship Portal |
| PM YASASVI Scholarship | OBC/EBC/DNT students, Class 9-12 | ₹75,000-1,25,000/year depending on class | National Scholarship Portal |
| Post-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST/OBC/Minority students | Class 11 onward, caste/community-specific income limits | Varies by state and category | National Scholarship Portal (routed through state) |
| AICTE Pragati/Saksham Scholarship | Girl students (Pragati) / differently-abled students (Saksham) in AICTE-approved technical diploma/degree courses | ₹50,000/year | AICTE |
2. State government schemes
State scholarship amounts and eligibility change every year and vary widely — always check your own state's portal directly. Most states run their scheme through the National Scholarship Portal or a dedicated state e-scholarship portal (for example Maharashtra's MahaDBT, Uttar Pradesh's UP Scholarship Portal, or Tamil Nadu's e-Grantz). Search "your state post matric scholarship" plus the current year to find the live application window.
3. Private and corporate scholarships
| Scholarship | Who it's for | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| Reliance Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship | First-year undergraduates, family income under ₹15 lakh/year | Up to ₹2 lakh over the course |
| Kotak Kanya Scholarship | Girl students entering undergraduate study | Up to ₹2.5 lakh over the course |
| HDFC Bank Parivartan ECS Scholarship | Economically weaker Class 10/12 pass and undergraduate students | ₹15,000-75,000/year depending on stage |
| Aditya Birla Scholarship | Students admitted to specific listed institutes (IITs, NITs, top private colleges) via merit test | ₹1.75-1.85 lakh/year |
| Sitaram Jindal Foundation Scholarship | School and college students, income-based | ₹500-1,500/month depending on level |
| Tata Trusts scholarship programs | Vary by program; several run through partner NGOs | Varies |
Private scholarship amounts, deadlines, and eligibility criteria are set by the sponsoring organization and revised each cycle — confirm current details on the provider's own site before applying.
Applying: what to have ready
- Aadhaar-linked bank account (most disbursals are direct bank transfer)
- Latest marksheet and current-year admission/bonafide certificate
- Income certificate from your state government (not a self-declaration, for most schemes)
- Caste/category certificate, if applying under a reserved-category scheme
- One-Time Registration (OTR) on the National Scholarship Portal, done once and reused every year
Related reading
- Scholarships for ISC and ICSE students — board-specific and merit awards
- National Scholarship Portal walkthrough — registration, OTR, and common errors
- State government scholarships: how to find your state's scheme
- If you'll still need to fund the rest, see Education Loans
More on scholarships
Scholarships for ISC and ICSE Students (Class 10 and Class 12)
Board-specific merit scholarships and general scholarships that ICSE Class 10 and ISC Class 12 students commonly qualify for.
National Scholarship Portal (NSP) 2026-27 - Registration, OTR, and Common Errors
Step-by-step guide to registering on the National Scholarship Portal, completing One-Time Registration (OTR), and fixing the most common application errors.
State Government Post-Matric Scholarships - How to Find Your State's Scheme
How state government post-matric scholarships work in India, and where to check the current scheme, deadline, and amount for your specific state.