SC/ST Scholarship 2026 — State & Central Schemes
All SC and ST scholarships available in 2026 — central schemes plus major state schemes for students.
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Check eligibility now →What is it?
The Government of India and most state governments run a series of dedicated scholarships for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students from Class 1 up to PhD. The flagship central schemes include Pre-Matric (Class 9–10), Post-Matric (Class 11 onwards), Top Class Education (premier institutes), National Fellowship for SC/ST (research), and Free Coaching schemes. State governments add their own Pre-Matric and Post-Matric layers.
Benefits
Post-Matric SC/ST scholarship covers full course fees plus a maintenance allowance (₹230–₹1,200 per month based on course group and hostel/day-scholar status). Top Class scheme covers full fees and additional allowances in IITs, IIMs, NLUs and select institutions. Free Coaching covers tuition fee for competitive exam prep up to ₹3 lakh per year.
Eligibility criteria
- ✓Indian citizen with valid SC or ST certificate from competent authority
- ✓Studying in a recognised institution in India (school/college/university)
- ✓Annual family income under the scheme-specific limit (Post-Matric: ₹2.5 lakh; varies by state)
- ✓Not availing any other central scholarship for the same purpose
- ✓Pre-Matric: parents engaged in unclean occupation / Class 9–10 SC/ST students
- ✓Top Class: admitted to listed premier institute via merit-based entrance
- ✓Free Coaching: not in regular employment and meeting income/income criteria
Documents required
- ✓SC / ST caste certificate from competent authority
- ✓Income certificate (within validity)
- ✓Aadhaar-linked bank account passbook
- ✓Latest fee receipt and bona fide from institution
- ✓Previous year marksheet
- ✓Aadhaar card
- ✓Domicile certificate (where state scheme requires)
How to apply — step by step
- For central scheme: log in to scholarships.gov.in (NSP) and pick the matching scheme
- For state scheme: visit your state SC/ST welfare portal (e.g., e-Kalyan Bihar, MPTAAS MP, Jeevan Pramaan UP, Karnataka SSP)
- Register or log in, fill student details accurately
- Upload caste, income, fee receipt, marksheet and bank documents
- Submit and forward to institution for verification
- Track status on portal; amount credited via DBT after final approval
Important dates
Central NSP scholarships open July–November 2026 typically. State schemes have their own windows — many open between June and December. Always check the scheme deadline on the portal after login.
Common mistakes to avoid
- ✓Using expired caste/income certificate
- ✓Aadhaar-bank seeding not done — DBT will fail
- ✓Not selecting state vs central scheme correctly when both available
- ✓Skipping renewal application — renewals are NOT automatic
- ✓Missing institution verification deadline
Frequently asked questions
Can I get both central and state SC scholarship?
Usually no — for the same course you can avail only one scholarship. Some maintenance allowances may be combinable; check your state's rules carefully.
Is there an income limit for SC Post-Matric?
Yes. Annual family income limit for the central Post-Matric SC scholarship is ₹2.5 lakh. State schemes may have different limits.
What is the amount under Top Class scheme?
Full tuition fee (capped per institute), plus book and academic allowance, plus computer allowance for first-year. Refer scheme guidelines on socialjustice.gov.in.
Does the Free Coaching scheme cover IAS coaching?
Yes. It covers coaching for IAS, banking, SSC, defence and other notified competitive exams at empanelled coaching institutes.
How to apply for SC/ST scholarship as a fresh student?
Register on NSP for central schemes or your state portal for state schemes, fill student profile, choose the scheme, upload documents and forward to your institution for verification.
Answer 5–7 simple questions and get your eligibility score in 2 minutes.
Check eligibility now →