Complete Scholarship Guide for Indian Students 2026
List of top scholarships for Indian students 2026 — merit-based, need-based, government, and private scholarships with eligibility, amount, and application.
Indian students can access 50+ scholarships worth ₹5,000 to ₹5,00,000 per year from government, private foundations, and institutions. The National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) is the single largest source, with 100+ schemes. This guide lists the top scholarships by category with eligibility, amount, and deadlines.
Top Merit-Based Scholarships (Open to All Categories)
| Scholarship | For | Amount | Eligibility | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NTSE (National Talent Search Exam) | Class 10 students | ₹1,250–₹4,000/month (through PhD) | Class 10 appearing, qualify Stage 1 (state) + Stage 2 (national) | August–September (Stage 1) |
| KVPY (Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana) | Class 11–12 & UG science | ₹5,000–₹7,000/month + ₹20,000/year contingency | Science stream, aptitude test + interview | July–August |
| Inspire Award (MANAK) | Class 6–10 | ₹10,000 one-time | Innovation/science project idea nominated by school | August–October |
| Inspire Scholarship (SHE) | UG science students | ₹80,000/year for 5 years | Top 1% in Class 12 boards pursuing B.Sc./B.S./Integrated M.Sc. | November–December |
| CBSE Single Girl Child Merit Scholarship | Class 11–12 | ₹500/month for 2 years | Single girl child, 60%+ in Class 10 CBSE | October–November |
| IIT Fee Waiver | IIT students | Full tuition waiver | Family income below ₹5 lakh/year. Partial waiver for ₹5–10 lakh. | During admission |
Government Scholarships (Category-Based)
| Scholarship | Category | Amount | Eligibility | Apply On |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Post-Matric Scholarship for SC Students | SC | ₹5,000–₹12,000/year + fees | SC category, family income below ₹2.5 lakh | NSP |
| Post-Matric Scholarship for ST Students | ST | ₹5,000–₹12,000/year + fees | ST category, family income below ₹2.5 lakh | NSP |
| Post-Matric Scholarship for OBC Students | OBC | ₹3,000–₹7,000/year | OBC category, family income below ₹1.5 lakh | NSP |
| Pre-Matric Scholarship for Minorities | Minority | ₹5,000–₹10,000/year | Minority community, family income below ₹1 lakh | NSP |
| Post-Matric Scholarship for Minorities | Minority | ₹5,000–₹12,000/year | Minority community, family income below ₹2 lakh, 50%+ in last exam | NSP |
| Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship | All (merit + need) | ₹10,000–₹20,000/year | Top 20 percentile in Class 12 boards, family income below ₹8 lakh | NSP |
| PM Scholarship Scheme (PMSS) | Defence/Para-military wards | ₹2,500–₹3,000/month | Children of ex-servicemen/armed forces | NSP (KSB portal) |
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| Scholarship | For | Amount | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reliance Foundation Scholarship | UG students (engineering, science, commerce, arts) | Up to ₹2,00,000/year | Merit in entrance exam + financial need. Apply through Reliance Foundation website. |
| Tata Trusts Scholarships | UG and PG students | Varies (up to full tuition) | Merit + need. Multiple schemes for different fields. |
| Azim Premji Foundation Scholarship | UG engineering students | Full tuition + living expenses | Admitted to select engineering colleges, family income below ₹4 lakh. |
| Aditya Birla Group Scholarship | UG students at top institutions | ₹1,50,000–₹1,80,000/year | Students at IITs, IIMs, BITS, Law schools, Medical colleges. Academic excellence. |
| Sitaram Jindal Foundation Scholarship | Class 11–UG | ₹1,500–₹10,000/month | Merit + financial need. Family income below ₹2.5 lakh. |
| Buddy4Study Scholarships | Various (aggregator platform) | Varies | Multiple schemes — register on buddy4study.com to discover matching scholarships. |
| Vidyasaarathi Scholarships | UG professional courses | ₹10,000–₹75,000/year | Multiple corporate-sponsored scholarships. Apply through vidyasaarathi.co.in. |
| HDFC Bank Parivarthan Scholarship | School & college students | Up to ₹75,000/year | Financial need, 55%+ in previous exam, family income below ₹2.5 lakh. |
Scholarships by Education Level
For Class 9–10 Students
- NTSE — National-level competitive exam. Top 1,000 students get scholarships through PhD.
- Inspire Award (MANAK) — For innovative science ideas. Nominated by school.
- State-level talent search exams — Most states conduct their own merit exams.
- Pre-matric scholarships for SC/ST/OBC/Minority — Apply through NSP.
For Class 11–12 Students
- KVPY — For science stream students aspiring to research careers.
- CBSE Merit Scholarship — For single girl child (CBSE board).
- State post-matric scholarships — Available for SC/ST/OBC/Minority on NSP.
- Coaching institute scholarships — Most major coaching centres offer 25–100% fee waiver based on entrance test performance.
For College/University Students
- Inspire SHE — ₹80,000/year for top 1% of Class 12 pursuing B.Sc.
- Central Sector Scheme — ₹10,000–₹20,000/year for top 20 percentile, income below ₹8 lakh.
- IIT/NIT fee waivers — Automatic for students with family income below ₹5 lakh.
- Private foundation scholarships — Reliance, Tata, Aditya Birla (see table above).
- Institution-specific scholarships — Most good colleges have internal merit and need-based scholarships.
How to Maximise Your Scholarship Chances
- Maintain high academic scores. Most scholarships have a minimum marks requirement (typically 60–80%).
- Get your income certificate early. This is the most common document that delays applications. Get it issued from the tehsildar office before scholarship season.
- Apply to multiple scholarships. Do not put all hopes on one. Apply to 5–10 relevant scholarships each year.
- Register on NSP early. The National Scholarship Portal opens fresh applications each year. Register as soon as the portal opens (usually July–August).
- Keep documents updated. Maintain a folder with scanned copies of: marksheet, income certificate, caste certificate, Aadhaar, bank passbook, and passport photo.
- Check state-specific scholarships. Each state has 5–15 scholarship schemes beyond national ones. Check your state education department website.
- Apply for college-specific scholarships. During admission, always ask the college about internal scholarships — many go unclaimed because students do not ask.
Scholarship amounts and eligibility as of 2025–2026. Government scholarship details may change annually — verify on the official National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in). Private scholarship details verified from official foundation websites. Last updated: February 2026.
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What are the biggest scholarships for school students in India?
Top scholarships by amount: (1) NTSE — ₹1,250–₹2,000/month for Class 11–12 and up to ₹4,000/month for UG/PG, (2) KVPY — ₹5,000–₹7,000/month + annual contingency grant, (3) Inspire Award (MANAK) — ₹10,000 one-time for Class 6–10, (4) CBSE Merit Scholarship — ₹500/month for single girl child, (5) State-level scholarships — amounts vary by state (₹5,000–₹50,000/year).
How to apply for scholarships in India?
Most government scholarships are available through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in). Steps: (1) Register on NSP with Aadhaar, (2) Fill application form with academic details, (3) Upload required documents (marksheet, income certificate, caste certificate if applicable), (4) Submit before deadline, (5) Institute verifies and forwards. Private scholarships have their own portals — check individual scholarship websites.
Are scholarships available for general category students?
Yes. Merit-based scholarships like NTSE, KVPY, Inspire, and institutional scholarships are available to all categories. Many private foundations (Tata, Reliance, Azim Premji) offer scholarships purely on merit or financial need, regardless of category. Government post-matric scholarships are primarily for SC/ST/OBC/Minority students, but merit scholarships are open to all.
Can I get multiple scholarships at the same time?
It depends on the scholarship terms. Some government scholarships (like NTSE) do not allow clubbing with other government scholarships. However, you can usually hold one government + one private scholarship simultaneously. Always check the 'clubbing rules' mentioned in the scholarship guidelines. Many private scholarships allow concurrent holding.
What documents are needed for scholarship applications?
Common documents: (1) Class 10/12 marksheet, (2) Income certificate of parents (from tehsildar/SDM), (3) Caste/category certificate (if applicable), (4) Aadhaar card, (5) Bank passbook (student's own account preferred), (6) Passport size photo, (7) Domicile certificate, (8) Fee receipt from institution. Keep scanned copies ready — most portals accept PDF/JPEG uploads.
When should I start applying for scholarships?
Start searching in Class 9–10 for pre-matric scholarships and competitive exams like NTSE. Post-matric scholarships open after Class 10 results (typically July–October). College-level scholarships open during admission season (June–September). Set calendar reminders for deadlines — most scholarships have strict cutoff dates and do not accept late applications.