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AICTE Pragati Scholarship 2026-27: Quick Answer
🎯 In one paragraph
The AICTE Pragati Scholarship 2026-27 gives up to ₹50,000 per year to girl students admitted to the first year (or second year through lateral entry) of an AICTE-approved technical degree or diploma programme. The family income limit is ₹8 lakh per year, and a maximum of two girls per family can benefit. Applications are open on the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) until 31 October 2026. Selection is merit-based, so applying early and correctly matters.
| Detail | AICTE Pragati Scholarship 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Scheme name | AICTE Pragati Scholarship Scheme for Girl Students (Technical Degree and Technical Diploma) |
| Run by | AICTE, under the Ministry of Education |
| Who can apply | Girl students in 1st year, or 2nd year via lateral entry, of AICTE-approved degree or diploma courses |
| Annual benefit | Up to ₹50,000 (tuition up to ₹30,000 + ₹2,000 × 10 months incidental) |
| Income limit | Not more than ₹8 lakh per year |
| Slots | 10,000 per year (5,000 degree + 5,000 diploma), distributed state and UT-wise |
| Selection | Merit, based on marks in the qualifying examination |
| Portal opened | 1 June 2026 |
| Last date (students) | 31 October 2026 (fresh and renewal) |
| Institute verification | Until 15 November 2026 |
| Nodal officer verification | Until 30 November 2026 |
| Application fee | Free. No payment is required to apply. |
| Payment mode | Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) |
| Helpline | NSP 0120-6619540 · helpdesk@nsp.gov.in · AICTE 011-29581118 |
Latest Updates: AICTE Pragati Scholarship 2026-27
These updates are written by our editors from the official NSP scheme listings and AICTE guidelines, and were last checked on 10 October 2026. We replaced the automated news feed that used to be on this page with this manually verified list.
The National Scholarship Portal opened the 2026-27 cycle for both Pragati schemes: Technical Degree and Technical Diploma. Fresh and renewal applications share the same window.
Last date for students to submit fresh and renewal Pragati applications. NSP lists the same date for the Saksham and Swanath AICTE schemes.
Last date for checking corrected (defective) applications and for institute-level verification.
Last date for verification by district, state and ministry nodal officers (DNO/SNO/MNO).
NSP now sorts scholarships into merit-based and welfare-based groups. Pragati sits in the merit-based group, which is why a place on the merit list, and not just meeting the income limit, decides who receives the money.
No extension of the 31 October 2026 date had been announced on the listings we checked. Any “extended” message on social media or WhatsApp should be treated as unconfirmed until you see it on scholarships.gov.in or aicte-india.org.
What is the AICTE Pragati Scholarship?
The AICTE Pragati Scholarship is a central government scheme that helps girl students pay for technical education. It was launched by the Ministry of Education in 2014 and is implemented by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). The word “Pragati” means progress, and the scheme’s goal is to make it easier for girls from families with limited income to enrol in engineering, pharmacy, architecture and diploma programmes and finish them.
Applications are made on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) at scholarships.gov.in. Selected students receive money through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), which means the incidental allowance goes straight to the student’s Aadhaar-seeded bank account, and the tuition component is handled in line with the scheme’s rules for tuition reimbursement.
Why the scheme exists
Girls make up a large share of overall higher education enrolment in India, but their share in engineering and technology courses is lower. Cost is one of the reasons families hesitate, especially for first-generation learners and for girls who must move to another city for college. Pragati targets that cost barrier in three ways:
- Tuition support: up to ₹30,000 a year (or the actual tuition fee if it is lower).
- Monthly incidental allowance: ₹2,000 per month for 10 months for books, equipment and software.
- Every year of study: the scholarship continues each year for the normal course duration, subject to renewal conditions.
Who runs what: AICTE, NSP and your institute
Students often get confused about who does what. AICTE designs the scheme and publishes guidelines and merit lists. NSP, run by the National Informatics Centre, is the website where you apply and track your form. Your institute nodal officer checks your admission and fee details, and district, state and ministry nodal officers do the later checks. If any one of these steps is skipped, the money does not move, so the student has to follow up.
🧠 Key takeaway for quick readers
Eligibility is the entry ticket, but merit is what wins the scholarship. If you meet the criteria, apply, upload clean documents, and make sure your institute verifies the form before 15 November 2026.
AICTE Pragati Scholarship Amount 2026-27
Under the scheme guidelines, the benefit has two parts: a tuition fee component of ₹30,000 or the actual tuition fee, whichever is less, and an incidental allowance of ₹2,000 per month for 10 months. Together that is up to ₹50,000 a year.
| Component | Amount | Basis | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition fee support | Up to ₹30,000/year | Lower of ₹30,000 or actual tuition fee | Course tuition shown on your fee receipt |
| Incidental charges | ₹20,000/year | ₹2,000 × 10 months | Books, equipment and software |
| Total | Up to ₹50,000/year | Per awardee, per year | Paid via DBT after verification |
Worked examples: what you could actually receive
The tuition part depends on your college’s fee, so not every awardee gets the full ₹50,000. These examples use the guideline formula.
| Your situation | Tuition component | Incidental | Total per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition fee ₹25,000 per year | ₹25,000 (actual, below cap) | ₹20,000 | ₹45,000 |
| Tuition fee ₹30,000 per year | ₹30,000 | ₹20,000 | ₹50,000 |
| Tuition fee ₹80,000 per year (private college) | ₹30,000 (capped) | ₹20,000 | ₹50,000 |
| Tuition fully waived or reimbursed by the state | ₹30,000 for books, equipment, software, laptop or desktop, and competitive exam fees | ₹20,000 | Up to ₹50,000 |
Total benefit over the course
| Entry point | Years of benefit | Maximum total |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma, 1st year entry (3 years) | 3 | Up to ₹1,50,000 |
| Diploma, lateral entry into 2nd year | 2 | Up to ₹1,00,000 |
| BE / BTech / BPharm, 1st year entry (4 years) | 4 | Up to ₹2,00,000 |
| Degree, lateral entry into 2nd year | 3 | Up to ₹1,50,000 |
| BArch, 1st year entry (5 years) | 5 | Up to ₹2,50,000 |
The totals assume you are selected, renew every year and your tuition is at or above the ₹30,000 cap. Your actual total will be lower if tuition is below the cap.
Number of Scholarships and How Selection Works
This is the part most scholarship pages skip, and it is the part that decides your result. Pragati is not an entitlement for every girl who meets the income limit. It is a merit-based scheme with a fixed number of slots.
| Item | What the guidelines say |
|---|---|
| Total slots | 10,000 per year: 5,000 for degree and 5,000 for diploma |
| Distribution | State and UT-wise allocation. Merit lists are prepared separately for each state or UT. |
| Merit basis | Marks in the qualifying examination: 10+2 for degree, and the relevant qualifying marks for diploma and lateral entry |
| Transfer of slots | If eligible applicants are not available at one level (degree or diploma), unused slots can move to the other level |
| Reservation | Reported as 15% SC, 7.5% ST and 27% OBC in AICTE communications. Confirm against the current guidelines. |
| Smaller states and UTs | The guidelines allow all eligible girls from certain states and UTs with low application numbers to be covered in addition to the 10,000 |
| Merit list queries | Raise grievances within the period AICTE states after the list is published; late queries are not entertained |
What this means for you
- Your marks matter. Two students with the same family income are ranked by their qualifying marks.
- Your state matters. You compete mainly with girls from your own state or UT, not the whole country.
- Correct marks matter. Enter marks exactly as on your marksheet. A wrong entry can move you down the list or cause rejection.
- Apply even if you are unsure. Slots can remain unfilled in some states, and the application costs nothing.
AICTE Pragati Scholarship Eligibility Criteria 2026-27
Check every point below before you apply. A single mismatch, such as the wrong course type or an income certificate from the wrong period, is enough for rejection.
✅ Gender
- Only female students can apply
- No upper age limit is stated in the scheme
✅ Family income
- Not more than ₹8 lakh per year
- Counted for the preceding financial year
- Married students: income of parents or in-laws, whichever is higher
✅ Admission
- 1st year of degree or diploma, or 2nd year through lateral entry
- Admitted through the centralised admission process of the State or Central Government
✅ Institution
- AICTE-approved college or polytechnic
- Government, aided and private institutions all count
- Institute must be registered on NSP
✅ Family limit
- Maximum two girl children per family
- Each girl must meet all conditions separately
✅ Honest declaration
- Self-declaration of income and details is mandatory
- False information can lead to refund of the amount
Eligible Courses Under the Pragati Scholarship
Pragati appears on NSP as two separate schemes: “AICTE Pragati Scholarship Scheme for Girl Students (Technical Degree)” and “AICTE Pragati Scholarship Scheme for Girl Students (Technical Diploma)”. Pick the one that matches your course.
| Course type | Examples | NSP scheme to choose |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering & Technology | BE, BTech | Technical Degree |
| Pharmacy | BPharm | Technical Degree |
| Architecture | BArch | Technical Degree |
| Other AICTE-approved technical degrees | Check the list shown on NSP for your course | Technical Degree |
| Diploma | AICTE-approved polytechnic diploma programmes | Technical Diploma |
| Lateral entry | Direct admission to 2nd year of degree or diploma | Matching degree or diploma scheme |
Documents Required for AICTE Pragati Scholarship 2026-27
Scan everything before you open the form. Keep each file clear and within the size limit stated on NSP. Names, dates and amounts must be readable.
| # | Document | Issued by | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aadhaar details | UIDAI | Name and date of birth should match your school and college records |
| 2 | Admission letter / bonafide certificate | Your institute | Current academic year; shows course, year and admission mode |
| 3 | Tuition fee receipt | Your institute | Must show the tuition amount separately from other fees |
| 4 | Income certificate | Competent authority in your state | Family income not more than ₹8 lakh, for the preceding financial year |
| 5 | Class 12 / qualifying marksheet | Board or university | Used for merit ranking, so enter marks exactly as printed |
| 6 | Bank account details | Bank | Student’s own account, Aadhaar-seeded, correct IFSC |
| 7 | Passport-size photograph | — | Recent, as per NSP specification |
| 8 | Caste certificate | State revenue department | Only for SC, ST or OBC applicants claiming reservation |
| 9 | Disability certificate | Medical authority | Only if applicable |
Document readiness checklist
- Aadhaar is linked to your mobile number, so OTPs reach you.
- Your bank account is in your own name and is seeded with Aadhaar for DBT.
- The name spelling is identical on Aadhaar, marksheet, bank account and admission letter.
- Every scan is upright, complete and legible, not cropped or blurry.
- Income certificate details agree with what you will enter in the form.
- You have saved copies of everything in one folder on your phone or computer.
How to Apply for AICTE Pragati Scholarship 2026-27 – Step by Step
The whole process is online and free. Allow 60 to 90 minutes for your first application. NSP has been adding extra Aadhaar-based verification steps, so follow whatever prompts the portal shows you.
Register on NSP (One Time Registration)
Open scholarships.gov.in and choose the student registration option. Complete the registration with your Aadhaar and mobile number. Save your OTR or Application ID and password safely, because you will use them every year.
Log in and open the 2026-27 application
Log in and select the option to apply for scholarships for 2026-27. Choose Fresh application if you are applying for the first time, or Renewal if you were selected earlier.
Select the correct Pragati scheme
Choose “AICTE Pragati Scholarship Scheme for Girl Students (Technical Degree)” or “(Technical Diploma)”. A wrong scheme is a common reason for rejection.
Fill personal, academic and bank details
Enter your details exactly as in your documents: name, date of birth, course, institute, year of study, qualifying marks and bank account with IFSC. Recheck every number before moving on.
Upload documents
Upload the scanned documents in the format and size NSP asks for. Preview each upload to be sure it opens and is readable.
Preview, declare and final submit
Read the whole form once more, accept the self-declaration and click Final Submit. Download or print the acknowledgement and keep your Application ID.
Tell your institute nodal officer
Your institute must verify the form on NSP by 15 November 2026. Meet or email the nodal officer, share your Application ID and ask for confirmation once it is verified.
Verification and merit list
After the institute, district, state and ministry nodal officers verify the form (by 30 November 2026), AICTE prepares state-wise merit lists. Track your status on NSP.
Receive the scholarship through DBT 🎉
Selected students receive payment through DBT to their bank accounts. Check your passbook and NSP status regularly, and report any bank-related failure quickly.
Important Dates: AICTE Pragati Scholarship 2026-27 Timeline
After You Apply: Status, Defective Forms and Helpline
Many applicants think the work is finished at “Final Submit”. In reality, about half of the process happens afterwards, and most rejections happen here.
How to check your application status
Log in to NSP with your Application ID and password and open the application status or dashboard section. The status will show whether your form is pending at the institute, pending with a nodal officer, marked defective, verified or rejected. Check at least once a week until the 30 November 2026 verification date has passed.
What “defective” means and how to fix it
A defective application is one a verifier sent back because something is missing or wrong, such as an unreadable document, a mismatch in name, or a wrong income certificate. Open the remark, correct exactly that issue, resubmit and inform your nodal officer. For 2026-27 the window for checking defective applications runs until 15 November 2026.
Who to contact
| Problem | Contact first | Then |
|---|---|---|
| Form not verified | Institute scholarship nodal officer | NSP helpline |
| Defective remark unclear | Institute nodal officer | NSP helpdesk email |
| Login, OTR or Aadhaar issue | NSP helpline 0120-6619540 | helpdesk@nsp.gov.in |
| Merit list or scheme rules | AICTE desk 011-29581118 | aicte-india.org |
| DBT payment not received | Your bank, to confirm Aadhaar seeding | NSP grievance option |
Numbers are from the 2026-27 NSP and AICTE listings. Verify them on the official websites before calling.
AICTE Pragati Scholarship Renewal
Pragati is renewable for the normal duration of your course. Awardees must apply for renewal every year on NSP. For 2026-27, the renewal deadline is the same as fresh applications: 31 October 2026.
Renewal conditions
- You were promoted to the next year or semester as per your institute’s rules.
- You remain enrolled in an AICTE-approved institution.
- Your family continues to meet the income condition of the scheme.
- Your Aadhaar and bank account details stay valid and linked.
- You submit the renewal form within the NSP window and inform your nodal officer.
How to renew
Log in with your existing credentials, choose Renewal for 2026-27, update your current year’s academic details, upload the new bonafide certificate and fee receipt, and submit. Then get your institute to verify.
Why Pragati Applications Get Rejected and How to Avoid It
| Common reason | How to avoid it |
|---|---|
| Institute did not verify the form | Follow up with the nodal officer and keep proof of the request |
| Wrong or blurry documents | Scan in good light, preview each upload |
| Income certificate issue | Ask the issuing office for the correct period and the full family income |
| Marks entered incorrectly | Copy marks exactly from the marksheet |
| Bank account not Aadhaar-seeded | Confirm with the bank before applying |
| Wrong scheme selected | Pick Degree or Diploma to match your course |
| Name mismatch across documents | Fix spelling at the source before applying |
| Applied after the deadline | Apply at least a week before 31 October |
AICTE Pragati Scholarship: Pros and Cons
A fair look at the scheme helps you plan realistically.
👍 Pros
- Up to ₹50,000 a year, which can cover most of the tuition at many colleges
- Continues each year of study when renewed
- Free to apply, with a standard online process
- Direct Benefit Transfer reduces middlemen
- Two girls from one family can benefit
- Covers both degree and diploma students, including lateral entry
- Includes a monthly allowance for books, equipment and software
👎 Cons
- Limited to 10,000 slots, with competition on merit
- Only for first-year and lateral entry admissions
- Payment time is not fixed and can take months
- Needs institute, state and ministry verification
- Income certificate and fee receipt rules cause many rejections
- Not available for most postgraduate programmes
- Tuition above ₹30,000 is not fully covered
Pragati vs Saksham vs Swanath: Which AICTE Scholarship Is Right?
AICTE runs several scholarships for different groups of students. On NSP, the 2026-27 deadline for all three is 31 October 2026. NSP lists Pragati as merit-based and Saksham and Swanath as welfare-based.
| Feature | Pragati | Saksham | Swanath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meant for | Girl students in technical degree and diploma | Specially-abled students (40% or more disability) | Students who lost parent(s) or are otherwise in the welfare category defined by AICTE |
| Type on NSP | Merit-based | Welfare-based | Welfare-based |
| Annual benefit | Up to ₹50,000 | Up to ₹50,000 | Check the scheme page |
| Income limit | ₹8 lakh | ₹8 lakh | As per scheme |
| Selection | State-wise merit list | Merit list among eligible | As per scheme |
| Gender | Female only | Any gender | Any gender |
| Last date 2026-27 | 31 Oct 2026 | 31 Oct 2026 | 31 Oct 2026 |
💡 Can a girl student with a disability apply for both Pragati and Saksham?
Choose the scheme that suits your situation and check with your nodal officer before applying to more than one. Central scholarship rules generally do not allow holding two at once.
Looking for more options? See AICTE Saksham, girl student scholarships and engineering scholarships.
How to Use the Pragati Scholarship Money Wisely
The incidental part is ₹20,000 a year, or ₹2,000 a month for ten months. Here is a simple way to plan it.
| Category | Suggested share | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Books and study material | About 35% | Textbooks, reference books, notes, lab manuals |
| Equipment and software | About 35% | Calculator, drawing kit, laptop accessories, course software |
| Skill building | About 20% | Online courses, certification exams, coding practice platforms |
| Buffer | About 10% | Printing, project materials, emergencies |
This split is our own suggestion for planning, not an AICTE rule. Follow the scheme guidelines on permitted use.
Scam Alert: Protect Yourself From Fake Scholarship Offers
- Apply only through scholarships.gov.in.
- Never share your OTP, bank password or Aadhaar OTP with anyone.
- Ignore “date extended” or “last chance” messages unless you see them on NSP or AICTE sites.
- Be careful with websites that look like NSP but use a different web address.
- Government scholarship money is never released by asking you to pay a processing fee.
Glossary: Terms You Will See on NSP
- NSP
- National Scholarship Portal, the central website for applying to government scholarships.
- OTR
- One Time Registration. A student registers once and uses the same ID in later years.
- DBT
- Direct Benefit Transfer. Government money sent directly to a bank account.
- Aadhaar seeding
- Linking Aadhaar with a bank account so DBT payments can be received.
- Lateral entry
- Direct admission to the second year of a degree or diploma, usually after a diploma or equivalent course.
- Bonafide certificate
- A letter from your institute that confirms you are a current student of a stated course and year.
- Nodal officer
- The official who verifies scholarship applications at the institute, district, state or ministry level.
- Defective application
- An application returned to the student for correction.
- Incidental charges
- The monthly allowance for books, equipment and software, ₹2,000 per month for 10 months under Pragati.
- Merit list
- A ranked list of eligible applicants prepared from qualifying marks.
Sources and How We Keep This Page Accurate
This guide is maintained by the UniPortal Editorial Team. We compare AICTE’s published guidelines with the live NSP scheme listings and update the page when dates or rules change. Last full review: 10 October 2026.
- National Scholarship Portal for scheme listings, dates and applications.
- AICTE official website for scheme guidelines and approved institutions.
- AICTE Pragati scheme guidelines (degree and diploma) for the amount, eligibility and selection rules.
We are an independent information site and not affiliated with AICTE or NSP. Scholarship rules can change. Always confirm details on the official portal before you submit your application.