SC/ST Scholarships 2026-27: Eligibility, Amount, Last Date and How to Apply

SC/ST Scholarship 2026-27 at a Glance

Latest Updates and Important Dates for 2026-27

Scholarship rules change every year, and many pages online still show old figures. This section lists what has changed or is currently active for the 2026-27 academic year. Always cross-check the final date on your own login dashboard, because the portal can extend or shorten a window for a specific scheme.

What changed compared with older guides

• Top Class Education (SC): the family income ceiling is ₹8 lakh per year, not the older ₹4.5 lakh that many websites still show. Tuition reimbursement at private notified institutes is capped at ₹2 lakh per year.
• National Overseas Scholarship: income ceiling ₹8 lakh, age limit under 35, and the maintenance allowance is paid as a yearly amount (US$15,400, or GBP 9,900 for the UK), not a small monthly range.
• Pre and post-matric schemes: the ₹2.5 lakh income ceiling is still in force, though Parliament has seen repeated demands to raise it to ₹8 lakh. Treat any claim of a higher limit as unconfirmed until it appears on the official portal.
• Aadhaar and DBT: payment depends on an Aadhaar-seeded, NPCI-mapped bank account in the student's own name.

What Are SC/ST Scholarships in India?

SC/ST scholarships are financial support programmes funded by the Government of India and state governments for students from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities. They exist to reduce the cost barrier to education, improve enrolment and retention, and help first-generation learners reach colleges, professional courses and research degrees. Support begins in Class 9 and continues through school, diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate, professional and doctoral studies, and even overseas study.

There is no single "SC/ST scholarship". Instead, a family of schemes exists. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment runs schemes for SC students, such as the Post-Matric Scholarship for SC students, the Pre-Matric Scholarship, the Top Class Education scheme and the National Overseas Scholarship. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs runs the corresponding schemes for ST students, such as the Post-Matric Scholarship for ST students, the Pre-Matric Scholarship for ST students, the National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST students and the Top Class scheme for ST students. State governments add their own programmes, often with higher amounts or different eligibility rules.

Most central schemes are centrally sponsored. This means the Centre and the state share the cost, and the state government verifies and sanctions applications. That is why your state of domicile matters even when you apply on the national portal.

All SC/ST Scholarship Schemes Compared (2026-27)

Use this table to find the scheme that matches your level and category. Amounts shown are indicative and based on the latest scheme guidelines. Exact figures can change when the ministry revises norms.

Eligibility Criteria and Income Limits

Each scheme has its own rules, but the following conditions apply in most cases. If you miss even one, the state or institute can reject your form.

General eligibility checklist

• Category: You must belong to a notified Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe in your state and hold a valid certificate from a competent authority such as a Tahsildar or SDM.
• Citizenship and domicile: Indian citizen, with state-specific domicile requirements for state schemes.
• Course level: Pre-matric covers Classes 9 and 10. Post-matric covers Class 11 and above, including diploma, ITI, UG, PG, professional courses and research.
• Institution: The school or college must be recognised and registered on NSP with a valid institute code.
• Income: Total annual family income from all sources must be within the limit given below.
• Academic performance: You must have passed the previous exam to renew. Some schemes ask for a minimum percentage.
• Bank account: Savings account in your own name, Aadhaar-seeded and DBT-enabled.
• Attendance: Regular attendance as certified by your institute.

Who is not eligible?

• Students with family income above the scheme limit.
• Students who have not cleared the previous annual exam (for renewal).
• Students enrolled in unrecognised institutions or distance courses not covered by the scheme.
• Students already receiving another government scholarship for the same purpose.
• Students whose caste certificate was issued by an unauthorised authority or belongs to another state without migration rules.

Scholarship Amount Breakdown 2026-27

The old table on this page listed only five rows. Below is a fuller and updated breakdown. Treat the numbers as guidance and verify the current rates in the scheme guidelines on your portal.

How the Post-Matric maintenance allowance works

Under the post-matric schemes, courses are divided into four groups. Group I covers professional courses such as medicine, engineering and management. Group II covers courses such as BCA and BBA-type programmes. Group III covers general degree and PG courses. Group IV covers Class 11-12 and similar levels. Allowances are higher for Group I and for hostellers. Day scholars receive a lower rate. In addition, compulsory non-refundable fees charged by the institute are reimbursed as per state norms.

Worked example (illustrative)

Suppose Asha, an SC student from a family with income of ₹2.1 lakh, enrols in a B.Sc. programme at a government college. She applies on NSP before the deadline, her institute verifies the form, and the state sanctions it. She can expect reimbursement of compulsory fees and a Group III maintenance allowance, credited by DBT. If her family income were ₹2.8 lakh, she would be ineligible for the central post-matric scheme and should check state schemes with a higher ceiling. This example is for explanation only, not a promise of any specific amount.

Pros and Cons of SC/ST Scholarships

Central (NSP) vs State portal: which should you use?

Pre-Matric vs Post-Matric Scholarships Explained

Pre-Matric Scholarship (Class 9 and 10)

The pre-matric scheme helps SC and ST children stay in school during the years when dropout risk is highest. It provides a modest annual allowance, with higher rates for hostellers, and in some cases a one-time books grant. Parents' income must not exceed ₹2.5 lakh per year. Applications are submitted through NSP or the state portal, and for 2026-27 most central pre-matric windows closed on August 31, 2026. If you missed it, check whether your state has a later date or a correction window.

Post-Matric Scholarship (Class 11 to PhD)

This is the largest scheme by number of beneficiaries. It covers Class 11 and 12, ITI, diploma, graduation, postgraduation, professional courses, M.Phil and PhD in recognised institutions. It reimburses compulsory non-refundable fees and pays a maintenance allowance according to the course group. For 2026-27, the portal opened on June 1, 2026 and the central last date is October 31, 2026.

Top Class Education and National Overseas Scholarship

Top Class Education Scheme

The Top Class scheme supports SC students admitted to notified premier institutions such as IITs, IIMs, NITs, AIIMS, national law universities and other approved colleges. It pays tuition and non-refundable charges, with a cap of ₹2 lakh per year at private institutes, along with allowances for living costs, books and a computer. The family income ceiling is ₹8 lakh per year. A maximum of two siblings from one family can receive the benefit. A similar Top Class scheme exists for ST students under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

Tip: Admission itself is the main selection step. Apply on NSP as soon as your admission is confirmed, because the institute must be on the notified list and the course must be eligible.

National Overseas Scholarship (NOS)

NOS is for Master's and PhD study abroad. Applicants must be under 35 years of age on April 1 of the selection year, family income must be below ₹8 lakh per year, and the applicant needs an unconditional admission offer from an institute ranked in the QS top 500. Benefits include tuition fees, a yearly maintenance allowance (US$15,400, or GBP 9,900 in the UK), contingency and equipment allowance, visa fees, medical insurance and air passage. Applications are invited through the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, usually once a year.

Fellowships for M.Phil and PhD Scholars

Research scholars from SC and ST communities can apply for the National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students and the National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students. These are linked to UGC fellowship norms and usually require a qualifying national-level test such as UGC-NET or CSIR-NET, or equivalent. They provide a monthly fellowship plus an annual contingency grant, and in some cases HRA. Selection is merit-based, and the scholar must be registered for a full-time M.Phil or PhD at a recognised university. The portal window for these fellowships has been open on NSP during 2026-27, and the student application deadline is October 31, 2026 for many postgraduate schemes.

• Check that your university is on the approved list.
• Keep your NET/JRF award letter, registration letter and supervisor certificate ready.
• Renewal depends on progress reports and attendance.

State-wise SC/ST Scholarship Portals

Many states run separate portals. If your state is listed below, check both NSP and the state site, because the form may be routed differently. Portal names are given so you can search the official website directly.

Documents Required for SC/ST Scholarship

How to Apply for SC/ST Scholarship 2026-27 (Step by Step)

Follow these eight steps. The whole process takes about 30 minutes if your documents are ready.

1. 1
   Check eligibility

   Confirm your category (SC or ST), course level, family income limit and domicile before choosing a scheme.

2. 2
   Gather documents

   Keep scanned copies of Aadhaar, caste certificate, current-year income certificate, marksheets, admission proof, fee receipt and bank passbook ready (JPG/PDF, within NSP size limits).

3. 3
   Seed your bank account

   Make sure your bank account is in your own name, linked with Aadhaar and mapped with NPCI so that DBT payment does not fail.

4. 4
   Register on NSP (OTR)

   Open scholarships.gov.in, choose 'Student Corner', complete One Time Registration and note down your OTR/application ID and password.

5. 5
   Select the right scheme

   Log in, choose 'Fresh' or 'Renewal', and pick the scheme matching your category and level, such as Post-Matric Scholarship for SC Students or the ST equivalent.

6. 6
   Fill the form accurately

   Enter personal, academic, institution, bank and income details exactly as they appear on your documents. Spelling mismatches are the biggest cause of rejection.

7. 7
   Upload documents and submit

   Upload the required files, preview the form, accept the declaration, and submit. Download the final PDF and save the application ID.

8. 8
   Follow up with your institute

   Contact your Institute Nodal Officer (INO) so the form is verified, then track district and state approval on the portal until payment is made via DBT.

Need help? The National Scholarship Portal helpline is 0120-6619540, and you can contact your institute's nodal officer for verification issues.

Renewal, Application Status and Payment

Renewal

You must renew every year. Select "Renewal" after login, update the academic year details, upload the previous marksheet, the current fee receipt and, where asked, a fresh income certificate. Renewal is allowed only if you have passed the previous exam, remain in the same course and institution, and still meet the income ceiling. Institutes often set earlier internal deadlines for renewals, for example in July, so inform your scholarship cell early.

How to check application status

1. Log in at scholarships.gov.in with your application ID and password.
2. Open "Check Application Status".
3. Read the stage: pending at institute, district, state, approved, rejected or disbursed.
4. If rejected, read the remark and correct the issue where the correction window allows.

When will money arrive?

Payment comes by DBT after state or ministry sanction. Timelines vary by state, and some states release funds in batches months after the application deadline. If your status shows "approved" but money has not arrived, verify that the bank account is Aadhaar-seeded and NPCI-mapped, then contact your institute and the state nodal office.

Common Rejection Reasons and How to Fix Them

Fraud Alert: Protect Yourself from Fake Scholarship Agents

• Apply only on scholarships.gov.in and official state government portals ending in .gov.in or .nic.in.
• Be careful with social media pages and WhatsApp messages promising guaranteed approval for a fee.
• Cyber cafes may help you fill the form, but you should always keep your login details.
• Report suspicious calls to the NSP helpdesk or the cyber crime portal.

UniPortal is an independent information website. We are not the government and we do not process applications.

Expert Tips to Get Your Scholarship Approved Faster

SC vs ST Scholarships: Key Differences

Glossary of Scholarship Terms

NSP

National Scholarship Portal, the central website for most scholarship applications.

OTR

One Time Registration, a unique ID created once and used for all future applications.

DBT

Direct Benefit Transfer, money sent directly to your bank account.

INO

Institute Nodal Officer, the college or school official who verifies your form.

DNO / SNO

District Nodal Officer and State Nodal Officer, who verify and sanction the application at higher levels.

NPCI mapping

Linking your Aadhaar number to your bank account so that DBT can be received.

Post-matric

Education after Class 10, starting from Class 11.

Maintenance allowance

Monthly or yearly amount for living costs, separate from fee reimbursement.

Frequently Asked Questions: SC/ST Scholarships 2026-27

Sources, Methodology and Editorial Policy

This guide was reviewed and updated on October 10, 2026. Dates and amounts were cross-checked against the National Scholarship Portal, ministry scheme guidelines, institute notices for 2026-27 and state government announcements. Where figures differ between sources, we show the safer, more conservative value and ask you to verify on your login dashboard. Scholarship rules can change without notice.

• National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in)
• Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment scheme guidelines
• Ministry of Tribal Affairs scheme guidelines
• State social welfare and tribal welfare department notices