NSP Scholarships for SC & ST Students
The NSP hosts four dedicated schemes for students from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities, making SC/ST scholarships the most comprehensively covered category on the portal. Two central ministries operate these schemes — the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment for SC students and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for ST students — ensuring dedicated oversight. Coverage spans from Class 1 (some state-linked schemes) to doctoral research, with the post-matric scheme being the broadest, covering course fees and maintenance allowances at recognised institutions nationwide. These schemes are centrally sponsored but state-implemented, meaning your State Nodal Officer processes your application after institute verification.
Scholarship Schemes for SC & ST Students
Who Qualifies
- Must belong to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe as notified by the Government of India
- Annual family income must not exceed ₹2.5 lakh (varies by scheme)
- Must be enrolled in a recognised school, college, or university
- Cannot avail two central pre-matric or two central post-matric scholarships simultaneously
- Caste certificate must be issued by a Tehsildar or equivalent competent authority
Documents Commonly Required
Most schemes in this category require the following documents. Some schemes may need additional certificates — check each scheme's detail page for specifics.
- Caste / community certificate (SC or ST) from Tehsildar or equivalent
- Income certificate from competent authority (not older than one year)
- Aadhaar card
- Aadhaar-seeded bank passbook
- Bonafide / enrolment certificate from current institution
- Previous year marksheet
SC and ST students can potentially access both the central scheme and an additional state-level scholarship in the same academic year — check your state's welfare department portal alongside NSP. However, you cannot claim two central pre-matric or two central post-matric scholarships at the same time.
Ready to Apply on NSP?
Applications are submitted free of charge on the official portal. Mahadev Maitri Foundation publishes free guides to help students navigate the process.