Post-Matric Scholarship — SC/ST Students
About This Scholarship
The Post-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST students is one of the broadest and most well-funded central scholarships on NSP, covering everything from Class 11 right up to doctoral research. The scheme reimburses compulsory non-refundable fees charged by the institution and provides a monthly maintenance allowance that varies based on whether the student is a day scholar or a hosteller. It also includes specific allowances for students with disabilities. Both fresh and renewal applicants must apply on NSP every year, and the institute must verify the application within the portal for disbursal to proceed.
Eligibility Criteria
- Student must belong to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe
- Enrolled in a recognised post-matric course (Class 11 onwards, including degree, diploma, and PhD)
- Annual family income must not exceed ₹2.5 lakh
- Can apply to one course at a time; switching courses mid-year requires intimation to the nodal department
- Both government and private recognised institutions are covered
How Much You Get
This scheme provides Course fee + maintenance allowance to eligible students. Income must not exceed ₹2.5 lakh/year from all sources, as certified by a competent authority. Scholarship money is disbursed directly to your Aadhaar-linked bank account via PFMS — no institution or intermediary handles the funds.
Amounts may vary between day scholars and hostellers in schemes that have both categories. Always check the official scheme guidelines on scholarships.gov.in for the current year's amount structure, as rates are subject to periodic revision by the government.
Documents Required
- Caste certificate from a Tehsildar or equivalent
- Income certificate (current year)
- Bonafide certificate / enrolment proof from current institution
- Previous year marksheet or passing certificate
- Fee receipt from institution for the current academic year
- Aadhaar-seeded bank passbook
All documents must be uploaded in the format specified by NSP (usually JPG or PDF, under 200KB per file). Ensure scans are clear and legible — blurry uploads are a common cause of application defects.
The biggest rejection reason for this scheme is institution not found on NSP. Before applying, verify your college's AISHE code and NSP registration — ask your college's scholarship coordinator. If the institution is not listed, the coordinator must register it before you can submit.