National Scholarship Portal (NSP) is a government of India platform to help students access all scholarship schemes by Central and State Governments besides other Government agencies. The purpose of NSP is to ensure that scholarships are available to all students in India most effectively and transparently.

Key Features of the NSP

• Wide Range of Scholarships: In various divisions such as SC, ST, OBC, EBC, and minority classes, the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) offers scholarships ranging from Primary to Post Graduation and PhD. Special scholarships are the Pragati Scholarship, North East students scholarships called ISHAN UDAY, and one for single girl children named PG Indira Gandhi Scholarship.
• How to Apply and Who Can Apply: There are some criteria that students have to meet to apply for these scholarships, including good academic performance and specific income limits on family background. For instance, merit cum Means Scholarship requires a minimum of 50% marks in the previous examination by the student and an annual income of Rs. 2.5 lakh or below.
• How to Apply: To register on the NSP website, students provide their Aadhaar Number, Banking details, school documents, and others as required.
• What NSP Offers: NSP offers services like a user guide, a scholarship filtering tool based on eligibility, and a contact list of people willing to assist. You can check the status of applications and who to call for assistance at both state and district levels.
• Mobile App for Easy Access: There is a mobile app for NSP at the Google Play Store and inside the UMANG app. Students can effortlessly apply for scholarships and access any NSP service from cell phones.
• Disbursement of Funds: The Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) method ensures that once students qualify for a scholarship, their bank accounts receive the funds directly. It accounted for INR 2,731 crore in the last academic year when paid to students.

Important Links

Name	Direct Link
NSP Registration	Click Here
NSP Login	Click Here
National Scholarship Schemes	Click Here
Check Eligibility	Click Here
Scheme-Wise Nodal Officers List	Click Here
Fresh Application	Click Here
Renewal Application	Click Here
UP Scholarship Updates	Click Here

Recent Updates and Deadlines

The deadline for application in various scholarship schemes under the NSP is usually around January 15, 2024, although it may vary depending on a state or central-based scholarship scheme. In this case, the applicant should keep in touch with the NSP portal through which he can find out the most recent news and dates of their own location that apply to the state.

Scholarships Categories on the NSP

There are different types of scholarships by the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) to cater to Indian students. The three categories of these scholarships include Central Schemes, UGC/AICTE Schemes, and State Schemes.

1. Central Schemes

The Indian government’s several ministries and divisions offer these scholarships.

• Post Matric Scholarship for SC Students: This scholarship supports higher education for Scheduled Caste students who can’t afford it.
• Merit-cum-Means Scholarship: They are for Professional and Technical Courses. This scheme targets brilliant students from minority communities in their professional and technical education.
• National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship: Economically backward students need this scholarship to continue their education at the secondary level so that they don’t drop out after 8th grade.

2. UGC/AICTE Schemes

Scholarship opportunities from the University Grants Commission (UGC) and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) inspire individuals to pursue higher education.

• ISHAN UDAY – Special Scholarship Scheme for North Eastern Region: This scholarship grants aid to students from North East States who want to continue their studies after school.
• PG Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child: This is a scholarship exclusively for girls who are single children in the family and wish to resume their postgraduate studies.
• Pragati Scholarship for Girl Students (Technical Degree): The objective of this scheme is to provide young women an opportunity to acquire technical education.

3. State Schemes

The state governments of several states in India are offering these scholarships. Here are some examples:

• West Bengal’s Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means Scholarship: It is a scholarship program that supports economically backward students in West Bengal, providing them with platforms through which they can access higher education institutions.
• Chandigarh Post-Matric Scholarship for SC Students: Chandigarh provides scholarships that support scheduled caste students with their financial needs as they undertake higher education courses after matriculation.
• Assam’s Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarships for OBC/ST/SC Students: These scholarships help backward community students in Assam to continue their education at various levels.

Special Scholarship Schemes on NSP

National Scholarship Portal (NSP) offers various special scholarship schemes to ensure equal opportunity for all students. Below are some of the main scholarships:

Scholarships for Students with Disabilities

• Pre-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities: Favoring students in classes IX and X, this scholarship provides educational support and other expenses for disabled students.
• Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities: For students who have a disability and wish to pursue education after class 10.

For Minority Communities

• Merit-cum-Means Scholarship for Professional and Technical Courses: The scholarship is particularly for meritorious minority community students pursuing professional and technical courses at the undergraduate as well as postgraduate level.
• Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Minorities: It targets minority students from grades I through X to provide them with financial assistance.

Scholarships For Economically Backward Classes (EBC)

• Dr. Ambedkar Post-Matric Scholarship for EBC Students: This scholarship offers financial aid for tuition fees, books, etc., to students belonging to economically backward classes.

General Eligibility Criteria for NSP Scholarship

1. Domicile: It is a requirement that applicants should be residents of India. Certain schemes have specific state domicile requirements. It means, for instance, that someone wishing to benefit from the Ishan Uday Special Scholarship Scheme must be a resident of one of the Northeastern states.
2. Educational Qualifications: Often eligibility depends on one’s level of education, and this is the case with:

• Pre-Matric Scholarships

• • This scholarship targets students from class I to X.

• Post-Matric Scholarships

• • This type of scholarship is available to people who study from XI class up to PhD level.

• Merit-based Scholarships

• • Having passed their previous exams with 50% or more marks is typically what most merit-based scholarships require.

• Professional and Technical Course Scholarships

• Such scholarships are for students doing professional or technical courses like engineering, medicine, management, or any other field that requires practical application based on specialized knowledge.

3. Annual Family Income: Many scholarships have an income ceiling. For example, scholarships under the Ministry of Minority Affairs are typically available to students whose annual family income does not exceed Rs. 2.5 lakhs.
4. Academic Performance: Consistency in academic performance counts; some scholarships mandate learners to maintain a particular grade percentage in their previous academic year (e.g., 50%).
5. Institutional Requirements: Applicants must be enrolled in recognized institutions. For instance, the Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships for College and University Students, where enrolling in recognized universities/ colleges would be a prerequisite.

Specific Schemes and Their Criteria

• Pragati Scholarship for Girl Students: For girls pursuing technical degree or diploma courses. The family’s annual income should be less than eight lakh rupees/annum.
• Post Matric Scholarship for SC Students: These are open to those students whose families earn not more than 2.5 lakh rupees per annum, studying post-matriculation or post-secondary courses.
• National Means Cum Merit Scholarship (NMMS): Parents’ earnings in this category must not be beyond 1.5 lakhs per annum. The students must score a minimum of 55 percent marks or an equivalent grade in the class VIII examination.

Important Documents for Application

When applying for NSP scholarship, make sure to have the following documents ready:

• Aadhaar card
• Bank account details
• Last educational qualification certificate
• Income certificate
• Caste certificate
• Domicile certificate
• Bonafide student certificate

NSP Application Process

1. Registration

• Visit the official site of NSP: scholarships.gov.in.
• Press the New Registration icon, and read the guidelines carefully.
• Enter basic information such as Date of Birth, State of Domicile, Scholarship Category, Name, Mobile Number, and Email ID, ensuring that all details conform with your educational certificates and Aadhaar card if applicable.

2. Filling the Application Form

• Login using the Application ID & password; created at the time of registration.
• Provide personal information with academic details as well as scheme-specific information to complete the application form. 
• Make sure to upload the necessary documents. 

3. Document Upload

• Do not upload documents in any other format except for the prescribed format & size only.
• Ensure that uploaded documents are legible and correct to avoid rejection.

4. Final Submission

• Check the completed application form and uploaded documents.
• Submit your application form. After that, you will receive an OTP to the registered mobile number for verification.

5. Institute Verification

• Once you submit it, the application will reach the respective institute.
• The institution then verifies particulars and documents, which leads to forwarding the application to the next level (District/State/Ministry) for further processing.

6. eKYC

• If necessary, go ahead with the eKYC process.

eKYC Process for NSP

The Aadhaar-based eKYC process on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) is an online confirmation of the student’s identities. You can do it this way:

• First, enter the NSP website with your Application ID and password.
• Secondly, go to the eKYC section after logging in. Thirdly, you can choose either OTP through Aadhaar or biometric authentication for eKYC completion.
• If using the OTP method, type in your Aadhaar number and enter the OTP received on your registered mobile number.
• But if you prefer utilizing biometric authentication, visit the nearest Aadhaar Seva Kendra or authorized biometric verification centers to provide your Aadhaar number and complete the verification process.

Important Remarks:

• Aadhaar Linking: You’ll receive an OTP on your cell number; therefore, be sure it’s connected to your Aadhar number.
• Accuracy: Cross-verify the details entered during the e-KYC process to verify they match with your Aadhaar records.
• Security: Do not disclose your Aadhaar and personal details. Just use authorized websites and centers for biometric authentication.

Application Renewal Process on NSP

Let us discuss how to renew your scholarship through the NSP portal using a few simple steps:

• Visit the NSP site. Click Login and select the academic year.
• Provide your Application ID and password from the previous year.
• Go to your dashboard and choose Renewal. It will redirect you to the renewal application form.
• Confirm that your profile reflects accurate information. These include personal details, academic particulars, and contact numbers.
• Upload the following documents, which usually are as follows;

1. Previous year’s mark sheet or academic transcript showing promotion to a higher class
2. Current year’s admission proof
3. Any other documents as per scholarship guidelines

• Note down the renewal application number after applying for future reference.
• Your educational institute receives your application for verification.
• The institution reviews these details while confirming ongoing education progress.
• After your application gets verified by the institute, it goes to the relevant authorities for final approval.

How to Check Application Status on the NSP

To check the situation of your scholarship request on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), please do the following:

• Go to the NSP website.
• Click Login.
• Choose the academic year in question.
• Write your Application ID, password, and captcha code to sign in.
• Tap Check Your Status or Track Application Status from your Homepage.
• Type further information, such as date of birth or mobile number.

It will display the application’s status, indicating:

• Under consideration.
• Validated.
• Approved.
• Issues to be resolved.

You can can check UP scholarship payment status here.

Scholarship Disbursement

NSP follows the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) method to ensure that scholarship funds are directly available to students’ bank accounts, reducing delays and ensuring transparency. The amount varies based on the category of the student and the specific scholarship scheme:

• General category: Up to INR 50,000 per year
• SC category: Up to INR 1,00,000 per year
• ST category: Up to INR 2,00,000 per year
• OBC category: Up to INR 50,000 per year

Additional Details

• Scheme-Wise List: To check the scheme-wise list of processed applications, visit the website. Choose academic years, application types (fresh or renewal), ministries, schemes, and states plus districts.
• Complaints and Queries: In case there are any differences, or you want to know about complaint status, go to the View Complaint Status page. To track your complaint status, provide your Application ID, Institute ID, or mobile number.
• Notifications and Updates: Regularly check your registered email and mobile number for any notifications on the application status. The NSP also updates students through the portal; hence, regularly visit the portal for the latest news.

Troubleshooting and Support

• Forgot Application ID: Whenever you forget the Application ID, go to the NSP login page and click the Forgot Application ID option.
• Help Desk: Contact the helpdesk at NSP at 0120-6619540 or email [email protected] for further assistance.

Final Remarks

The National Scholarship Portal is indispensable in students’ quest for financial aid during their education. Bringing together several scholarships into one platform makes the application process easier and guarantees openness and effectiveness of funds distribution. You can log on to www.scholarships.gov.in, the official NSP website, for more details and check other resources and support services that can increase your chances of winning a scholarship.