Scholarships 2026-27: For many students, financial assistance can make higher education more accessible. Across India, state governments and their departments administer several scholarship schemes for school pupils, college students and those pursuing professional or further courses.
2026-27 academic year scholarships are based on social category, merit, family income, gender, course and other eligibility conditions. But there is not a single scholarship that fits all students of a state. Each plan has its own set of rules, rewards, application process and closing date.
This is a state-wise overview that will allow students to locate the scholarships which may be useful to them.
State-wise Scholarship Overview
| State | Major schemes / portals | Selected benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Punjab | Post-Matric, minority and category-based schemes; NSP and state portals | Fee support, maintenance allowance and educational assistance |
| Assam | State and centrally sponsored schemes | Scheme-specific financial assistance |
| Andhra Pradesh | JnanaBhumi, RTF and MTF | Eligible fee reimbursement; MTF up to ₹20,000/year for degree and above |
| Kerala | e-Grantz, DCE and KSHEC | Higher Education Scholarship up to ₹60,000 at PG level |
| Telangana | ePASS and post-matric schemes | Fee reimbursement and maintenance support; selected overseas schemes up to ₹20 lakh |
| Odisha | State Scholarship Portal, e-Medhabruti | ₹10,000–₹20,000/year under selected merit schemes |
| Gujarat | Digital Gujarat and departmental portals | Scholarship, fee and maintenance assistance |
| Karnataka | State Scholarship Portal | Fee reimbursement and other educational support |
| Tamil Nadu | UMIS, State Scholarship Portal and NSP | ₹1,000/month under Pudhumai Penn and Tamil Pudhalvan |
| Maharashtra | MahaDBT | Fee reimbursement, maintenance and merit assistance |
| West Bengal | SVMCM, OASIS, Kanyashree and Aikyashree | SVMCM rates vary by course; Kanyashree K2 offers ₹25,000 one-time |
| Himachal Pradesh | State merit and post-matric schemes | Selected schemes provide ₹11,000–₹18,000/year |
| Uttarakhand | Social Welfare and Higher Education schemes | Course- and category-specific financial assistance |
| Haryana | Har-Chhatravratti, NSP and SARAL | Merit incentives and post-matric support |
| Chhattisgarh | State and post-matric portals | Selected schemes provide fixed or monthly assistance |
| Jharkhand | e-Kalyan and departmental schemes | Manki Munda: ₹15,000–₹30,000/year for eligible girls |
| Rajasthan | Rajasthan Scholarship Portal / SSO | Category- and course-specific assistance |
| Madhya Pradesh | MP Scholarship Portal | Post-matric assistance and selected research scholarships |
| Bihar | Post-Matric Scholarship | Up to ₹15,000/year for specified professional courses |
| Uttar Pradesh | UP Scholarship Portal | Up to ₹13,500/year for specified higher courses |
Important: The amounts above are selected examples, not universal payments. Actual benefits depend on the particular scheme, course, category, institution and applicable government rules.
What Kind of Students Can Apply?
Scholarship eligibility varies considerably. Depending on the scheme, applicants may include:
- SC, ST, OBC, BC, EBC and DNT students
- Minority-community students
- Meritorious students
- Students from economically weaker families
- Girl students covered by specific education schemes
- Students with disabilities
- Students pursuing diploma, ITI, undergraduate, PG, technical or professional courses
- School students covered by pre-matric schemes
Common requirements can include domicile or residence, family income, academic performance, course and institution requirements, attendance and category certificates. Not every condition applies to every scholarship.
For example, Telangana’s ePASS system specifies different income ceilings for SC, ST, BC, EBC and minority applicants, while West Bengal’s SVMCM has separate academic and income requirements.
How Much Financial Assistance Is Available?
There is no standard scholarship amount across India. The benefit can take several forms:
- Monthly financial assistance
- Annual scholarships
- Tuition or fee reimbursement
- Maintenance allowances
- Hostel-related assistance
- One-time educational incentives
- Support for higher or overseas education
Some examples illustrate the variation. Tamil Nadu’s Pudhumai Penn and Tamil Pudhalvan schemes provide ₹1,000 per month to eligible students, while Odisha’s e-Medhabruti lists annual assistance ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹20,000 depending on the level of study.
In Jharkhand, the Manki Munda Scholarship lists Rs15,000 annually for eligible diploma/polytechnic girls and ₹30,000 for eligible B.E./B.Tech girls
These figures should always be checked against the latest scheme notification before students make financial plans.
How to Apply
Although the exact process differs, online applications generally follow these steps:
- Identify the correct scholarship scheme.
- Check the eligibility requirements.
- Register on the applicable official portal.
- Complete personal and academic details.
- Enter category and income information where required.
- Upload the prescribed documents.
- Enter and verify bank details.
- Review the application carefully.
- Submit the form.
- Save the application or acknowledgement number.
- Complete institutional verification if required.
- Track the application until approval and payment.
Different states use different platforms. Andhra Pradesh, for example, uses JnanaBhumi for several scholarship services while Telangana uses ePASS and Tamil Nadu uses platforms including UMIS for specific schemes.
Documents Students Should Keep Ready
The exact requirements depend on the scheme, but applicants may commonly need:
- Aadhaar or another prescribed identity document
- Domicile/residence certificate
- Caste or community certificate, where applicable
- Income certificate
- Previous examination marksheets
- Admission or enrolment proof
- Bank account/passbook details
- Passport-size photograph
- Disability certificate, where applicable
- Fee receipt
- Course or institution-related documents
Students should use the document list shown on the relevant official application portal rather than relying on a generic checklist.
Scholarship Deadlines: Check the Scheme, Not Just the State
One of the most important points for applicants is that there is usually no single last date for every scholarship within a state.
For example, the supplied 2026-27 information lists:
- Punjab SC Post-Matric Scholarship: applications reported open until November 15, 2026
- Kerala Kadavillakku Scholarship: deadline of September 30, 2026
- Haryana Dr. Ambedkar Medhavi Chhattar Sanshodhit Yojna: applications from August 17 to November 30, 2026
- Chhattisgarh Post-Matric Scholarship: published registration schedule from June 22 to December 30, 2026
These dates relate to the specific schemes mentioned and should not be treated as common deadlines for all scholarships in those states.
Students should check for extensions or revised schedules before submitting an application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there one scholarship for all students in a state?
No. States operate multiple scholarships, and eligibility depends on factors such as category, income, academic level, course and institution.
Can students apply for more than one scholarship?
This depends on the rules of the schemes involved. Some programmes restrict students from receiving another government scholarship for the same course or stage Applicants should read the specific scheme guidelines before applying.
Is the scholarship amount the same for everyone?
No. The amount can vary according to the scholarship, category, course, institution and hosteller/day-scholar status.
