Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship is a central government scheme for meritorious girl students from minority communities studying in Class 9 to Class 12. It pays ₹5,000 for Class 9 and 10 students and ₹6,000 for Class 11 and 12 students, with applications for academic year 2026-27 open on the National Scholarship Portal from 1 June 2026.
Girl students from six notified minority communities can apply online at scholarships.gov.in. The scheme is run by Maulana Azad Education Foundation under Ministry of Minority Affairs, and the scholarship amount is paid directly to the student's Aadhaar linked bank account through DBT mode.
Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship 2026
Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship was earlier called Maulana Azad National Scholarship for Meritorious Girls Belonging to Minorities. It was launched on 3 May 2003 by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The scheme was renamed in memory of Begum Hazrat Mahal, the queen of Awadh who stood against colonial rule.
Main aim of the scheme is to recognise, promote and help girl students who cannot continue their education because of money problems. Scholarship amount can be used for school or college fee, syllabus books, stationery and boarding or lodging charges. Selection is based on marks in the qualifying exam and family annual income, with quota fixed state wise and community wise as per Census 2011 minority population.
Key Highlights
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship |
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of Minority Affairs |
| Implementing Body | Maulana Azad Education Foundation |
| Beneficiaries | Girl students from six minority communities in Class 9 to 12 |
| Benefit Amount | ₹5,000 for Class 9 and 10, ₹6,000 for Class 11 and 12 |
| Income Limit | ₹2 lakh per year |
| Application Mode | Online through National Scholarship Portal |
| Official Website | scholarships.gov.in |
Eligibility
Only girl students who meet the conditions given below can apply for this scholarship:
- Girl student from one of six notified minority communities, namely Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain or Parsi.
- Studying in Class 9 to Class 12.
- Secured at least 50% marks or equal grade in the previous class or qualifying exam.
- Annual family income of parents or guardian must not cross ₹2 lakh from all sources.
- Valid income certificate issued by a Competent Authority in the State or Union Territory is required.
- Self-certified community certificate is needed. A student below 18 years can submit a community certificate certified by parent or guardian.
- Student must not get benefit from any other Central or State Government scholarship scheme for the same purpose.
- Scholarship is not given to more than two girl students from one family for the same class.
Benefits
Scholarship amount is paid directly to the student's bank account. Benefit amount depends on the class:
- Class 9 and Class 10 students get ₹5,000 per student.
- Class 11 and Class 12 students get ₹6,000 per student.
Documents Required
Keep these documents ready before filling the online application:
- Aadhaar card
- Family income certificate
- School verification form
- Passport size photograph
- Previous year marksheet
- Self-declaration of the minority community
- Bank account details
- Domicile certificate
How to Apply Online
Applications are submitted only online through the National Scholarship Portal. Follow the steps given below.
STEP 1 - Open the official National Scholarship Portal and go to the Students section. Accept the terms, verify the mobile number with OTP, and complete e-KYC to get a reference number.
STEP 2 - Generate the One Time Registration (OTR) number. Use the NSP OTR mobile app and Aadhaar face authentication. This 14-digit OTR number stays valid for the whole academic career.
STEP 3 - Login to the portal using the OTR number. Fill academic and personal details in the application form and upload the required documents.
STEP 4 - Click Final Submit to forward the application. After that, the school or institute nodal officer verifies the form, then district and state authorities check it.
STEP 5 - Maulana Azad Education Foundation releases the scholarship amount to the Aadhaar linked bank account only after all verification levels approve the application.
FAQ's
Who is eligible to apply for this scholarship?
Girl students from Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain and Parsi communities studying in India in Class 9 to 12, with at least 50% marks and family income up to ₹2 lakh, are eligible.
Is the application process online?
Yes, all applications must be submitted through National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in.
Can a student edit the application after submission?
No, once the student clicks Final Submit, the application moves to the next level and no further edits are allowed.
Does a student have to fill the application in one sitting?
No, the application can be saved as a draft and completed later before final submission.
How can a student check the application status?
Login to Student Login on National Scholarship Portal and select the Check Your Status option.
Is there any renewal process?
No, there is no renewal. Students must apply afresh for each class from Class 9 to 12.