Post Matric Scholarship for SC students 2026-27 applications are open on the National Scholarship Portal. The portal at scholarships.gov.in opened for the 2026-27 academic year on 1 June 2026, and Scheduled Caste students studying in Class 11 and above can apply online before the last date fixed by their state. For the 2026-27 budget, the central government has set aside ₹6,360 crore for this scheme.
Under the scheme, students get their admission fee, tuition fee and other compulsory non-refundable fees paid, plus a yearly maintenance allowance between ₹2,500 and ₹13,000 based on the course group and whether they stay in a hostel. Family income from all sources should not be more than ₹2.5 lakh a year. The money is sent directly to the student's bank account through DBT.
Post Matric Scholarship for SC Students 2026-27
Post Matric Scholarship for SC students is a centrally sponsored scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It gives financial support to Scheduled Caste students who want to study after Class 10, in India only. The main aim is to improve the number of SC students in higher education, with extra focus on students from the poorest families. The scholarship has to be renewed every year a student continues studying. Students studying in Class 9 and 10 can check the pre-matric scholarship for Scheduled Caste students for the earlier stage.
The award is managed by the State or Union Territory where the student is domiciled. Both students who are already getting the scholarship and fresh students joining after admissions can apply. Applications for the 2026-27 academic year are being taken online, so students should apply early and make sure the college verifies the form within the window.
For better organization, the scheme groups courses as follows:
| Group | Course Details |
|---|---|
| Group I | Degree and Post Graduate level courses in Medicine, Engineering, Technology, Architecture, and Management. |
| Group II | Post Graduate Diploma courses in Management, Medicine, and professional certifications like C.A or C.S. |
| Group III | Graduate and Post Graduate courses not covered in Group 1 or 2, such as B.A, B.Sc, or M.Com. |
| Group IV | All post-matriculation non-degree courses including Hospitality, Nutrition, and Taxation. |
Key Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Post-Matric Scholarship for SC students |
| Level | Central |
| Scheme for | Individual |
| States Covered | All |
| Category | Education & Learning |
| Benefit Type | Cash |
| Ministry | Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment |
| Official Website | scholarships.gov.in |
Benefits
The scheme covers the admission fee, tuition fee and other compulsory non-refundable fees as per the scheme rules. On top of that, students get a yearly maintenance allowance for books, stationery and other study costs. The table below shows the yearly allowance for each course group for hostellers and day scholars.
| Category of Courses | Hostellers (Yearly) | Day Scholars (Yearly) |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1: Professional Degree/PG | ₹13,000 | ₹7,000 |
| Group 2: Professional Diploma/Certificate | ₹9,500 | ₹6,500 |
| Group 3: General Graduate/PG | ₹6,000 | ₹3,000 |
| Group 4: Non-degree post-matric courses | ₹4,000 | ₹2,500 |
Note: Students with physical disability get an extra 10% allowance. Students doing C.A, I.C.W.A or C.S are treated as day scholars for this allowance. Distance or online learners do not get the maintenance allowance.
Eligibility
To apply for the scholarship, students need to meet the following conditions:
- The applicant must be an Indian citizen.
- The applicant must belong to the Scheduled Caste community and hold a valid caste certificate.
- The applicant must have passed the matriculation or higher examination from a recognized board or university.
- The family's total annual income from all sources should not be more than ₹2.5 lakh. For example, if a student's parents have a combined annual income of ₹2.2 lakh, the student is eligible, but if the income is ₹2.6 lakh, the student does not qualify.
- The applicant should not be getting another scholarship or stipend for the same course. If already getting one, the department has to be informed because the amount can be adjusted.
- The applicant must be enrolled in a recognized post-matric course for the current academic year, from Class 11, ITI, diploma, degree and post-graduation to professional courses.
Application Process
For the 2026-27 academic year, the application is done fully online through the National Scholarship Portal. Some states run their own SC scholarship portal, and students there need to apply on that state portal. Follow the steps below:
STEP 1 - Open the National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in and click on 'New Registration' under the Applicant Corner. Read the instructions, accept the terms and register using the Aadhaar-linked mobile number. Note down the Application ID given after registration.
STEP 2 - Complete the Aadhaar-based eKYC with the OTP sent to the registered mobile number. This step is required so that the payment can go to the Aadhaar-linked bank account through DBT.
STEP 3 - Log in with the Application ID and password, select 'Post-Matric Scholarship for SC Students' from the list of schemes and fill in the personal, academic, caste and income details exactly as they appear on the certificates and mark sheets.
STEP 4 - Upload clear scans of the required documents, including the SC caste certificate, income certificate, previous year mark sheet, admission or fee receipt, bank passbook and passport size photo.
STEP 5 - Check every field once, submit the form and then lock the application. An unlocked or draft application is not processed.
STEP 6 - Ask the college or school scholarship officer to verify the application online within the window. Keep checking the application status by logging in. Once approved and verified, the amount is credited to the bank account through DBT.
Documents
Keep the following documents ready before starting the application:
- Recent passport-sized photograph for the application form.
- Academic certificates and mark sheets of the previous year.
- Valid SC caste certificate issued by the competent authority.
- Family income certificate for the current year.
- Domicile certificate of the state where the student is permanently settled.
- Bank passbook of an Aadhaar-linked account in the student's name.
- Aadhaar card for eKYC and DBT payment.
References
Official Scheme Page - Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
FAQ's
What is Post Matric Scholarship for SC students?
It is a centrally sponsored scheme of the Government of India run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It gives financial support to Scheduled Caste students studying after Class 10 by covering their fees and giving a yearly maintenance allowance.
What is the main aim of the scheme?
The main aim is to improve the number of SC students in higher education by giving financial support to students from the poorest families.
Do Divyang students get extra benefit?
Yes, Divyang students get an extra 10% allowance on top of their normal scholarship amount.
What is the income limit for the scheme?
The combined annual income of parents or guardians from all sources should not be more than ₹2.5 lakh to qualify for the scholarship.
Can distance learning students apply for this scholarship?
Yes, students doing courses through correspondence or online mode can apply, but the maintenance allowance is not given for distance or online courses.
What is the last date to apply for 2026-27?
There is no single national last date. The NSP opened for the 2026-27 academic year on 1 June 2026, and most states close the application window between October and November 2026. Check the last date for your state on the portal or the state SC welfare department notification.
How to check the status of the application?
Log in to the National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in with the Application ID and password, and check the status section. It shows whether the form is submitted, locked, verified by the institute or approved for payment.
What is the NSP helpline number?
The NSP helpdesk can be reached at 0120-6619540. If the issue is not solved, a grievance can be filed on the central public grievance portal at pgportal.gov.in with the Application ID.