Scheme for Grant of Additional Scholarship to the Students Belonging to Scheduled Tribes for Pursuing Higher Studies Anywhere in India Post-Senior Secondary Courses

Scheme for Grant of Additional Scholarship to the Students Belonging to Scheduled Tribes for Pursuing Higher Studies Anywhere in India Post-Senior Secondary Courses gives financial support to ST students from Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This scheme offers a monthly scholarship of ₹1000 to eligible students who pursue higher education after the 12th standard at any recognized institution across India. Applications for the 2026-27 academic year are open on the National Scholarship Portal from 3 July 2026 to 31 October 2026.

Additional Scholarship for ST Students is a welfare-based scheme run by the Directorate of Tribal Welfare, Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Administration. It encourages tribal students to continue their academic goals after completing Senior Secondary (10+2) education. The support is given in addition to any existing maintenance or scholarship help from the Department of Education or the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

Scheme for Grant of Additional Scholarship to ST Students - Introduction

Additional Scholarship for ST Students helps tribal students manage their educational expenses while studying anywhere in India. The Directorate of Tribal Welfare provides this extra support to students belonging to the Scheduled Tribes of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. You can use this scholarship for regular and full-time courses at Government recognized institutions or AICTE and UGC approved institutions across the country.

Scope: The scholarship is open to all ST students of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as notified by the President of India under Article 342 (1) of the Constitution. It covers Graduate and Post Graduate courses, Diploma and Degree courses, Doctoral and Post Doctoral courses, and other recognized professional or technical courses. This support is in addition to the scholarship or maintenance cost you already get from the Department of Education and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

Funding pattern of the scheme: The Directorate of Tribal Welfare runs this scheme using funds made available under the Union Territory Plan. The Secretary (Tribal Welfare) is the sanctioning authority for the additional scholarship.

Duration of scholarship: Once awarded, this support continues from the point of grant until you complete your course. You should maintain good conduct and ensure regular attendance, which your head of institution will certify. The award is renewed from year to year when you get promoted to the next higher class.

Key Information

Benefits

Value of Additional Scholarship: You will receive a monthly financial stipend of ₹1000 to help cover your educational costs. This amount is paid for ten months in each academic session.

Payment and mode of disbursal:

• You receive the payment for ten months during each academic session, and the support is normally given to students who passed the previous academic session.
• The Directorate of Tribal Welfare transfers the funds directly into your bank account through the direct benefit process.
• The additional scholarship is dependent on satisfactory progress, so you must keep up regular attendance and good conduct during your course.

Eligibility

You are eligible for this scholarship if you meet the following criteria:

1. You must belong to the Scheduled Tribes of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as notified by the President of India under Article 342 (1) of the Constitution.
2. You must be a domicile of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and have passed your Senior Secondary (10+2) examination from a recognized board or university.
3. You must be pursuing regular and full-time Post-Senior Secondary courses, Graduate or Post Graduate courses, or Doctoral and Post Doctoral courses at any recognized institution in India.
4. If you fail to clear a degree course but decide to switch to a different technical or professional certificate or diploma, you remain eligible for the scholarship.
5. Medical students pursuing post-graduate studies can apply, provided you are not permitted to practice medicine during the tenure of the course.

Note 01: You must show satisfactory academic progress to continue receiving the scholarship.

Note 02: If you provide false information, the administration will cancel your scholarship. You would need to repay any received amounts, and you will be blacklisted from future department schemes.

Note 03: If you change your course subject or institution without prior approval from the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, your scholarship may be cancelled.

Note 04: If you discontinue your studies during the year, you may be required to refund the scholarship amount.

Note 05: The Andaman and Nicobar Administration reserves the right to modify these provisions at any time.

Renewal of Scholarship:

1. You can renew your scholarship annually if you successfully pass your exams and get promoted to the next class.
2. If you fail for the first time, you may still get a renewal. However, for any subsequent failures, you must bear your own expenses until you pass.
3. If you miss exams due to illness, you may still get a renewal if you provide a medical certificate that shows you were likely to pass had you taken the exam.
4. If you get promoted after a delay according to university rules, you are entitled to the scholarship for the class you are promoted into, provided you are otherwise eligible.

Exclusions

You are not eligible if:

1. You are pursuing a course at the same academic level in a different subject, for example studying for a B.Sc after completing a B.A.
2. You have already finished one professional course and are applying for another, for example applying for an LLB after a B.Ed.
3. You are currently in Class XI or XII of a Higher Secondary School, as these are not considered post-secondary professional courses.

Application Process

You should submit your application online through the National Scholarship Portal to start your process. The portal for the 2026-27 academic year opened on 1 June 2026, and the last date to apply for this scheme is 31 October 2026.

STEP 1 - Visit the National Scholarship Portal at National Scholarship Portal and complete your One Time Registration (OTR) using your Aadhaar or Aadhaar Enrollment number. OTR is a unique 14-digit number that is required to apply for scholarships from the academic year 2024-25 onwards.

STEP 2 - Once you have your OTR, log in using your OTR ID and password under the Fresh Application section for new students or the Renewal section for students who received the scholarship in the previous year.

STEP 3 - Click on the Application Form icon to open the form and select the Scheme for Grant of Additional Scholarship to ST Students for Pursuing Higher Studies.

STEP 4 - Complete the form with your personal, academic and bank details and upload the required documents in the correct format.

STEP 5 - Click the Final Submit button and keep the system-generated registration number safe for future tracking.

Note: The UT Administration invites applications annually via the National Scholarship Portal, often advertised in leading newspapers. Students may apply for one merit-based scheme and one or more welfare-based schemes for the 2026-27 academic year as per the eligibility criteria.

Documents

Please keep the following documents ready for your online application:

1. Passport-size photograph
2. Copy of Aadhaar Card
3. Class X and XII mark sheets or graduation and diploma certificates
4. Copy of mark statements for renewal cases, signed by your Head of Institution
5. Caste certificate
6. Residence proof or domicile certificate
7. Copy of the first page of your bank passbook
8. Any other documents as specifically requested by the portal

References

Official Scheme Guidelines PDF

National Scholarship Portal

FAQ's

What is the objective of the scheme?

The objective is to provide additional financial assistance to ST students pursuing higher education after the 12th standard at colleges or universities anywhere in India.

Which department implements this?

The Directorate of Tribal Welfare, Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Administration implements this through the Union Territory Plan.

Who is eligible to apply?

ST students who are domiciles of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and have passed the 12th standard from a recognized board are eligible.

What is the benefit amount?

Eligible students receive ₹1000 per month for ten months in each academic session.

Is the scholarship only for ST students?

Yes, you must belong to the Scheduled Tribe category to qualify.

Are PG medical students eligible?

Yes, provided you are not permitted to practice medicine during your course period.

How long is the scholarship duration?

It remains valid from the point of grant until you complete your course, assuming you maintain good conduct and attendance.

Can I apply if I am in Class XI or XII?

No, this scholarship is for post-12th higher or professional courses only.

What is the last date to apply for 2026-27?

The application window is open from 3 July 2026 to 31 October 2026 on the National Scholarship Portal.

Is an Aadhaar card mandatory?

Yes, you need your Aadhaar card number or enrollment number to complete the One Time Registration on the portal.

What if my institute is not in the dropdown menu?

You should contact your respective institute to ensure they have registered on the portal.

What if I make a mistake in my application?

Contact your institute's nodal officer. They can set the application back to an incomplete status so you can edit it.

Can I apply for previous years?

No, you can only claim the scholarship for the current academic year.