AI SummaryAICTE has opened the online application window for Swanath Scholarship Scheme 2026-27. Orphan students, children who lost parents to Covid-19, wards of martyred Armed Forces personnel and students whose parent has a critical illness can apply on the National Scholarship Portal before 31 October 2026.
Selected students get ₹50,000 per year to study degree or diploma courses in AICTE-approved colleges. For the 2026-27 batch, AICTE will award 2000 scholarships, with 1000 seats for degree courses and 1000 seats for diploma courses.
AICTE-Swanath Scholarship Scheme for Students - Overview
Swanath Scholarship Scheme is run by the Student Development Cell (StDC) of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), which works under the Ministry of Education. The scheme helps students who have faced serious personal loss, so that money problems do not stop them from studying technical courses. The amount can be used for college fees, books, stationery, computer and software.
For the 2026-27 batch, fresh and renewal applications are being accepted online. The application window opened in June 2026 and will close on 31 October 2026. Colleges can verify applications till 15 November 2026, and the state nodal officers will do the final checking till 30 November 2026.
Key Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | AICTE-Swanath Scholarship Scheme for Students |
| Launched By | Student Development Cell (StDC), AICTE |
| Who Can Apply | Orphans, Covid-19 bereaved students, wards of martyrs and students with critically ill parents |
| Benefit Amount | ₹50,000 per year |
| Total Scholarships | 2000 (1000 Degree + 1000 Diploma) |
| Application Mode | Online (National Scholarship Portal) |
| Last Date | 31 October 2026 |
| Official Website | scholarships.gov.in |
Benefits
Selected students get a scholarship of ₹50,000 per year for the full course duration. Degree students admitted in the first year can get the money for up to 4 years, while diploma students can get it for up to 3 years.
Students already studying in the 2nd, 3rd or 4th year of a degree course get the benefit only for the remaining years, which means 3, 2 or 1 year. The same rule applies to diploma students studying in the 2nd or 3rd year.
The amount is paid directly into the student's bank account through DBT mode. It is meant for college fees, computer, books, stationery, equipment and software. No extra money is given for hostel or medical charges.
Eligibility
Students must fall under one of these four categories to apply:
- Orphan: students who have lost both parents.
- Covid-19 bereaved: students whose one or both parents died due to Covid-19.
- Martyrs' wards: children of Armed Forces and Central Paramilitary Forces personnel martyred in action (Shaheed).
- Students whose parent is suffering from a critical life-threatening disease like cancer, or whose parent died or became severely disabled (above 80%) in an accident, as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016.
Apart from the category, the student must meet these conditions:
- Total family income from all sources should not be more than ₹8 lakh per year. A valid income certificate issued by the State or UT government must be attached.
- The student should be studying in a degree or diploma course at an AICTE-approved college in regular mode, in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th year.
- The student should not be receiving any other Central, State or AICTE scholarship.
Exclusions
Students who already receive financial support or scholarships from any Central Government, State Government or AICTE-sponsored scheme cannot apply. Postgraduate students are also not covered under this scheme.
Students who do not fall under any of these categories can check the Pragati Scholarship Scheme for Girl Students and the AICTE Saksham Scholarship Scheme for Specially-Abled Students. A list of Central Government schemes for student education is also available on SarkariYojana.
Application Process
All applications are submitted online through the National Scholarship Portal. Here are the steps to follow:
STEP 1 - Go to the National Scholarship Portal and register yourself as a new student. Read the instructions on the portal and fill in your personal details.
STEP 2 - Log in with the application ID and password generated during registration.
STEP 3 - Fill in the application form carefully, select the AICTE-Swanath Scholarship Scheme, upload the required documents and check all details once.
STEP 4 - Submit the application before 31 October 2026. Once submitted, the form cannot be changed, so review everything before the final submit.
After submission, the college will verify the application, and then the state nodal officer will check it again.
Documents
Documents change slightly as per the student's category. These are the common documents for all applicants:
- Bonafide certificate from the college.
- 10th and 12th mark sheets (10th mark sheet is enough for diploma students).
- Aadhaar card and bank account details.
- Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL) if applicable.
Orphan students need to attach death certificates of both parents. If the certificates are not available, a certificate issued by the Tehsildar or SDM in the given format works. Students who lost parents to Covid-19 need a death certificate that clearly mentions Covid-19 as the cause. Wards of martyrs need the Shaheed certificate issued by the Armed Forces or Central Paramilitary Forces, along with a current year income certificate.
Selection Process
Selection is purely on merit. Degree students are picked on the basis of marks in the 10+2 or equivalent exam, and diploma students on the basis of 10th or equivalent marks. If two students have the same percentage, the one with higher 10th marks is preferred. If the tie still remains, the elder student and then the student with lower family income gets priority.
Renewal
The scholarship can be renewed for the next year of study. Students have to submit a promotion certificate along with a bonafide certificate from the head of the institution on the National Scholarship Portal. A student who fails to get promoted or misses the renewal deadline loses the scholarship.
Contact Details
For problems with the National Scholarship Portal, write to helpdesk@nsp.gov.in. For scheme-related questions, contact the AICTE Student Development Cell at consultant2stdc@aicte-india.org. The AICTE office is at Nelson Mandela Marg, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070 and can be reached on 011-2958 1399.
References
AICTE Swanath Scheme Official Page | AICTE Swanath Scholarship A/Y 2026-27 Notification | Scheme Guidelines 2025 | Official FAQ | National Scholarship Portal
FAQ's
What is the last date to apply for Swanath Scholarship 2026-27?
The last date to submit the online application is 31 October 2026. Colleges can verify applications till 15 November 2026, and the state nodal officers till 30 November 2026.
How many students get this scholarship every year?
AICTE awards 2000 scholarships every year, 1000 for degree students and 1000 for diploma students.
Can I apply if my parent is suffering from cancer?
Yes. Students whose parent is suffering from a critical life-threatening disease like cancer, or whose parent died or became severely disabled (above 80%) in an accident, can apply under this category.
Can I apply if I already get another government scholarship?
No. Students who already receive any other scholarship from the Central or State government, or from AICTE, cannot apply for this scheme.
Is Aadhaar required for the application?
Yes. An Aadhaar number is required to apply, and the bank account must be linked with Aadhaar in the student's own name to get the DBT payment.
How will I receive the scholarship money?
AICTE pays the amount directly into the student's bank account through DBT mode every year.
What happens if I fail in the next year?
The scholarship stops if the student fails to get promoted or does not apply for renewal on time. The student has to forfeit the scholarship.