National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies

Ministry of Education, through the University Grants Commission (UGC), runs National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies for students doing their first postgraduate degree in India. Applications for the 2026-27 academic year are open on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) from 1 June 2026.

Selected students get ₹15,000 per month for 10 months in each academic year, for two years of their PG course. Around 10,000 scholarships are given every year on the basis of merit, and 30% of the slots are kept for women candidates.

National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies - Introduction

This central scheme is made to help bright students from poor family backgrounds continue their higher studies without money problems. Students doing a regular, full-time postgraduate degree in a recognized university, college or institute can apply. Selection is done on all-India merit, and the money is sent directly to the Aadhaar-linked bank account of the student through DBT. Results are normally declared in November or December.

Key Information

Benefits

Under this scheme, selected students receive ₹15,000 per month for 10 months in every academic year, and this continues for the two years of the postgraduate degree. The full amount is paid directly into the bank account of the student through DBT, so no middlemen are involved. Students also need to note that they can receive only one scholarship at a time under the scheme rules.

Eligibility

To get the benefit of National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies, a student has to meet all the conditions given below:

1. should be pursuing the first postgraduate degree; students who already have a PG degree cannot apply.
2. should be currently admitted in the first year of the postgraduate program.
3. should be below 30 years of age on the date of admission to the PG program.
4. should be enrolled in a regular, full-time and recognized postgraduate degree program.
5. should be studying in a university, college or institute recognized under the UGC Act, 1956 with valid NAAC accreditation, or an institution of national importance.

Application Process

Applications for the 2026-27 academic year are accepted only online through the National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in. One Time Registration (OTR) is required for all students since the 2024-25 academic year. The steps are given below.

STEP 1 - Visit the official National Scholarships Portal and click on the Student option. New users should click on the 'New user? Register yourself' option on the left side.

STEP 2 - Read the guidelines, accept the terms and conditions, and click Next. Enter a working mobile number, fill the captcha, and verify it with the OTP received.

STEP 3 - Complete the e-KYC process as instructed and note down the temporary reference number for future use. Download the NSP OTR app from the Google Play Store and install AadhaarFaceRD services on the phone.

STEP 4 - Open the NSP OTR app, select the eKYC with FaceAuth option, enter the reference number, and follow the face authentication prompts to generate the OTR number.

STEP 5 - Log in to the Scholarship Portal with the OTR number and password, and reset the password on the first login.

STEP 6 - Go to the Application Form, select National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies, fill in the details, upload the required documents, and click Final Submit.

Students can check their scholarship payment status on the PFMS Portal using their Aadhaar number, bank account details or NSP application ID.

Documents

Keep the following documents ready in scanned form while applying:

• Mark sheets and certificates from class IX onwards.
• Provisional or final admission letter for the PG course.
• Valid proof of identity such as Aadhaar card, Voter ID, Passport, PAN card or Driving License.
• Bank account details of a KYC compliant account linked with Aadhaar.
• Two recent passport-sized photographs.

References

For further details, refer to the official Guidelines for National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies and the National Scholarship Portal. For any problem, students can call the NSP help number 0120-6619540 or mail helpdesk@nsp.gov.in.

Students can also check other related schemes like Post Graduate Merit Scholarship for University Rank Holders, Post Graduate Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child and Post-graduate Scholarships for Professional Courses for SC/ST Candidates on this website.

FAQ's

What is National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies?

This is a central scheme of the Ministry of Education run by UGC to support students doing their first postgraduate degree in India.

What is the main objective of this scheme?

The scheme will help meritorious students from poor family backgrounds continue their postgraduate studies in India without money problems.

What are the financial benefits offered?

Selected students receive ₹15,000 per month for 10 months in each academic year, for two years of the PG degree.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any student doing a first-year, regular and full-time postgraduate degree in a recognized institution, who is below 30 years of age, can apply.

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

Applications opened on 1 June 2026. Reports say the last date for UGC scholarships on NSP is expected to fall in December 2026. Students should apply and get their application verified by the institution before the deadline.

Can I apply if I already hold a PG degree?

No, the scholarship is only for students doing their first postgraduate degree.

Are part-time students eligible?

No, this scheme is only for students enrolled in regular, full-time programs. Open, distance, correspondence, private and part-time students cannot apply.

How do I apply?

Register on the National Scholarships Portal, complete the OTR process through the NSP OTR app, log in, and submit the application form with the required documents.

How is the scholarship amount paid?

The amount is sent directly to the Aadhaar-linked bank account of the student through DBT using PFMS.