University Grants Commission (UGC) runs the Post Graduate Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child for girls who are the only child of their parents. The scheme pays ₹36,200 every year for the full two years of a master's degree course, and around 3,000 fresh students get it every year. This money is meant for single girl children who take admission in the first year of a regular, full-time PG course in a recognized university or college.
Applications for the 2026-27 academic year are to be submitted online through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). The NSP portal is open for AY 2026-27 from 1 June 2026, and the UGC scheme window is expected to open soon. As per current reports, the last date for UGC scholarships on NSP is likely to fall in December 2026. Students must complete One-Time Registration (OTR) on NSP before they can apply for this scholarship.
Post Graduate Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child
This scholarship is a way to support higher education for single girl children and to encourage small family norms. There is no family income limit for this scheme, so girls from any background can apply as long as they meet the other conditions.
The fellowship covers the full duration of the postgraduate program, which is usually two years. The money is paid directly to the student's Aadhaar-linked bank account through direct bank transfer, so there is no middleman involved in the payment.
Key Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Post Graduate Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child |
| Launched By | University Grants Commission (UGC) |
| Scholarship Amount | ₹36,200 per year |
| Duration | 2 years |
| Eligible People | Single girl children in 1st year of regular full-time PG course |
| Age Limit | Below 30 years at the time of PG admission |
| Total Seats | Around 3,000 every year |
| Application Mode | Online through National Scholarship Portal (NSP) |
| Payment Mode | Direct bank transfer (DBT) |
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of Education |
| Nodal Department | Department of Higher Education |
| Department Running the Scheme | University Grants Commission (UGC) |
| Official Website | ugc.gov.in |
Application Process
You can apply for this scholarship only online through the National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in. Follow these steps to apply for the 2026-27 academic year.
STEP 1 - Complete One-Time Registration (OTR) on NSP. Go to scholarships.gov.in and click on the OTR option. Complete the Aadhaar-based OTP verification, fill in your details like name, date of birth, mobile number, email ID and bank account number, and submit the form. You will get a temporary registration ID and password. OTR is required for every student applying on NSP since AY 2024-25.
STEP 2 - Login to the NSP portal using your OTR ID and password. From the dashboard, go to the schemes section and select 'Post Graduate Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child'. You must choose 'Incentive' as the scheme type on the portal.
STEP 3 - Fill the application form with your personal details, undergraduate marks, PG course details and bank details. Make sure your bank account is linked with Aadhaar, because the money is paid only through direct bank transfer.
STEP 4 - Upload the required documents in the given format. This includes the single girl child affidavit, admission proof, joining report, Aadhaar card, bank passbook copy and age proof. Check every detail once before final submission, because no changes are allowed after that.
STEP 5 - Submit the application and keep the receipt. Your college or university must verify your application online before the deadline. If the institution does not verify it in time, the application gets rejected. Selected students are paid ₹36,200 per year through direct bank transfer.
For any problem with the application, call the NSP helpdesk at 0120-6619540 or mail helpdesk@nsp.gov.in.
Benefits
You get ₹36,200 per year for two years, which comes to a total of ₹72,400 for the whole PG course. The money is paid directly to your Aadhaar-linked bank account.
Host institutions are expected to waive tuition fees for students selected under this scheme. There are no extra grants for hostel fees, medical bills or other charges. The scholarship is paid for two years only and cannot be extended.
Eligibility
To get this scholarship, you need to meet these conditions:
- Only girl child - You must be the only child of your parents. If a family has a son and a daughter, the daughter is not treated as a single girl child. Twin sisters or fraternal daughters can apply.
- Age limit - You should be below 30 years at the time of admission to the first year of the PG course.
- Course - You must be enrolled in a regular, full-time master's degree program like MA, MSc or MCom in a recognized university or college.
- Non-professional course - The scholarship is only for non-professional PG courses. Professional courses like MBA, MCA, M.Tech, LLB and M.Pharm are not covered.
- No income limit - There is no family income ceiling for this scheme.
Exclusions
These students cannot apply under this scheme:
- Students studying in distance education or correspondence mode.
- Students in deemed universities that do not get grants from the government.
- Girls who have a brother. If the family has both a son and a daughter, the girl child is not eligible for this scholarship.
- Students in the second year of the PG course. Only first-year students can apply.
Documents Required
Keep these documents ready before you start the application:
- Aadhaar card.
- Proof of admission to a UGC-recognized master's program.
- Signed joining report in the given format.
- Single girl child affidavit on ₹50 stamp paper, signed by a parent or guardian and attested by a First Class Magistrate, SDM or a Gazetted Officer.
- Bank passbook copy with the account holder name and IFSC code.
- Birth certificate or class 10th marksheet for age proof.
- Passport size photograph.
Your institution also has to send a progress report and a certificate confirming proper use of the funds after the first year. The second-year payment is released only after this.
Definitions
A designated institution means a university or college covered under section 2(f) and 12(B) of the UGC Act, a deemed university under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956 that gets government grants, any university or college funded by the Central or State government, or an institute of national importance.
Related Schemes
Single girl children studying at the school level can check the CBSE Single Girl Child Scholarship. For girls who want to do a PhD, the Savitribai Jyotirao Phule Fellowship for Single Girl Child gives a monthly stipend of ₹37,000.
References
UGC official page for the P.G. Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child
National Scholarship Portal (NSP)
Official scheme guidelines PDF
FAQ's
Should I select "Scholarship" or "Incentive" when applying on NSP?
You must select "Incentive" on the NSP portal to apply under this scheme.
Is a girl child with a brother eligible?
No, only single girl children are eligible. If there is a son in the family, the daughter is not covered. Twin sisters or fraternal daughters can apply.
What is OTR and why do I need it?
OTR means One-Time Registration on the National Scholarship Portal. It has been required for every NSP applicant since AY 2024-25. You complete it once with Aadhaar-based OTP verification, and after that you can apply for this scheme and other NSP schemes.
What if I turn 30 years old after admission but before the last date?
You are still eligible as long as you are below 30 years on the final date of the application.
Can students in distance learning programs apply?
No, this scholarship is strictly for students in regular, full-time courses.
Does this cover hostel or medical expenses?
No, the money is for your education. Hostel fees, medical bills and other charges are not covered.
Are tuition fees reimbursed under this scheme?
No, but the government expects your college or university to waive tuition fees for selected students.
Can second-year postgraduate students apply?
No, only students in the first year of a postgraduate degree can apply.
Can I use other scholarships alongside this one?
Yes. Since this is an incentive, you can also get other scholarship schemes at the same time, as long as the other scheme allows it.
What is the last date for 2026-27 applications?
The official last date has not been announced yet. Reports suggest UGC scholarships on NSP will close around December 2026. Check the NSP and UGC websites for the exact date.