Ministry of Tribal Affairs is running Post Matric Scholarship for ST Students in 2026 through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), and the fresh application window for the 2026-27 session opened on 1 June 2026. Scheduled Tribe students studying from class 11 up to PhD level can now apply online at scholarships.gov.in with Aadhaar-based OTR and face authentication.
This centrally sponsored scheme is fully funded by the Union government and run through state and Union Territory administrations. It pays the required course fees to the institute and a monthly maintenance allowance to the student's Aadhaar-linked bank account through DBT. Family income limit has been kept at ₹2.5 lakh per year for this session.
Post Matric Scholarship for ST Students 2026 - Full Details
Post Matric Scholarship Scheme, also called PMS-ST, is a Central Sector scheme run by Ministry of Tribal Affairs for Scheduled Tribe students in India. The main aim is simple: money should not stop an ST student from finishing class 11, 12, ITI, diploma, graduation, post-graduation or research. Payments now go straight to the student's bank account through DBT once the institute verifies the application on NSP.
For the 2026-27 academic session, the scheme is being handled online only through the National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in. Paper applications through the Head of Institution are no longer the primary route. Every student has to complete a One Time Registration (OTR) using Aadhaar and mobile number, and face authentication is required this year for verification.
Post Matric Scholarship ST 2026 Apply Online at scholarships.gov.in
Apply on NSP is a fully online process. Follow the steps below in the given order. Keep your Aadhaar, income certificate and caste certificate ready before you start.
STEP 1 - Go to the official National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in and click on the 'New Registration' link on the homepage. Read the guidelines page shown and click on Continue.
STEP 2 - Do your One Time Registration (OTR) by entering your name as per Aadhaar, date of birth, mobile number and Aadhaar number. Complete the face authentication using the AadhaarFaceRD app on your phone. You will receive an OTR number by SMS.
STEP 3 - Log in to NSP with your OTR number and password. On the dashboard, select 'Apply for Scholarship' and pick 'Post Matric Scholarship for ST Students' from the list of Ministry of Tribal Affairs schemes.
STEP 4 - Fill the application form. Enter your course details, institute name, AISHE code of the institute, hosteller or day scholar status, previous exam marks and family annual income. Also enter your Aadhaar-linked bank account number and IFSC for DBT payment.
STEP 5 - Upload scanned copies of your caste certificate, income certificate, previous year marksheet, current year admission proof and bank passbook first page. File sizes should be within the limits shown on the page.
STEP 6 - Check all details once, submit the form and take a printout of the application. Give the signed printout with supporting documents to your institute for online verification. Track your application status on NSP with your OTR number.
Eligibility for PMS-ST Scholarship 2026
Before you apply, check whether you match the rules set by Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The scheme is only for ST students and there are clear cut-offs on income and course type.
- You should be an Indian citizen and belong to a Scheduled Tribe notified for your state or Union Territory. A valid caste certificate signed by a Revenue Officer of Tehsildar rank or above is required.
- Your family's total annual income from all sources should not go above ₹2,50,000 per year. Only parents' income counts in most cases. If both parents are no more, the guardian's income is used.
- You should have passed matriculation (class 10) and taken admission in any recognised post-matric course, from class 11 up to PhD, including ITI, diploma, graduation, PG and research.
- You should not be getting any other central or state government scholarship for the same course at the same time. You can hold only one scholarship at a time.
Working students who take leave without pay to study full-time are also eligible. Renewal applicants should have been promoted to the next class or semester. Students who fail to get promoted lose the scholarship for that year.
Post Matric Scholarship ST Amount 2026
Monthly maintenance allowance is paid on top of the full reimbursement of required course fees. The amount depends on the course group and whether you stay in a hostel or study as a day scholar.
| Course Group | Hosteller (Monthly) | Day Scholar (Monthly) |
|---|---|---|
| Group I - Professional degree/diploma (Medical, Engineering, Management) | ₹1,200 | ₹550 |
| Group II - Arts, Science, Commerce (Degree/PG) | ₹820 | ₹530 |
| Group III - Vocational and ITI courses | ₹570 | ₹300 |
| Group IV - Class 11 and 12 level courses | ₹380 | ₹230 |
Divyangjan Students: Students with disabilities get an extra ₹800 per month as hosteller and ₹600 per month as day scholar. This extra amount is also given to students with sickle cell anemia, thalassemia and cured leprosy cases.
Full Fee Reimbursement: Along with the maintenance amount, the full required non-refundable course fees charged by the institute are paid directly to the college or university. This covers tuition fee, admission fee, exam fee and other compulsory charges as per the scheme rules.
Highlights of Post Matric Scholarship for ST Students
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Post Matric Scholarship for ST Students (PMS-ST) |
| Launched By | Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India |
| Category | Central Sector Education Scholarship |
| Beneficiaries | Scheduled Tribe students in class 11 and above |
| Income Limit | ₹2,50,000 per year |
| Benefit Amount | ₹230 to ₹1,200 per month + full fee reimbursement |
| Application Mode | Online through National Scholarship Portal (NSP) |
| Portal Open Date | 1 June 2026 |
| Last Date (Expected) | 31 October 2026 for students |
| Payment Mode | Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to bank account |
| Official Website | scholarships.gov.in |
Documents Required for NSP Application
Keep scanned copies of the following documents ready before you start the application on NSP. Missing or unclear documents are the most common reason for rejection.
- Aadhaar card of the student, with mobile number linked for OTP and face authentication.
- Caste certificate showing Scheduled Tribe status, signed by a Revenue Officer of Tehsildar rank or above.
- Income certificate for 2025-26 or 2026 issued by a competent authority. Self-employed parents can submit an affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper.
- Previous year passing marksheet or class 10 board marksheet if you are applying as a fresh student.
- Current year admission proof or bonafide certificate from the institute, along with the institute's AISHE code.
- Bank passbook first page showing Aadhaar-linked bank account number and IFSC in the student's own name.
- Passport size photo and signature scans in the format asked on NSP.
Important Dates and Deadlines 2026-27
Application timelines are set by NSP and can change slightly from state to state. Based on last year's schedule and the current session, likely dates are given below.
NSP portal opened for fresh and renewal applications on 1 June 2026. Student submission deadline is expected around 31 October 2026. Institute verification deadline usually falls in November 2026. Defective applications get an extra window to fix issues once the institute sends it back.
Budget Allocation and Scheme Status
For 2026, the Post Matric Scholarship for ST students has been given an outlay of ₹663.81 crore in the Union Budget. The scheme is fully active and running through NSP for the 2026-27 academic year. State governments and UT administrations continue to be the implementing agencies for selection and verification.
Related read: For general details on this and other similar central scholarships, see the guide on Pre and Post Matric Scholarship Scheme and the NSP Mobile App for tracking your application on the phone.
Exclusions and Important Rules
Some cases are not covered under this scheme. Keep these points in mind before applying, or your application may be rejected.
Students who have already completed a degree or diploma and want to shift to another course in a different stream at the same level are not eligible. For example, a student who has done a B.A. cannot get the scholarship for a B.Com. Students getting any other government scholarship for the same course at the same time are also not covered. If you fail to get promoted to the next class or semester, the scholarship stops for that year.
Official Contact and Help
For any query related to the application, students can contact the State Tribal Welfare Department or the State Nodal Officer for scholarships. On NSP, a helpdesk ticket can be raised from the logged-in dashboard. For scheme related information, visit the Ministry of Tribal Affairs website at tribal.nic.in or the official scholarship portal at scholarships.gov.in.
References
FAQ's
Who can apply for Post Matric Scholarship for ST Students 2026?
Any Indian student belonging to a notified Scheduled Tribe, studying in class 11 or above at a recognised institute in India, with family annual income up to ₹2.5 lakh can apply on scholarships.gov.in for the 2026-27 session.
What is the last date to apply on NSP for PMS-ST 2026-27?
Student application deadline is expected around 31 October 2026, followed by institute verification in November 2026. Check the exact date on your NSP dashboard as it can change by a few days.
Is face authentication compulsory this year?
Yes, face authentication through the AadhaarFaceRD app is required for OTR and application verification on NSP for the 2026-27 session.
When does the scholarship become payable?
Payment starts once your institute verifies the application on NSP and the state approves it. The maintenance amount and fee reimbursement then flow through DBT to the linked bank account.
How long does the scheme benefit continue?
Benefits continue for the full duration of the course, subject to yearly renewal on NSP and getting promoted to the next class or semester.
What is the mode of payment?
Payments are made through DBT to the student's Aadhaar-linked bank account. Fee reimbursement goes to the institute account directly.
Is the maintenance allowance paid monthly or as a lump sum?
Maintenance allowance is released as a lump sum for the full academic year, calculated on the monthly rate for the course group and hosteller or day scholar status.
What happens if two students have equal marks for the last seat?
In such a case, the student from a family with lower annual income is given first priority as per scheme rules.
Will I get the scholarship if I fail to get promoted?
No, the scholarship is stopped if you do not clear the exam and move to the next class or semester. Fresh application can be made once you clear the failed year.
Is there any application fee for NSP?
No, the application on the National Scholarship Portal is free. Students should not pay anyone for filling the form.
Are there extra benefits for students with disabilities?
Yes, an extra ₹800 per month for hostellers and ₹600 per month for day scholars is given to Divyangjan students, along with those having sickle cell anemia, thalassemia or cured leprosy.
When is the guardian's income used instead of parents' income?
Guardian's income is counted only if both parents of the student have passed away. In all other cases, only parents' income is used for the ₹2.5 lakh limit.
Can I hold two scholarships at the same time?
No, a student can hold only one scholarship at a time. If you are getting any other government scholarship, you have to choose the one that helps you the most.