AI SummaryPost-Matric Scholarships for Scheduled Castes Students is a centrally sponsored scheme of the Government of India that gives money help to Scheduled Caste students in Gujarat to complete their education after Class 10. Applications for the academic year 2026-27 are open on the Digital Gujarat Portal from 6 July 2026 to 30 September 2026.
The scheme supports students from poor families by covering approved tuition fees, other approved fees and a yearly academic allowance. It is run by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, and in Gujarat it is managed by the Director, Scheduled Caste Welfare. Central and state governments share the cost in a 60:40 ratio, and the scholarship amount reaches the student's bank account directly through DBT.
For academic year 2026-27, fresh and renewal forms are filled online only on the Digital Gujarat Portal. Students who received the scholarship in 2025-26 as per rules get their form placed automatically in renewal mode, so they only need to check their details, upload documents and send the form again within the same window.
Post-Matric Scholarships for Scheduled Castes Students - Introduction
The main aim of this scheme is to improve the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education by helping Scheduled Caste students from economically weaker families study further without money problems. The scheme covers post-matriculation and post-secondary studies, including higher secondary classes, degree and postgraduate courses, professional courses and diploma courses.
Key Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Post-Matric Scholarships for Scheduled Castes Students (BCK-6.1) |
| Level | Centrally Sponsored Scheme |
| Beneficiary State | Gujarat |
| Benefit Type | Cash Transfer (DBT) |
| Nodal Agency | Social Justice and Empowerment Department |
| Implementing Agency | District Deputy Director (SCW) Office |
| Academic Year | 2026-27 |
| Application Window | 6 July 2026 to 30 September 2026 |
| Application Mode | Online only |
| Help Desk | 18002335500 |
Benefits
This scheme gives a yearly academic allowance to cover study costs. The amount depends on the course group and on whether the student lives in a hostel or is a day scholar. Approved tuition fees and other approved fees are paid separately.
| Category of Courses | Hostellers (Yearly in ₹) | Day Scholars (Yearly in ₹) |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1: Degree and PG professional courses | 13,500 | 7,000 |
| Group 2: Other professional degrees/diplomas | 9,500 | 6,500 |
| Group 3: Graduate and PG academic courses | 6,000 | 3,000 |
| Group 4: Post-matric non-degree courses | 4,000 | 2,500 |
From academic year 2021-22 onwards, the central government pays its 60% share directly into the bank account of the student. Students who took admission with a Freeship Card also get the whole amount in their own account and have to pay the fee to the college within 7 days of credit.
Note: Divyang students get a 10% extra allowance on the academic allowance. Students doing professional courses such as C.A., I.C.W.A., C.S. or I.C.F.A. are treated as day scholars. Students taking correspondence or online courses do not get the academic allowance but may get support for non-refundable fees.
Eligibility
To get this scholarship, a student should meet the following conditions as per the 2026-27 guideline:
- Student must belong to the Scheduled Caste category of Gujarat.
- Student must have passed Matriculation, Higher Secondary or a higher examination from a recognized board or university.
- Total annual family income from all sources should not be more than ₹2,50,000.
- Student must be studying at a new stage of education. For example, a student doing M.A. again after already completing an M.A. in another subject is not eligible.
- Regular students are covered, and so are students studying through recognized distance or correspondence education in Central or State universities.
- A student cannot hold another scholarship or stipend at the same time. If needed, the more beneficial one should be chosen and the institution head should be informed. Separate grants for books or equipment can be accepted.
- Students admitted through management or NRI quota without following the state merit rules are not eligible.
Renewal Conditions: The scholarship continues until the course is completed, provided the student keeps at least 75% attendance verified through the Aadhaar-based system. If a student fails a class, support continues for one additional year to complete that repeat year.
Application Process 2026-27
Application for academic year 2026-27 has to be made online on the Digital Gujarat Portal. No offline scholarship payment is made. For the centrally sponsored SC scheme (BCK-6.1), the Aadhaar-based biometric eKYC status of the student must show 'Yes', otherwise the form cannot be submitted. Follow these steps:
STEP 1 - Open the Gujarat Scholarship Portal and go to the Digital Gujarat login. New users should click New Registration (Citizen) and register with a mobile number, email ID and a password. Keep the password safe because the same login works for later years. Students registered in an earlier year can log in directly with their mobile number as the user ID.
STEP 2 - After login, complete your profile in the 'My Profile' section. The scholarship form can be filled only when the profile is updated.
STEP 3 - Go to the 'Services' menu and click 'Scholarship Services'. Click 'Request a New Service' and select the financial year 2026-27 only.
STEP 4 - Under the heading '(Director Scheduled Caste Welfare)', select the scheme 'Post Matric Scholarship for SC Students (GOI) (BCK-6.1)'. Students who took admission with a Freeship Card must select the Freeship Card version of the scheme. Click 'Continue to Service'.
STEP 5 - Fill in all the details asked in Registration Detail, Bank Detail, Academic Detail and Disability Detail. Upload scanned copies of original documents and a recent passport size photograph. For SC students under BCK-6.1, enter the ration card member ID so that the Aadhaar-based biometric eKYC details are fetched from the government database.
STEP 6 - Generate the OTR (One Time Registration) number on the National Scholarship Portal and enter it in the form. Make sure the bank account is linked with Aadhaar, because the scholarship is credited only to an Aadhaar-seeded account.
STEP 7 - Check all the details once, verify the mobile number with the OTP and click 'Confirm & Final Submit'. Take a printout of the submitted form, attach self-attested copies of the documents and submit them to your school, college or institution before the last date.
Renewal: Students who received the scholarship in 2025-26 do not need a fresh form. Their form appears automatically in renewal mode. They should log in, click 'Renewal' under Scholarship Services, check the details, upload documents and send the form online, and then submit the printout to the institution. The renewal window is also from 6 July 2026 to 30 September 2026.
Students of Gujarat studying outside the state apply online on the same portal under the Government of India scheme. They must submit the supporting documents to the Scheduled Caste office of their home district with a forwarding letter from the institution.
For any problem while filling the form, contact the help desk at 18002335500.
Documents
Keep clear scanned copies of these documents ready before starting the form, as listed in the 2026-27 guideline:
- Caste certificate of the student issued by the competent authority
- Income certificate of the guardian issued by the competent authority, and Form 16 if the guardian is in government service
- Aadhaar number and ration card number for SC students, with the bank account linked to Aadhaar
- Year-wise final marksheets of Std 10 and every course studied after Std 10, in sequence
- First page of the bank passbook showing account number, IFSC code and branch, or a cancelled cheque
- Passport size photograph and current course fee receipt
- Hostel certificate for hostellers, in the format available on the portal
- Disability certificate for divyang students
- Marriage certificate for married female students, and death certificate of the father if he is not alive
- Declaration (Ekrarnamu) if there was a break in studies after Std 10
- OTR number generated on the National Scholarship Portal
Note: Only original documents should be scanned; a copy may be uploaded only when the original is not available. The caste certificate and income certificate must be issued by the competent authority. Make sure the scanned files are clear and readable.
References
FAQ's
What is Post-Matric Scholarships for Scheduled Castes Students?
It is a government scholarship scheme that gives money help to Scheduled Caste students in Gujarat for their post-matriculation studies, including fee support and a yearly academic allowance.
Who runs this scheme in Gujarat?
The Director of Scheduled Caste Welfare in Gujarat implements the scheme under the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.
What is the income limit?
Total annual family income from all sources should not be more than ₹2,50,000.
How much money is given under the scheme?
The yearly academic allowance ranges from ₹2,500 to ₹13,500 depending on the course group and on hostel or day scholar status. Approved tuition fees and other approved fees are paid separately.
When is the last date for academic year 2026-27?
Online applications are open from 6 July 2026 to 30 September 2026. Students are advised not to wait till the last date.
Is Aadhaar eKYC compulsory?
Yes. For the centrally sponsored scheme BCK-6.1, the Aadhaar-based biometric eKYC status must show 'Yes', otherwise the form cannot be submitted.
What is OTR?
OTR means One Time Registration. SC students need to generate the OTR number on the National Scholarship Portal and enter it while filling the form.
Are distance learners eligible?
Yes, students in correspondence or online courses are eligible for fee support, but they do not get the academic allowance.
Can a student hold two scholarships at the same time?
No. The student should keep the more beneficial one and inform the institution head.
What if a student fails a class?
The student remains eligible for support for one additional year to complete that repeat year.
Where should the form be submitted?
The form is filled online on the Digital Gujarat Portal, and the printout with all documents is submitted to the school, college or institution.