AICTE Pragati Scholarship Scheme for Girl Students 2026: Eligibility & Benefits

The Pragati Scholarship Scheme is a flagship initiative by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Ministry of Education. It aims to empower girls by providing financial assistance to pursue technical education. This scheme is designed to bridge the gender gap in STEM fields and ensure that meritorious young women can build careers in engineering and technology without financial constraints.

What is this scheme?

The AICTE Pragati Scholarship is a merit-based financial aid program awarded annually to 5,000 girl students for Degree programs and 5,000 girl students for Diploma programs. It provides support for tuition fees and other incidental expenses to students admitted to AICTE-approved institutions.

Who is eligible?

• The applicant must be a female student.
• Maximum two girl children per family are eligible.
• Family income from all sources must not exceed Rs. 8 Lakh per annum.
• Must be admitted to the first year (or second year through lateral entry) of a Degree or Diploma course in an AICTE-approved institution.
• Candidate must have been admitted through the Centralized Admission Process of the State/Central Government.

How much money?

A total of Rs. 50,000 per annum is provided for every year of study. This is a consolidated amount including compensation for tuition fees, purchase of books, equipment, soft wares, laptop, desktop, vehicle, and fees paid towards competitive examination applications.

Documents needed

1. Mark sheet of Class 10th and 12th (for Degree) or Class 10th (for Diploma).
2. Income Certificate issued by the competent authority (Tehsildar or above).
3. Admission letter issued by the Centralized Admission Authority.
4. Tuition fee receipt for the current academic year.
5. Bank Passbook linked with Aadhaar showing Account Number, IFSC, and Photograph.
6. Aadhaar Card copy.
7. Category Certificate (SC/ST/OBC) if applicable.
8. Family Declaration (stating that only two girl children are availing the benefit).

How to apply (step by step)

1. Visit the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) official website.
2. Register as a new user to generate your Login ID and Password.
3. Login and select the 'AICTE Pragati Scholarship' under the 'Department of Higher Education' or 'AICTE' section.
4. Fill in the personal, academic, and bank account details accurately.
5. Upload the scanned copies of all required documents in the prescribed format.
6. Submit the application and take a printout for future reference.
7. Ensure your institution verifies the application on the NSP portal for final processing.

Important dates

Conclusion

The AICTE Pragati Scholarship is a vital stepping stone for girl students aspiring to excel in technical domains. By removing financial barriers, it fosters an environment of equality and innovation. Eligible students are encouraged to keep their documents ready and apply via the National Scholarship Portal well before the deadline to ensure they don't miss out on this empowering opportunity.