AICTE Pragati Scholarship Scheme 2026: Financial Aid for Girl Students in Technical Education

The AICTE Pragati Scholarship Scheme is a flagship initiative by the Ministry of Education, implemented by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). It aims to empower young women by providing financial assistance to pursue technical education in recognized institutions across India. By reducing the financial burden on families, the scheme encourages girls to opt for careers in STEM and engineering fields.

What is this scheme?

The Pragati Scholarship is an annual award granted to meritorious girl students who have secured admission in the first year of a Degree or Diploma program (or second year through lateral entry) in AICTE-approved institutions. It is designed to support 10,000 girl students every year (5,000 for Degree and 5,000 for Diploma), with additional slots in certain UTs and states as per government norms.

Who is eligible?

• The applicant must be a girl student.
• Maximum of two girl children per family are eligible.
• Must be admitted to the first year of a Degree or Diploma course or second year (Lateral Entry) in an AICTE-approved institution.
• Family income from all sources must not exceed INR 8 lakh per annum.
• Candidates must be Indian Nationals.

How much money?

A total of INR 50,000 per annum is provided for every year of study. This is a consolidated amount that covers college fees, purchase of books, equipment, soft wares, laptop, desktop, vehicle, and other fee related to competitive examination applications.

Documents needed

1. Mark sheet of SSC (10th) and HSC (12th) or equivalent.
2. Income Certificate issued by a competent authority (Tehsildar or above).
3. Admission letter issued by the Centralized Admission Authority.
4. Tuition fee receipt paid for the current academic year.
5. Bank Passbook linked with Aadhaar showing Account Number and IFSC.
6. Caste Certificate (if applying under SC/ST/OBC category).
7. Aadhaar Card.
8. Self-Declaration by parents confirming only two girl children in the family.

How to apply (step by step)

1. Visit the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) or the official AICTE JK Lakshmi portal as specified in the notification.
2. Register as a new user by providing basic details such as name, mobile number, and email ID.
3. Log in using the credentials shared on your registered mobile/email.
4. Fill in the application form with personal, academic, and bank account details.
5. Upload the scanned copies of all required documents in the specified format.
6. Review the application carefully and submit it.
7. Keep a printout of the submitted application for future reference and verification by the institute.

Important dates

Conclusion

The AICTE Pragati Scholarship is a transformative step towards gender equality in technical education. By providing substantial financial relief, it ensures that talented girl students are not held back by economic constraints. Students are encouraged to keep their documents ready and apply via the National Scholarship Portal within the stipulated deadlines to secure their future in technology and engineering.