Central Sector Scholarship Scheme for College and University Students: Eligibility, Benefits & Application Guide

The Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students, launched by the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, aims to provide financial assistance to meritorious students from low-income families. This scholarship supports students in meeting their day-to-day expenses while pursuing higher studies in professional and general courses after Class 12.

What is this scheme?

This scheme provides a fixed number of scholarships (82,000 annually) divided equally between boys and girls. It is designed for students who are above the 80th percentile of successful candidates in the relevant stream from the respective Board of Examination in Class 12 of the 10+2 pattern or equivalent.

Who is eligible?

• Students must be in the top 20th percentile of successful candidates in the relevant stream from a recognized Board of Examination.
• Pursuing regular courses (not correspondence or distance mode) from institutions recognized by AICTE, NCTE, or UGC.
• Family income from all sources must not exceed ₹4.5 Lakh per annum.
• The applicant must not be receiving any other scholarship or fee reimbursement from any other source.
• Must be pursuing a professional or general degree course.

How much money?

The scholarship amount is ₹12,000 per annum at Graduation level for the first three years and ₹20,000 per annum at Post-Graduation level. For 5-year integrated courses, ₹20,000 per annum is provided in the 4th and 5th years.

Documents needed

1. Aadhaar Card
2. Mark sheet of Class 12 (Higher Secondary)
3. Income Certificate issued by the competent authority
4. Bank Account Passbook (linked with Aadhaar)
5. Caste Certificate (if applicable)
6. Disability Certificate (if applicable)
7. Admission letter or Fee Receipt from the current institution

How to apply (step by step)

1. Visit the official National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
2. Register as a new user by providing basic details and obtaining a temporary Login ID and Password.
3. Login and fill out the application form for the Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship.
4. Upload the required documents in the specified format.
5. Submit the application and take a printout for future reference.
6. Track the status of the application on the NSP portal through the student login.

Important dates

Conclusion

The Central Sector Scholarship Scheme is a vital initiative to ensure that financial constraints do not hinder the academic aspirations of brilliant students. By fulfilling the merit and income criteria, students can secure a stable financial support system throughout their higher education journey. Always ensure your Aadhaar is seeded with your bank account for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).