Ishan Uday Special Scholarship Scheme: Empowering North East Region (NER) Students

The Ishan Uday Special Scholarship Scheme is a flagship initiative by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Ministry of Education designed to bridge the educational gap for students in the North Eastern Region (NER). By providing robust financial support for higher education, the scheme aims to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in NER and foster professional excellence among post-higher secondary students.

What is this scheme?

Launched to specifically cater to the students of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura, the Ishan Uday scheme awards 10,000 fresh scholarships annually. It supports students pursuing general degree courses, technical courses, and professional courses including medical and paramedical studies in recognized universities and colleges across India.

Who is eligible?

• Must have a domicile of any North Eastern state (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, or Tripura).
• Must have passed Class XII or equivalent in the preceding academic year.
• Must have secured admission into a first-year degree course (General/Technical/Professional).
• Course must be pursued in a university/college/institute recognized under Section 2(f) and 12(B) of the UGC Act, or Deemed Universities, or Central/State Government funded institutions.
• Annual parental income from all sources must not exceed INR 4.5 Lakh.
• Students pursuing courses through Distance Education/Open Universities are not eligible.

How much money?

The scholarship amount is approximately INR 5,400 per month for general degree courses and INR 7,800 per month for technical/professional/medical courses, paid through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

Documents needed

1. Domicile Certificate issued by the competent Authority.
2. Income Certificate issued by the competent State Department.
3. Class XII Marksheet and Passing Certificate.
4. Admission receipt or Bonafide Certificate from the University/College/Institute.
5. Aadhaar Card/Aadhaar Enrollment ID.
6. Bank Passbook (linked with Aadhaar).

How to apply (step by step)

1. Visit the official National Scholarship Portal (NSP) website.
2. Register as a new user by providing basic details and obtaining a temporary Application ID.
3. Log in using the credentials and fill out the detailed application form for 'UGC Ishan Uday'.
4. Upload the scanned copies of required documents in the prescribed format.
5. Cross-check all information before final submission.
6. Submit the application and take a printout for institutional verification.
7. The application is then verified by the Head of the Institution (HoI) and subsequently at the State/UGC level.

Important dates

Conclusion

The Ishan Uday Special Scholarship continues to be a life-changing opportunity for students from the North East, ensuring that financial constraints do not hinder their academic aspirations. Eligible students are encouraged to keep their documents ready and apply well within the deadlines on the National Scholarship Portal to secure their professional futures.