Ishan Uday Special Scholarship 2024-26: Eligibility, Benefits and Application Process for NE Students

The Ishan Uday Special Scholarship Scheme is a landmark initiative by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Ministry of Education. Specifically designed for students from the North Eastern Region (NER) of India, this program aims to improve the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER), promote higher education, and provide financial support to meritorious students from economically weaker sections in the eight NE states.

What is this scheme?

Launched to bridge the educational gap in the North East, Ishan Uday provides 10,000 fresh scholarships every year. It is applicable for students pursuing general degree courses, technical and professional courses, including medical and paramedical tracks. The scholarship is awarded based on merit and is disbursed directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.

Who is eligible?

• The applicant must be a permanent resident of any of the North Eastern states (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, or Tripura).
• The student must have passed Class XII or equivalent from a recognized board within the region.
• The applicant must have secured admission in the first year of any degree course (General/Professional/Technical) in a recognized University, College, or Institute.
• The annual family income of the applicant from all sources must not exceed INR 4.5 Lakh.
• Students pursuing courses through distance learning or open universities are not eligible.
• Students already availing any other government scholarship for the same course are ineligible.

How much money?

Recipients receive INR 5,400 per month for general degree courses and INR 7,800 per month for technical, medical, professional, and paramedical courses, paid for the duration of the course.

Documents needed

1. Domicile Certificate issued by the competent authority.
2. Family Income Certificate issued by the designated state authority.
3. Mark sheet of Class XII or equivalent.
4. Aadhaar Card for identity and bank linking.
5. Admission Proforma or Fee Receipt from the current institution.
6. Bank Passbook copy for account verification.
7. Recent passport-sized photograph.

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 like name, state, and mobile number.
3. Log in using the generated Application ID and Password.
4. Select the 'UGC - Ishan Uday Special Scholarship Scheme for NER' from the list of schemes.
5. Fill out the application form with personal, academic, and bank details.
6. Upload the required scanned documents in the specified format.
7. Submit the application and take a printout for future reference.
8. Ensure the institution verifies the application at the digital level for final processing.

Important dates

Conclusion

The Ishan Uday Scholarship is a transformative opportunity for students from the North East to pursue their dreams without financial constraints. By supporting 10,000 students annually, the UGC ensures that merit is rewarded regardless of economic background. Eligible students are encouraged to keep their documents ready and apply well within the deadlines on the National Scholarship Portal.