SC ST OBC Scholarship: Now students can get up to ₹48,000 Online application starts, don’t miss your chance!
SC ST OBC Scholarship: Every year, more than 2.5 lakh students apply for SC ST OBC Scholarships through India’s National Scholarship Portal (NSP), which also distributes more than ₹6,000 crore via DBT. These merit-cum-means programs, which target 40%+ reservation communities and have income caps of up to ₹2.5 lakh, cover pre-matric to PhD. The 2025 cycle began in August and ended in October or December, depending on the plan and state. For easy access, this guide covers eligibility, paperwork, application procedures, and renewal.
NSP portal: central hub for all scholarships
scholarships.gov.in hosts 300+ central/state schemes with One-Time Registration (OTR). Single profile accesses pre-matric, post-matric, merit, and professional courses.
Key features
- Aadhaar/e-Aadhaar/Passport authentication.
- Auto-verification via PFMS/DigiLocker.
- Real-time application status and DBT tracking.
- Renewal applications pre-filled from previous year .
Registration flow
- Visit scholarships.gov.in → “New Student? Register”.
- Enter Aadhaar → OTP verification.
- Fill academic/bank details → Generate OTR number.
- Use OTR for all future applications .
Pre-matric SC/ST/OBC schemes (Class 1-10)
Pre-Matric Scholarship for SCs
- Class 1-10; day scholars ₹225-750/month, hostellers ₹750-1000.
- Family income <₹2.5 lakh; 75% attendance.
Pre-Matric for OBCs
- Class 1-10; ₹350-750/month (day), ₹750 (hostel).
- Income <₹2.5 lakh; minimum 75% marks.
Pre-Matric for STs
- Similar benefits; priority to PVTGs.
- Apply Sep-Oct annually .
Post-matric and merit scholarships (Class 11+)
Post-Matric Scholarship for SCs
| Group | Day Scholar | Hostel |
| Group A (IIT/MBBS) | ₹3,500/month | ₹7,700 |
| Group B (Engineering) | ₹1,300/month | ₹7,200 |
| Group C (UG Arts) | ₹550/month | ₹3,900 |
| Group D (Class 11) | ₹300/month | ₹750 |
Post-Matric for OBCs
- Maintenance: ₹750/UG, ₹510/PG.
- Readers allowance for blind: ₹1,300/year .
Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship
- 80% marks Class 12; income <₹4.5 lakh.
- ₹12,000/year (UG), ₹20,000/year (PG) .
Top-up, EBC, and central sector schemes
Top-up for SC/ST/OBC (Private Colleges)
- Bridge gap between state/private fees.
- ₹20,000-2 lakh/year based on course.
EBC Scholarship
- Economically Backward Classes; income <₹8 lakh.
- Covers engineering, medical, law courses.
Ishān Udāy Scheme (NE ST)
- ₹7,800-10,000/year for NE hill states .
Eligibility criteria and income limits
Universal criteria
- Domicile of applying state.
- Minimum marks (50-75% based on scheme).
- Family income certificate (<₹2.5 lakh most schemes).
- Not availing other scholarships.
- Enrolled in recognized institution .
Income certificate validity
- Issued after 1st April of financial year.
- Tehsildar/Executive Magistrate authority.
- Self-declaration allowed for <₹1 lakh income.
Documents checklist and upload process
Mandatory uploads (PDF/JPG <400KB)
- Aadhaar/e-Aadhaar/Passport.
- Income certificate (family).
- Domicile certificate.
- Class 10/12 marksheet.
- Fee receipt/bonafide certificate.
- Bank passbook (first page) .
Scheme-specific
- Caste certificate (SC/ST/OBC creamy layer exclusion).
- Disability certificate (>40% for special schemes).
- Hostel certificate if applicable.
Upload tips
- Filename: Aadhaar_RollNo.pdf.
- Preview before submit.
- Keep originals for institute verification .
Application timeline and state variations
Central schemes 2025-26
| Scheme | Apply From | Last Date |
| Pre-Matric SC | 01-Oct-25 | 31-Dec-25 |
| Post-Matric SC | 01-Nov-25 | 15-Feb-26 |
| Central Sector | 01-Aug-25 | 31-Oct-25 |
State variations
- UP: Samaj Kalyan Vibhag portal parallel.
- Maharashtra: MahaDBT integrated with NSP.
- Bihar: Post-matric via ABC portal.
- Renewal window: 15 days before current scholarship ends .
FAQs
Q1. How to apply SC ST OBC Scholarship 2025 online?
Register at scholarships.gov.in with Aadhaar OTP. Fill academic/bank details, select scheme, upload income/caste/marksheet documents. Submit before state deadline. Track via dashboard .
Q2. What is income limit for SC ST OBC scholarships?
Most schemes: family income <₹2.5 lakh/year. Central Sector: <₹4.5 lakh. Creamy layer exclusion for OBC. Income certificate from Tehsildar mandatory .
Q3. Which documents required for SC ST scholarship?
Aadhaar, income certificate, caste certificate, domicile, marksheet, fee receipt, bank passbook. All PDFs <400KB. Caste certificate mandatory for reservation benefits .
Q4. What is NSP portal for scholarships?
National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) centralizes 300+ central/state schemes. Single OTR registration for all applications. Direct Benefit Transfer via PFMS .
Q5. When is last date for SC ST OBC Scholarship 2025?
Pre-matric: 31-Dec-25. Post-matric: 15-Feb-26. Central Sector: 31-Oct-25. State schemes vary (check scholarships.gov.in dashboard). Renewals before current ends .
Conclusion
With a yearly assistance of more than ₹6,000 crore, the SC ST OBC Scholarship through NSP guarantees fair access to higher education. Apply early, upload all necessary paperwork, and monitor the verification process on a weekly basis. Auto-populate renewals; to continue, maintain 75% attendance. Institutions check information and work with the college scholarship cell.
