Ishan Uday Scholarship — Northeast Students in Higher Education

What is the Ishan Uday Scholarship?

Ishan Uday is a special scholarship scheme by the Government of India for students from the 8 North-Eastern states — Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura — who are pursuing higher education outside or within the Northeast region. It provides:

• ₹5,400/month for general degree programmes (arts, science, commerce)
• ₹7,800/month for technical and professional courses (engineering, medicine, agriculture, etc.)

The scheme is implemented by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in collaboration with the North East Council (NEC).

Key Benefits

Who is Eligible?

You ARE eligible if:

• You are a permanent resident of one of the 8 North-Eastern states
• You have passed Class 12 from a school in the North-Eastern region
• You are pursuing a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate degree at a UGC-recognized university/institution
• Your family's annual income does not exceed ₹4.5 lakh
• You have secured admission in first year of a course (fresh applications) or are renewing for continuation

Courses covered:

• BA, BSc, BCom (general degrees)
• B.Tech, B.E., MBBS, BDS, B.Arch, B.Pharma, B.Sc Agriculture (professional)
• MBA, M.Tech, MD, MS (postgraduate professional)

You are NOT eligible if:

• You are already receiving another central government scholarship
• Your family income exceeds ₹4.5 lakh per year
• You are studying through distance/correspondence mode

Documents Required

1. Aadhaar Card — student's own
2. Domicile certificate — proving permanent residence in a Northeast state
3. Income certificate — issued by competent authority (family income ≤ ₹4.5 lakh)
4. Class 12 marksheet and pass certificate
5. Admission letter / enrollment certificate from current institution
6. Bonafide student certificate from the college/university
7. Bank passbook — Aadhaar-linked account in student's name
8. Passport-size photograph
9. Caste certificate (if applicable — SC/ST)

How to Apply — Step by Step

Step 1 — Register on NSP

Go to scholarships.gov.in and click "New Registration". Fill in your name, mobile number, email, and state.

Step 2 — Login and Apply

After registration, log in and:

• Go to Apply for Scholarship
• Select "Ishan Uday — Special Scholarship Scheme for NE Region"
• Fill in personal, academic, and bank details
• Upload all required documents

Step 3 — Institute Verification

Your college/university verifies your application on the NSP portal. This usually takes 1–2 weeks. Follow up with your college's scholarship coordinator if pending.

Step 4 — State Nodal Agency Verification

After institute verification, the State Nodal Agency (your home state's scholarship authority) verifies your domicile and income details.

Step 5 — UGC Approval and Disbursement

After final verification by UGC, the scholarship amount is disbursed directly to your bank account via DBT. Payment is usually quarterly.

Application Dates

Ishan Uday applications open on the National Scholarship Portal typically in August–October for the academic year. Check scholarships.gov.in for exact dates.

Important: Don't miss the deadline — late applications are not accepted. The window is usually open for 60–90 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. I am from Assam studying in Delhi. Am I eligible?

Yes. Ishan Uday is specifically designed for Northeast students studying anywhere in India — within or outside the Northeast. Studying in Delhi makes you equally eligible.

2. I am already receiving a state scholarship. Can I also get Ishan Uday?

You cannot hold two central government scholarships simultaneously. However, if your state scholarship is a state government scheme (not a central scheme), check with the NSP helpline for compatibility.

3. My income certificate shows ₹4.8 lakh. Am I ineligible?

Yes. The income limit is strictly ₹4.5 lakh. If your family income exceeds this, you are not eligible for Ishan Uday.

4. Can I apply if I'm already in second year without having applied in first year?

No. Ishan Uday accepts fresh applications only in the first year of the course. Second and subsequent year students must be renewing a previously approved application.

5. The payment hasn't arrived for 3 months. What should I do?

Check your application status on the NSP portal. Common reasons for delay: Aadhaar not seeded to bank, PFMS validation pending. Contact your college's scholarship coordinator and the NSP helpline: 0120-6619540.

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