National Scholarship Portal — How to Apply for Government Scholarships Online

What is the National Scholarship Portal (NSP)?

The National Scholarship Portal (NSP) is a one-stop digital platform launched by the Government of India for students to apply for various central and state government scholarships. It streamlines the entire scholarship process — from application to disbursement — through a single portal.

NSP hosts 100+ scholarship schemes from various ministries and departments including:

• Ministry of Minority Affairs
• Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
• Ministry of Tribal Affairs
• Department of Higher Education
• Department of School Education
• State government scholarship schemes

Over 2.5 crore students apply through NSP every year, and scholarships worth thousands of crores are disbursed directly to students' bank accounts through DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer).

Who Can Apply?

Eligibility varies by scholarship, but general criteria include:

• Indian citizens studying in India
• Students from SC, ST, OBC, Minority, EWS, and General categories
• Class 1 to PhD level students (varies by scheme)
• Family income below specified limits (usually ₹2 lakh to ₹8 lakh per annum)
• Students enrolled in recognized institutions
• Must have an Aadhaar-linked bank account — see our Aadhaar guide

Major Scholarships Available on NSP

Central Government Scholarships

1. Pre-Matric Scholarship for Minorities — For Class 1-10 minority students (Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi)
2. Post-Matric Scholarship for Minorities — For Class 11 to PhD minority students
3. Merit-cum-Means Scholarship for Minorities — For professional and technical courses
4. Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC Students — For Class 9-10 SC students
5. Post-Matric Scholarship for SC Students — For Class 11 onwards
6. Pre-Matric Scholarship for ST Students — For Class 9-10 ST students
7. Post-Matric Scholarship for ST Students — For higher education
8. Post-Matric Scholarship for OBC Students — For Class 11 onwards
9. Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship — For college students above 80th percentile in Class 12
10. PM Scholarship for Wards of Ex-Servicemen — For children of armed forces personnel

State Government Scholarships

Each state also offers scholarships through NSP for domicile students. Check the portal for your state's specific schemes.

Documents Required

• Aadhaar card (mandatory for DBT)
• Bank passbook (Aadhaar-linked account in student's name)
• Income certificate of parents/guardian — see our income certificate guide
• Caste/community certificate (SC/ST/OBC/Minority) — see our caste certificate guide
• Domicile certificate — see our domicile certificate guide
• Previous year mark sheet/certificate
• Current year admission letter/bonafide certificate
• Passport-size photograph
• Fee receipt of current institution
• Disability certificate (if applicable)

How to Register on NSP

Step 1: Visit NSP

Go to scholarships.gov.in

Step 2: New Registration

Click "New Registration" and read the guidelines carefully.

Step 3: Fill Basic Details

• Full name (as on Aadhaar)
• Date of birth
• Mobile number and email
• Aadhaar number or enrolment ID
• Bank account details

Step 4: OTP Verification

Verify your mobile number through OTP.

Step 5: Create Login

Set a password and note your Application ID — this is your permanent login credential.

Step 6: Complete Profile

Log in and fill your complete academic and personal profile.

How to Apply for Scholarships

Step 1: Log In

Visit NSP and log in with your Application ID and password.

Step 2: Select Scholarship

Browse available scholarships and select the one you're eligible for. The portal auto-filters based on your profile.

Step 3: Fill Application Form

Complete all sections:

• Personal details — Verify pre-filled Aadhaar details
• Academic details — Current course, institution, marks
• Family details — Parents' occupation, income
• Bank details — Aadhaar-linked account

Step 4: Upload Documents

Upload scanned copies of required documents:

• Maximum file size: 200 KB per document (usually)
• Format: PDF or JPEG
• Ensure documents are clearly legible

Step 5: Submit Application

Review all details carefully and click Submit. Note the Application Reference Number.

Step 6: Institute Verification

Your institution verifies the application details online. Track this through the portal.

Step 7: District/State Verification

After institute approval, the application goes to district/state nodal officer for verification.

Step 8: Disbursement

After all verifications, scholarship amount is credited directly to your bank account via DBT.

Application Timeline

Exact dates change yearly — check the NSP portal for current academic year timelines.

How to Check Scholarship Status

Method 1: NSP Portal

1. Log in to scholarships.gov.in
2. Go to Dashboard → Check Your Status
3. View application status — Submitted, Institute Verified, District Verified, Sanctioned, Disbursed

Method 2: Track by Reference Number

1. Go to NSP homepage
2. Click "Track Application Status"
3. Enter your Application Reference Number
4. View current status

Method 3: PFMS Portal

1. Visit pfms.nic.in
2. Click "Know Your Payments"
3. Enter bank account number and verify
4. View disbursement details

Renewal of Scholarship

Existing scholarship holders must renew annually:

1. Log in to NSP with existing credentials
2. Go to "Renewal Application"
3. Update academic details for the current year
4. Upload updated mark sheet showing promotion
5. Submit for verification

Important: Renewal must be done every year. Missing the renewal deadline means losing the scholarship for that year.

Common Reasons for Rejection

• Incorrect Aadhaar details — Name mismatch between Aadhaar and application
• Bank account not linked to Aadhaar — DBT fails
• Income certificate expired or above the threshold
• Documents unclear — Blurry or unreadable scanned copies
• Institute not verified — Your college didn't approve the application
• Duplicate application — Applying for multiple scholarships of same type
• Late submission — Missing the deadline

Important Tips

1. Apply early — Don't wait for the last date; server traffic increases near deadlines
2. Ensure Aadhaar-bank linking — Scholarship is disbursed only to Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts
3. Name consistency — Your name should be identical across Aadhaar, bank account, and institution records
4. Follow up with institution — Ensure your college verifies the application promptly
5. Keep documents ready before the portal opens — Income certificate, caste certificate, and mark sheets

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for multiple scholarships on NSP?

You can apply for multiple scholarships, but typically only one scholarship is sanctioned per student per academic year. If you receive one, other applications may be automatically rejected.

What if my institute is not listed on NSP?

Contact your institute's administration to register on NSP through the AISHE (All India Survey on Higher Education) portal. Unregistered institutes cannot verify student applications.

My scholarship was sanctioned but money not received — what to do?

Check your bank account Aadhaar linking status. If linked, wait 2-3 weeks after sanction. If still not received, raise a grievance on NSP or contact the PFMS helpline at 1800-118-111.

Can I edit my application after submission?

Once submitted, you generally cannot edit. However, if your institute returns the application for correction, you can make changes and resubmit.

Is there any application fee for NSP scholarships?

No, all scholarship applications on NSP are completely free. Do not pay anyone claiming to help with NSP applications — it's a common scam.

What is the income limit for NSP scholarships?

It varies by scheme — from ₹1 lakh to ₹8 lakh per annum. Minority scholarships typically have a ₹2 lakh limit for pre-matric and ₹2.5 lakh for post-matric. Check individual scheme guidelines.

Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with the National Scholarship Portal or any government ministry. Scholarship rules and timelines change yearly — always check the official portal for current details.