National Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students (Top Class Merit-Based Scheme)
National Scholarship Portal (NSP)
Application deadline
31 Oct 2026
Calculating…
Overview
The National Scholarship for Higher Education of Scheduled Tribe (ST) Students is a Central Sector Scheme run by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India. It is fully funded by the Ministry and is meant for meritorious ST students who get admission to one of the Ministry's notified premier institutes (such as IITs, NITs, IIMs, AIIMS, National Law Universities, IISERs and other top colleges) for a Graduate or Post Graduate course.
If you are selected, the scheme pays for a lot of your study costs. It covers your full tuition and admission fee at a Government institute (up to ₹2.50 lakh per year at a private notified institute). On top of this you get ₹3,000 per month as a stipend, ₹5,000 per year for books and stationery, and a one-time ₹45,000 for a computer or laptop. The scholarship continues every year till your course ends, as long as your performance stays satisfactory.
To be eligible, you must belong to an ST (or PVTG) community, have taken admission in a notified institute and course, and your total family income from all sources must not be more than ₹6 lakh per year. You apply online, free of cost, on the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in). Your institute and then the Ministry verify your application before the scholarship is granted.
At a glance
| Who can apply | UG, PG |
|---|---|
| Streams | Engineering and Technology, Medicine/Science, Management, Law, Humanities, Social Science |
| Category | ST |
| Age | — |
| Income limit | up to ₹6,00,000 / year |
| Gender | — |
| States | — |
| Benefit / amount | Full tuition + admission fee (₹2.50 lakh/year cap at private institutes), ₹3,000/month stipend, ₹5,000/year for books, and a one-time ₹45,000 for a computer |
| Duration | Continues till completion of the course, subject to satisfactory performance |
| Renewable | Yes |
| Last date | 31 Oct 2026 |
| Opened | — |
Documents you'll need
- ST/PVTG certificate
- Income certificate
- Fee receipt
- Scanned bank passbook
- Marksheet/certificate of qualifying examination (Class 12 for Graduate; Graduation for PG)
- Bonafide certificate from the institute
How you're selected
Merit-based: admission to a Ministry-notified premier institute and approved course, followed by online verification of documents by the institute and then by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
FAQs
Who can apply? Scheduled Tribe (ST) or PVTG students who have secured admission to a notified premier institute and an approved course at Graduate or Post Graduate level. Total family income from all sources must not exceed ₹6 lakh per year. Students admitted under the Management quota in a private institute are not eligible.
How much money do I get? Full tuition and admission fee at Government institutes (up to ₹2.50 lakh per year at private notified institutes), plus ₹3,000 per month stipend, ₹5,000 per year for books and stationery, and a one-time ₹45,000 for a computer/laptop.
What is the last date to apply? For the current cycle the portal shows the scheme open from 01-06-2026 and student applications accepted till 31-10-2026. Always re-check the official notification on scholarships.gov.in, as dates can change.
How do I apply? Apply online, free of cost, on the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) after taking admission. Register first, then fill the form and upload your documents. Your institute and the Ministry verify it.
Which documents are needed? ST/PVTG certificate, income certificate, fee receipt, a scanned bank passbook, the marksheet of your qualifying exam (Class 12 for a Graduate course, or graduation for a PG course), and a bonafide certificate from your institute.
Can I renew it every year? Yes. Once awarded, the scholarship continues till your course is completed, subject to satisfactory performance certified by your institute. Note: you cannot claim any other Central or State scholarship for the same study.