The Canara Bank Scholarship Portal is the official platform that the University Grants Commission (UGC) uses to disburse its scholarships and fellowships. Canara Bank has been designated by the UGC as the nodal disbursing agency, so eligible students who are pursuing higher and research studies in India register, apply and receive their funds through this single portal.
Formally called the Scholarship and Fellowship Management Portal (SFMP), it is hosted by Canara Bank and integrated with the Public Financial Management System (PFMS). Fellowship and scholarship amounts are credited directly to beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts.
- Canara Bank hosts the Scholarship and Fellowship Management Portal, the official platform the University Grants Commission uses to disburse its scholarships and fellowships through Direct Benefit Transfer
- Active schemes include the National Fellowship for OBC students, the Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child and the Kothari Fellowship
- The Maulana Azad National Fellowship for minority students was discontinued from 2022-23 and is no longer offered as a new scheme
- Students apply and track status at the official portal, scholarship.canarabank.in.
What Is the Canara Bank Scholarship Portal?
The Canara Bank Scholarship Portal, officially the Scholarship and Fellowship Management Portal, is the platform the University Grants Commission uses to disburse its scholarships and fellowships. Canara Bank acts as the designated disbursing agency, releasing funds through Direct Benefit Transfer to students pursuing higher and research studies across India.
The portal, also referred to as the Scholar's Corner, was set up because the UGC needed a single, transparent channel to manage applications, verification and payment for the many central fellowships and scholarships it funds. Canara Bank maintains the technology and the banking backbone, while the UGC and sponsoring ministries decide eligibility, stipend amounts and selection.
Because the portal is linked to the Public Financial Management System, every payment is tracked and routed straight to the student's Aadhaar-seeded account. This removes intermediaries and lets a scholar apply for, manage and monitor a UGC award entirely online at scholarship.canarabank.in.
Top scholarships for Indian students 2026Read →Which Scholarships and Fellowships Are Available Through the Portal?
The portal hosts several UGC-funded schemes for higher education and research. Active programmes include the National Fellowship for OBC students, the Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child, the Kothari Postdoctoral Fellowship and the NET Junior Research Fellowship. Each scheme has its own eligibility rules, stipend and contingency grant set by the University Grants Commission.
The portal brings together UGC scholarships and fellowships under one login. The most widely applied for schemes are listed below, each with its own intended group and study level.
- National Fellowship for OBC students (M.Phil and Ph.D research)
- Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child (postgraduate study)
- Kothari Postdoctoral Fellowship (post-doctoral research)
- NET Junior Research Fellowship (NET-qualified research scholars)
| Scheme (2026) | Who It Is For | Level |
|---|---|---|
| National Fellowship for OBC | OBC candidates | M.Phil / Ph.D |
| Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child | Single girl child | Postgraduate |
| Kothari Postdoctoral Fellowship | Doctoral researchers | Post-doctoral |
| NET Junior Research Fellowship | NET-qualified scholars | M.Phil / Ph.D |
Note that the Maulana Azad National Fellowship for minority students, once routed through the UGC portal, was discontinued by the central government from 2022-23 and its administration moved to the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation. It is no longer offered as a new scheme here.
UGC National Fellowship guide 2026Read →Who Is Eligible for the UGC National Fellowship for OBC?
The UGC National Fellowship for OBC supports candidates from Other Backward Classes pursuing regular, full-time M.Phil or Ph.D programmes at recognised universities and institutions in India. Applicants must hold a valid OBC certificate, be enrolled in an eligible research programme, and seed their Aadhaar on the portal for Direct Benefit Transfer of the fellowship.
The National Fellowship for OBC is funded by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and administered by the UGC. It is meant for OBC scholars who might otherwise struggle to fund advanced research, and it pays a monthly fellowship together with an annual contingency grant for the duration of the award.
- Candidate must belong to an Other Backward Class and hold a valid OBC certificate
- Enrolled in a regular, full-time M.Phil or Ph.D programme at a recognised institution
- Available to Indian students only
- Aadhaar must be seeded on the portal so payment can be made through Direct Benefit Transfer
How Do You Apply on the Canara Bank Scholarship Portal?
To apply, visit the official portal at scholarship.canarabank.in and register using your details. Complete the application form for your chosen UGC scheme, upload the required documents such as your identity proof, category certificate and admission letter, and submit. After verification, the fellowship amount is credited directly to your Aadhaar-seeded bank account through DBT.
- Go to the official portal at scholarship.canarabank.in and click the registration tab
- Create your login and fill in the application form for your chosen UGC scheme
- Upload the documents requested, such as identity proof, category certificate and admission or enrolment proof
- Seed your Aadhaar and bank details, then submit the form for verification
- Once approved, track disbursement of your stipend through Direct Benefit Transfer on the same portal
How Can You Verify and Track Your Scholarship Status?
Students can log in to the Canara Bank Scholarship Portal to verify and track their application and payment status. The dashboard shows the scholar's name, student ID, account or IFSC details and the beneficiary code with the current status, marked as acknowledged or rejected, so applicants can monitor each stage of disbursement.
After logging in, the scholar's dashboard makes it easy to confirm that an application has been received and to follow each payment. The key details shown on the verification page are:
- Name of the scholar
- Student ID
- Account number and IFSC code
- Beneficiary code with status (acknowledged or rejected)
Why Is Canara Bank the Disbursing Agency for UGC Scholarships?
Canara Bank, founded in 1906 at Mangalore by Ammembal Subba Rao Pai and nationalised in 1969, is one of India's oldest public sector banks, headquartered in Bengaluru. The University Grants Commission designated it as the nodal disbursing agency, so it manages registration, verification and Direct Benefit Transfer of UGC fellowship funds nationwide.
As a large, government-owned bank with a nationwide branch network and a secure payments backbone, Canara Bank is well placed to handle the scale of UGC disbursements. The bank operates the technology platform and the banking rails, while the UGC and sponsoring ministries retain control over who is selected and how much each scheme pays.