- The AICTE PMSSS is now branded PM-USPY, the Special Scholarship Scheme for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh
- It offers 5,000 fresh scholarships each year, split as 2,070 general degree, 2,830 professional or engineering, and 100 medical seats
- Registration for the 2026-27 cycle opened on 16 July 2026, with the Class 12 last date of 27 July 2026.
The Prime Minister's Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS), run by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), helps students from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh pursue undergraduate studies outside their home Union Territories. Launched in 2011 and funded by the Ministry of Education, it covers academic fees and a yearly maintenance allowance for eligible domicile students whose family income is under 8 lakh rupees a year.
What Is the PMSSS (AICTE J&K Scholarship)?
The Prime Minister's Special Scholarship Scheme, now branded PM-USPY, is an AICTE-run scheme launched in 2011 for domicile students of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. It funds undergraduate study outside these Union Territories, covering academic fees and a yearly maintenance allowance so merit-listed students can access general, professional, and medical courses across India.
AICTE implements the scheme through supernumerary seats reserved for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh students at participating colleges nationwide. The Ministry of Education, Government of India, formerly the MHRD, funds it. Tuition, up to a fixed ceiling, is paid directly by AICTE into the institute's account, while the maintenance allowance goes straight to the student's bank account.
Government Scholarships for Indian StudentsRead →Who Is Eligible for the PMSSS Scholarship?
To qualify, a student must hold a domicile of Jammu and Kashmir or Ladakh, have passed Class 12 or a three-year diploma from a recognised board, and belong to a family whose total annual income is below 8 lakh rupees. The candidate must also enrol in a course located outside the two Union Territories.
- Domicile of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir or Ladakh
- Passed Class 12 from JKBOSE, CBSE, or another recognised board, or a three-year diploma for lateral entry
- Family income from all sources below 8 lakh rupees per year
- Enrolling in a college located outside Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh
- Not admitted through the management quota
- Not studying through an open university or distance mode
- Not already availing any other scholarship, including schemes on the National Scholarship Portal
How Much Does the PMSSS Scholarship Cover?
The scheme reimburses academic fees up to a set ceiling and adds a maintenance allowance of 1 lakh rupees a year, paid in ten monthly installments of 10,000 rupees. Fee caps depend on the stream: 30,000 rupees for general degrees, 1.25 lakh for professional or engineering courses, and 3 lakh for medical courses.
| Stream (2026-27) | Academic Fee Cap per Year | Maintenance Allowance per Year | Scholarships |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Degree (BA/BCom/BSc/BBA/BCA) | Rs 30,000 | Rs 1,00,000 | 2,070 |
| Professional/Engineering (BE/BTech/BPharma/BArch) | Rs 1,25,000 | Rs 1,00,000 | 2,830 |
| Medical (MBBS/BDS/BAMS) | Rs 3,00,000 | Rs 1,00,000 | 100 |
| Total per year | As per stream ceiling | Rs 1,00,000 | 5,000 |
How Do You Apply for the AICTE PMSSS?
Apply online at the official AICTE portal, aicte-jk-scholarship-gov.in. Register under either the 10 plus 2 or diploma lateral-entry category, verify your email, complete the application, and get your documents checked at a facilitation centre. After verification you fill college and course choices, and AICTE allots seats through a merit-based counselling process.
- Visit the official portal at aicte-jk-scholarship-gov.in
- Click Register and choose the 10 plus 2 category or the diploma lateral-entry category
- Fill in your personal, academic, and family income details and submit the form
- Verify the email address you provided through the link sent to you
- Log in again and complete the full application
- Get your original documents verified at an allotted facilitation-cum-verification centre
- Fill in your college and course choices during the choice-filling window
- Track your seat allotment and scholarship status on the same portal
What Documents Are Required for PMSSS?
Applicants need a passport-size photograph and scanned signature, the Class 12 or senior secondary mark sheet, a domicile certificate of Jammu and Kashmir or Ladakh, a family income certificate from the competent authority, an Aadhaar card, and bank account details. Category and disability certificates are needed where applicable for reserved-category or PwD candidates.
- Passport-size photograph (200 x 230 pixels) and scanned signature (140 x 60 pixels)
- Class 12 or senior secondary mark sheet
- Domicile certificate of Jammu and Kashmir or Ladakh
- Family income certificate from the competent authority showing income below 8 lakh rupees
- Aadhaar card
- Bank account details for the maintenance allowance transfer
- Category certificate and disability certificate, where applicable
When Is the PMSSS 2026-27 Last Date?
For the 2026-27 cycle, the AICTE PMSSS online counselling and registration portal opened on 16 July 2026. The last date for Class 12 applicants to register is 27 July 2026, while diploma lateral-entry document verification runs from 20 to 30 July 2026. Dates can be extended, so check the official portal regularly.
- Portal opens for 2026-27 counselling: 16 July 2026
- Diploma lateral-entry document verification: 20 to 30 July 2026
- Choice-filling window: 22 to 31 July 2026
- Last date for Class 12 registration: 27 July 2026
- All dates are subject to extension; confirm on the official AICTE portal
How Does PMSSS Counselling and Merit Selection Work?
Selection is merit-based, using the applicant's Class 12 marks rather than a separate entrance test for general and professional courses; medical seats require a valid NEET score. AICTE publishes a provisional merit list, conducts document verification, and allots supernumerary seats across participating colleges through multiple counselling rounds until the 5,000 scholarships are filled.
Once allotted a seat and after joining verification, the scholarship is credited directly: academic fees to the college and the 1 lakh rupee maintenance allowance to the student in ten monthly installments. Scholars must maintain satisfactory academic progress and renew the scholarship each year through the same AICTE portal to continue receiving benefits.