- The National Scholarship Portal is open for academic year 2026-27 from 1 June 2026 and One Time Registration is now mandatory
- Pre-Matric SC pays Rs 3,500 a year for day scholars and Rs 7,000 for hostellers, with an income ceiling of Rs 2.5 lakh
- The Top Class Education scholarship pays Rs 86,000 in the first year and Rs 41,000 in every later year
- The National Overseas Scholarship offers 125 awards for the 2026-27 selection year.
SC Scholarship is the umbrella name for the scholarships and fellowships that the Government of India and the state governments run for students belonging to the Scheduled Castes. Most of the central schemes are funded by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, and are applied for through the National Scholarship Portal or the equivalent state scholarship portal.
The schemes cover the whole education ladder. Pre-Matric supports classes IX and X, Post-Matric picks up from class 11 onwards, Top Class Education funds SC students at notified premier institutions, the National Fellowship funds M.Phil and Ph.D research, and the National Overseas Scholarship funds a Master's degree or Ph.D abroad. Each has its own income ceiling and its own money.
What Is the SC Scholarship and Who Runs It?
SC Scholarship is not a single award. It is a family of central and state schemes for Scheduled Caste students, funded mainly by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Applications go through the National Scholarship Portal or a state portal, and money reaches students by Direct Benefit Transfer into an Aadhaar linked bank account.
The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment designs the central schemes and releases the central share. State governments and union territory administrations verify caste status, income, Aadhaar and bank details, and disburse the state share. For the two centrally sponsored schemes, Pre-Matric and Post-Matric, the parental income ceiling is Rs 2.5 lakh a year.
For the two central sector schemes aimed at higher and overseas education, Top Class Education and the National Overseas Scholarship, the family income ceiling is higher at Rs 8 lakh a year. The National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students has no income test at all, because entry is through the UGC NET Junior Research Fellowship.
Which SC Scholarship Schemes Are Available in 2026?
Five central schemes run in 2026. Pre-Matric covers classes IX and X, Post-Matric covers class 11 and above, Top Class Education funds notified premier institutions, the National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students funds M.Phil and Ph.D research in India, and the National Overseas Scholarship funds a Master's degree or doctorate abroad.
| Scheme 2026 | Study Level Covered | Income Ceiling 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC | Classes IX and X | Rs 2.5 lakh a year |
| Post-Matric Scholarship for SC | Class 11 onwards, in India | Rs 2.5 lakh a year |
| Top Class Education for SC Students | Notified premier institutions after class 12 | Rs 8 lakh a year |
| National Fellowship for SC Students | M.Phil and Ph.D in India | No income test, NET-JRF required |
| National Overseas Scholarship | Master's degree and Ph.D abroad | Rs 8 lakh a year |
State governments run their own SC schemes on top of these, and in several states the central Post-Matric scheme is delivered through the state scholarship portal rather than through the National Scholarship Portal. Check the state portal first if you are applying from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Bihar or Punjab.
Post Matric Scholarship: Complete GuideRead →What Does the Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC Students Pay?
The Pre-Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Castes and Others pays Rs 3,500 a year to day scholars and Rs 7,000 a year to hostellers in classes IX and X, applicable from 2022-23. The parent or guardian income from all sources must not exceed Rs 2,50,000 a year for this component.
The scheme has a second component for children of parents engaged in unclean or hazardous occupations, which covers classes I to X and carries no family income ceiling at all. Hostellers in classes III to X under that component receive Rs 8,000 a year.
- Component 1: SC students in classes IX and X, income ceiling Rs 2,50,000 a year
- Component 1 rates: Rs 3,500 a year for day scholars, Rs 7,000 a year for hostellers
- Component 2: children of parents in unclean or hazardous occupations, classes I to X, no income ceiling
- Component 2 rate: Rs 8,000 a year for hostellers in classes III to X
- The objective is to cut the dropout rate between class VIII and class X
How Much Does the Post-Matric Scholarship for SC Students Cover?
The Post-Matric Scholarship pays the compulsory non-refundable fees, including tuition fixed by the state Fee Fixation Committee, plus a yearly academic allowance from class 11 onwards. The allowance runs from Rs 13,500 for hostellers in Group 1 professional courses down to Rs 2,500 for day scholars in Group 4 non-degree courses.
| Course Group 2026 | Hostellers (Rs a year) | Day Scholars (Rs a year) |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1: Degree and post graduate level professional courses | 13,500 | 7,000 |
| Group 2: Other professional degree, diploma and certificate courses | 9,500 | 6,500 |
| Group 3: Graduate and post graduate courses not in Group 1 or 2 | 6,000 | 3,000 |
| Group 4: All post-matriculation non-degree courses | 4,000 | 2,500 |
Divyang students receive ten percent extra. Students pursuing CA, ICWA, CS or ICFA are treated as day scholars, and students on correspondence or online courses do not get the academic allowance. The allowance is linked to the Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers and is revised each April.
The scheme also issues a Freeship Card so that an eligible student can take admission without paying tuition and hostel fees up front. Since 2021-22 the central share of 60 percent is released by Direct Benefit Transfer straight into the student's bank account, with the states funding the remaining 40 percent.
OBC Scholarship Schemes ExplainedRead →What Is the Top Class Education Scholarship for SC Students?
Top Class Education is a central sector scheme for SC students admitted to institutions notified by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It pays full tuition and non-refundable charges, capped at Rs 2 lakh a year at private institutions, plus an academic allowance of Rs 86,000 in the first year and Rs 41,000 in every subsequent year.
The academic allowance covers living expenses, books and stationery, and a computer or laptop of a reputed brand with accessories such as a UPS and a printer. The family income ceiling from all sources is Rs 8 lakh a year, and the money is paid directly to the student by the central government through Direct Benefit Transfer.
Fresh awards go only to first year students, so a student already in the second, third or fourth year of a course cannot be selected afresh. SC students in a notified institution who do not get a Top Class slot remain eligible for the Post-Matric Scholarship run through their state government.
How Does the National Overseas Scholarship Work for SC Students?
The National Overseas Scholarship funds a Master's degree or Ph.D abroad. For the 2026-27 selection year there are 125 fresh awards, split as 115 for Scheduled Castes, six for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, and four for landless agricultural labourers and traditional artisans. Bachelor's courses are not covered.
- Minimum 60 percent marks or equivalent grade in the qualifying degree
- Age not more than 35 years as on 1 April of the selection year
- Gross annual family income not above Rs 8 lakh in the last completed financial year
- 30 percent of awards each year are earmarked for women candidates
- First round selection needs an unconditional offer from a top 500 QS ranked institution
- Financial assistance runs up to four years for a Ph.D and three years for a Master's degree
| Component 2026-27 | USA and Other Countries | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| Annual maintenance allowance | 15,400 US Dollars | 9,900 Great Britain Pounds |
| Annual contingency allowance | 1,500 US Dollars | 1,100 Great Britain Pounds |
| Tuition fees | Actual as charged | Actual as charged |
| Visa fees and medical insurance | Actual as charged | Actual as charged |
Applications are made online on the scheme portal. The portal opens for the first round in April or May for 40 days, with four extra days for corrections, and reopens for a second round in September or October if slots remain unfilled. Only two rounds of selection are held in a selection year.
Government Scholarships for Indian StudentsRead →What Replaced the Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship?
The Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship was split and renamed. The Scheduled Caste half now runs as the National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students, funded by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, while the Scheduled Tribe half became the National Fellowship for Higher Education of ST Students under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
The National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students provides 2,000 new fellowships a year, 1,500 for Humanities and Social Sciences and 500 for the Science stream. Candidates must have qualified the UGC NET Junior Research Fellowship or the joint UGC-CSIR NET-JRF test, and must be registered for M.Phil or Ph.D at a UGC recognised institution.
- Junior Research Fellowship: Rs 31,000 a month for the initial two years
- Senior Research Fellowship: Rs 35,000 a month for the remaining tenure
- Contingency for Humanities and Social Sciences: Rs 10,000 a year for the initial two years
- Contingency for Sciences: Rs 12,000 a year for the initial two years
- Maximum duration: two years for M.Phil and five years for Ph.D
- Rates are kept at par with UGC fellowships and are implemented by NSFDC
How Do You Apply for an SC Scholarship Online?
Apply on the National Scholarship Portal or your state scholarship portal. Complete the One Time Registration first, because it is now mandatory, then fill the scheme application, upload the caste certificate, income certificate, marksheets and bank details, and submit before the closing date so your institution can verify it in time.
- Complete One Time Registration on the National Scholarship Portal and note your OTR number
- Log in and select the correct scheme, for example Post-Matric Scholarship for SC students
- Fill in personal, academic, caste and family income details exactly as they appear on your certificates
- Upload the caste certificate, income certificate, previous marksheet, fee receipt and bank passbook
- Submit the application and get it verified by your institution before the institute verification deadline
- Track the application and keep your Aadhaar linked and active bank account ready for Direct Benefit Transfer
The National Overseas Scholarship is the exception. It is not applied for on the National Scholarship Portal, it has its own dedicated online portal run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, and applications are invited in a 40 day window in each of its two rounds.
What Are the SC Scholarship Deadlines for 2026-27?
The National Scholarship Portal opened for academic year 2026-27 on 1 June 2026. The portal currently shows no separate closing date for the SC pre-matric or post-matric schemes. The 31 October 2026 date on its announcement board belongs to the PM-USP merit scholarship renewals, so confirm your own scheme date before applying.
| Stage 2026-27 | Last Date 2026 |
|---|---|
| National Scholarship Portal opens for AY 2026-27 (all schemes) | 1 June 2026 |
| PM-USP CSSS and J and K renewal: student application closes | 31 October 2026 |
| PM-USP CSSS and J and K renewal: institute verification closes | 15 November 2026 |
| PM-USP CSSS and J and K renewal: second level verification closes | 30 November 2026 |
| SC pre-matric and post-matric closing date | Not yet notified on NSP for 2026-27 |
State schemes run on their own calendar, so a Karnataka or Odisha deadline can differ from the National Scholarship Portal date. Always confirm the closing date on the portal you are actually applying through, and do not leave institute verification to the final week.
How Do You Check Your SC Scholarship Status?
Log in to the portal you applied on and open the application status page. The status screen shows your application ID, name, institution, course, the stage of verification reached, whether the amount is paid or unpaid, and the amount credited. State portals such as Karnataka's add a payment search by department and district.
- Open the National Scholarship Portal or your state scholarship portal
- Log in with your OTR number or registered application ID and password
- Open the application status or track payment section
- Check the verification stage, whether the institute and district level checks are done
- Confirm the paid or unpaid status and the amount credited to your bank account
If the status stays at institute verification, contact your college scholarship nodal officer rather than the portal helpdesk. Most rejections at this stage come from a mismatch between the name on the bank account, the Aadhaar record and the caste certificate.
How to Get a Scholarship to Study AbroadRead →Which States Run Their Own SC Scholarships?
Most states add their own SC schemes and deliver the central Post-Matric scheme through a state portal. Karnataka uses the State Scholarship Portal run by the Centre for e-Governance, which carries the SC Post Matric Scholarship. Tamil Nadu routes SC awards through its Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department.
Karnataka's State Scholarship Portal covers 19 departments and more than 60 active schemes for over 35 lakh students a year, and applications for 2026-27 are open. It lists the SC Post Matric Scholarship from the Government of India alongside pre-matric scholarships for classes 1 to 8 and classes 9 to 10, each with its own income limit.
In Tamil Nadu the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department administers the post-matric award for SC, SCA and ST students, covering compulsory non-refundable fees and a maintenance allowance paid by Direct Benefit Transfer. Bihar runs its SC and ST scholarships through the state SC and ST Welfare Department, and Punjab delivers the central SC post-matric scheme through the National Scholarship Portal.
Because state portals and their web addresses change often, start from the National Scholarship Portal or the department page of your own state welfare department rather than from a link in an old article. Confirm the scheme name, the income ceiling and the closing date on the official page before you apply.