The Government of India has opened the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) for the 2025–26 academic year, and it’s an invitation to all students studying in schools, colleges, and universities to apply for different central and state-funded scholarship schemes. The last date for applying online for these scholarships is 31st October 2025; hence students should apply early to get full benefits under their respective categories.
The NSP acts as a single online gateway in that it integrates all the scholarship programs offered by the Central Government, State Governments, and UGC/AICTE to ensure transparency, ease of access, and direct benefit transfer to the deserving students.
Eligibility and Scholarship Categories
The NSP 2025–26 scholarships are intended for students of SC, ST, OBC, Minority, and General (EWS) categories. Hence, applicants eligible for scholarships should be in studies from Class 1 up to the Ph. D. level in recognized institutions across India.
The portal majorly supports the following types of scholarship programs: Pre-Matric, Post-Matric, Merit cum Means Scholarships, and special scholarships for girls, differently-abled students, and economically weaker sections. Every scheme, however, differs from another in income limits and standards of how grades are judged to determine the actual provision of financial aid.
Steps to Apply on NSP Portal
Students must submit their applications online using their Aadhaar-linked credentials from the official website — https://scholarships.gov.in. Applicants must register, verify details, and upload all necessary documents such as income certificates, caste certificates, and mark sheets.
Upon successful submission of the application, students can track the status online and receive scholarship money directly in their bank accounts linked to Aadhaar after verification.
Last Date and Important Deadlines
The final date to submit applications for the 2025–26 session is 31st October 2025. All students are strongly advised against waiting until the last day to file their applications, as this may well result in rejection due to late submission or incomplete documentation. The institutions must complete the online verification of the applications to disburse funds without any hold-up.
Benefits and Scholarship Amounts
Under different schemes, students are given financial assistance ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹30,000 per year, depending on the course, the institution, and the level of education. These funds cover tuition fees, maintenance allowances, and study materials, thereby alleviating the financial burden on deserving and underprivileged students.
Further maintenance and hostel allowances are granted to students for pursuing professional and technical courses in order to remove financial impediments from higher education.
Verification and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
Under Direct Benefit Transfer, the amount of scholarship is credited directly into the bank account of the beneficiary after the concerned educational institution or authority has verified the admission and enrollment of the student. The mechanism thus eliminates intermediaries and ensures full transparency and timely disbursal of resources to genuine applicants.
Documents Required for Application on NSP
Applicants should have with them the Aadhaar card, bank passbook, income certificate, caste certificate, and last year’s mark sheet. The bank account, in the case of a minor, may be under the parent or guardian linked with the student’s Aadhaar number.
Conclusion
This NSP Scholarship is the right platform for students across India to seek financial aid in their education. As the deadline for applying is October 31, 2025, the sooner one applies, the better his or her chances are to receive the full benefits for the type of application submitted. Hence, by easing the difficulties of the application and directly transferring funds to the students’ bank accounts, the government continues attaining the target of ensuring all deservin