How to Apply SC Scholarship 2024/2025 – Eligibility, Application Procedures and Dates

The SC Scholarship program aims to help students from scheduled castes (SC) pursue higher education without financial constraints. The Department of Social Welfare and Empowerment of the Government of India, as well as its state-level counterparts, provide a variety of SC scholarships. These awards seek to give adequate financial assistance to individuals who are both economically disadvantaged and academically gifted. There are four types of SC scholarships: pre-matric, post-matric, Rajiv Gandhi national fellowship, and foreign scholarship.

Detailed List of SC Scholarship

*The timeline mentioned above is tentative and subject to change at the discretion of the scholarship provider.

SC Scholarship – Pre-Matric Scholarship for students of Class 9 & 10

This SC scholarship is offered by the Government of India and implemented by the State Government or Union territories (UT). The objective is to financially support the students of Class 9 & 10 to reduce the dropouts due to lack of funds thereby enabling them to continue their higher studies. The amount of financial assistance that each scholar will receive under this scheme is given hereunder.

Pre-matric SC scholarship awards

Eligibility Criteria

• Students should belong to Scheduled Caste (SC) category.
• Parents’ annual income should not exceed INR 2.5 lakh per annum.
• The students should not get any other funds from the central government.
• The applicant should be a regular student in a Government school or school recognized by the Government or Central/State Board of Secondary Education.

Application Process

• The students should apply via the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) or respective state portals.
• The following documents should be uploaded along with the main application: passport size photo, self-attested copies of certificates, diploma, degree etc., caste certificate, & income declaration.

Selection Process

All eligible SC students will be awarded the scholarship. The candidates will be selected based on the fulfilment of eligibility criteria.

Also Read: National Scholarship Portal – NSP Login, Check Status, Last Date

SC Scholarship – Post-matric scholarships

The post-matric scholarships are centrally sponsored schemes implemented through state governments. This SC scholarship scheme provides financial assistance to Scheduled Caste students at the post-matriculation or post-secondary stage to enable them to complete their studies.

The following table provides information on the scholarship award that each selected scholar will receive:

Post-matric SC scholarship awards

Apart from maintenance allowance, the students will also get reimbursement for non-refundable fees, study tour charges, thesis typing/printing charges, book allowance, and book bank facilities.

Eligibility Criteria

• The SC students enrolled in post-matriculation or post-secondary courses in recognized institutes/universities/colleges can apply for this scholarship.
• The annual family income of student’s parents/guardians should not exceed INR 2,50,000 per annum

Application Process

• The application form can be filled out online via the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) or the respective state portal.
• The candidates need to make sure to upload scanned required documents such as self-attested copies of certificates, diplomas, degrees etc., and caste certificates & income declarations.

Selection Process:

All SC candidates are eligible subject to the application of means test.

SC Scholarship – Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for SC

The Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship or RGNF scheme is funded by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment for SC students. There are 2,000 scholarships granted to SC students per year. The students should be enrolled in universities recognized under the University Grants Commission (UGC). The fellowships are specifically for M.Phil. and PhD students.

Award details of Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship

Eligibility Criteria:

• A student belonging to SC category only can apply.
• They must be admitted to MPhil/Ph.D. degree in a university or academic institution.

Application Process:

• Students can fill an online application at the UGC official website.
• The application is filled in two parts: (1) personal details (2) academic qualifications and research experience.
• Applicants need to upload scanned copies of following documents: mark sheets and institute certificate (all in PDF or JPG format).

SC Scholarship – National Overseas Scholarship for SC

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India launched the National Overseas Scholarship initiative for supporting SC students/professionals who are financially constrained to be able to study abroad via this fellowship. Students or professionals belonging to SC category who wish to pursue a master’s or PhD in overseas institutes are eligible to apply.

The fields of study covered under this SC scholarship scheme are engineering and management, pure science and applied science, agricultural science and medicine, international commerce, accounting finance, humanities, social science, and fine arts. The government issues 100 scholarships out of which 30% are allotted to female applicants. There are 90 scholarships and 4 passage grants for SC category. The duration of the award for PhD students is 4 years and for master’s students is 3 years.

The table describes the scholarship award granted to the selected SC candidates pursuing research in foreign universities:

Awards details of National Overseas Scholarship

The selected candidate will need to execute a bond on a non-judicial stamp paper before a notary for the actual amount to be spent by the Government of India on the candidate. The candidates shall not change the course of study or research while availing the scholarship.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants belonging to SC category can apply.
• They must be below the age of 35 years.
• The applicants must have secured more than 60% marks in their last qualifying examination.
• The annual family income should not exceed INR 8,00,000 per annum.

Application Process

The eligible candidates can follow the below-given steps to apply for this SC scholarship online –

Step 1:  Click here to start the application.

Step 2: Click on ‘Register Yourself’ button to create login details.

Step 3: Once registered successfully, log in to your account to proceed with the application.

Step 4: Fill in all required details including personal details, education details, employment details and visa details.

Step 5: Upload the documents mentioned below –

• Caste certificate
• Birth certificate
• Photograph of the applicant
• Scanned signature of the applicant
• Current address proof
• Permanent address proof
• Qualifying mark sheet/degree
• Valid document for marks
• Valid document regarding admission in Foreign University
• Income certificate of all earning members of the family
• Employer’s NOC certificate

Step 6: Submit the completed application form online.

Selection Process

The students who have already taken admission in one of the accredited foreign university or institution by an authorized body in that country for the academic being applied. The selection and screening committee will make suitable recommendations on the basis of the guidelines provided here.

SC Scholarship – Top Class Education Scheme for SC Students

Initiated by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, this scheme offers financial support to SC category students who have taken admitted at the undergraduate or postgraduate level. The key objective of the scheme is to recognize and promote quality education beyond Class 12 among SC students.

A total of 1,500 scholars are awarded under this scheme. The detail of financial assistance given under this scheme is given below.

Award Details of Top Class Education Scheme

• Full tuition fee and non-refundable charges up to INR 2 lakh per annum (for private sector institutions and up to INR 3,72,000 per annum (for private sector flying club for Commercial Pilot Training and Type Rating Courses)
• Living expenses of INR 2,220 per month
• Books and stationery charge up to INR 3,000 per annum
• One-time assistance of INR 45,000 for Computer/Laptop with UPS and Printer

Eligibility Criteria

• The scheme is open for SC category students who have completed Class 12.
• They must have taken admission in a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate course in a notified institution through general selection criteria prescribed by respective institutions.
• They must belong to a family where the annual income is not more than INR 6 lakh from all the sources

Application Process

Step 1: Visit the official website of the National Scholarship Portal and register.

Step 2: Once registered, log in to proceed with the application.

Step 3: Fill in all required details.

Step 4: Upload the following documents –

• Caste Certificate
• Income Certificate
• Bank account details of the institution and the student
• Proof of admission
• Scorecard of entrance exam qualified (if applicable)
• Fee structure of the program

Step 5: Submit the application.

Selection Process

The scholarship will be sanctioned to the students of:

• All the IIMs, IITs, IIITs, AIIMS, NITs, NIFTs, NIDs, Indian Institute of Hotel Management, National Law Universities and other Central Government Institutions, OR
• Institutes included in the list of National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) A++ and A+ Accredited Institutions, OR
• Top 100 National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Institutions, Or
• Institutions of National Importance as per the list issued by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).
• All Government and CPSE run institutes, approved by Director General of Civil Aviation in case of Commercial Pilot Training Course and Type Rating Course.

SC Scholarship FAQs