Top 15 Government Schemes for Students (Central + State) — Eligibility Map & How to Apply

A plain-English, up-to-date guide to the biggest scholarships/fee-support programs students actually use in India.

Tip: dates and amounts can change each cycle—always check the official portal before applying.

Quick Eligibility Map

Scheme	Income cap	Target group	Level	Key benefit	Apply
PM-USP (CSSS) – Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships	≤ ₹4.5L	Merit (top board percentile)	UG/PG	₹12k/yr UG; ₹20k/yr PG	NSP
NMMS – National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship	≤ ₹1.5L	Class IX–XII (merit + test)	School	₹6,000/yr	NSP
INSPIRE-SHE (DST)	—	Top science aspirants	UG (Basic Sciences)	₹60k/yr + ₹20k mentorship	Portal
AICTE Pragati (for Girl Students)	≤ ₹8L	Girls in AICTE-approved institutes	Diploma/UG	₹50k/yr	AICTE
AICTE Saksham (for PwD)	≤ ₹8L	≥40% disability; AICTE-approved	Diploma/UG	₹50k/yr	AICTE
Top Class Education – SC (MoSJE)	≤ ₹8L	SC students in notified institutes	UG/PG	Tuition (ceiling) + allowances	TCS / NSP
Top Class Education – ST (MoTA)	≤ ₹8L (typ.)	ST students in top institutes	UG/PG	Tuition + living components	MoTA
Minority Scholarships (MoMA: Post-Matric & Merit-cum-Means)	As per scheme	Notified minorities	XI–PG / Prof. courses	Fee + maintenance (scheme-wise)	NSP
Gujarat – MYSY (Mukhyamantri Yuva Swavalamban Yojana)	≤ ₹6L	Gujarat domicile	Diploma/UG	Up to 50% tuition (₹10k–₹2L cap course-wise) + hostel/book support	MYSY
Tamil Nadu – Pudhumai Penn (Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar)	—	Girls from Govt./Govt-aided schools (TN)	UG / Diploma / ITI	₹1,000 per month till course completion	Official
Andhra Pradesh – Jagananna Vidya Deevena + Vasathi Deevena	As per AP PMS rules	AP domicile	ITI–PG	Full fee reimbursement (JVD) + ₹10k/₹15k/₹20k (hostel under JVD-MTF)	Jnanabhumi
Karnataka – Vidyasiri (Food & Accommodation)	—	State-eligible students	Post-matric	₹1,500/month for 10 months	Dept. Order
Maharashtra – Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj (EBC Fee Reimbursement)	≤ ₹8L	EBC; CAP admissions	Diploma/UG/PG	Tuition/Exam fee reimbursement (course & rules apply)	MahaDBT
West Bengal – SVMCM (Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means)	As per stream	WB domicile; merit + means	XI–PG / Prof.	Stipend varies by course; renewal on performance	SVMCM
Uttar Pradesh – Pre/Post-Matric & Fee Reimbursement	Typical: ₹2L–₹2.5L	SC/ST/OBC/Minority/General (as per scheme)	IX–PG	Tuition + maintenance (scheme-wise)	UP Portal

Central Schemes — What to know

• PM-USP (CSSS): for high-scoring Class XII students from families ≤ ₹4.5L income. Amounts: ₹12,000/year (UG years 1–3) and ₹20,000/year (PG year or 4th/5th of integrated). Apply on NSP during the annual window.
• NMMS: class 8 test leads to award in classes IX–XII; income ≤ ₹1.5L; ₹6,000 per year, renewable on promotion and minimum marks attendance.
• INSPIRE-SHE: for top performers entering basic sciences—₹60k/yr plus ₹20k mentorship.
• AICTE Pragati & Saksham: ₹50k/yr; Pragati for girl students; Saksham for students with ≥40% disability; AICTE-approved institutions only; income ≤ ₹8L.
• Top Class (SC/ST): covers tuition (with ceilings) and academic allowance for students admitted to notified institutes—apply via the respective portals/NSP.
• Minority (MoMA) Post-Matric & Merit-cum-Means: for students from notified minority communities in class XI to PG/professional programs; amounts and caps vary by course/state share.

State Highlights — fast facts

• Gujarat MYSY: tuition assistance up to 50% with course-wise caps (e.g., up to ₹2,00,000 for medical/dental; ₹50,000 for engineering; hostel ₹1,200/month up to 10 months; one-time book grant).
• Tamil Nadu Pudhumai Penn: ₹1,000/month until completion of UG/Diploma/ITI for girls who studied in Govt./Govt-aided schools.
• AP Jagananna: Vidya Deevena = full fee reimbursement to eligible students; Vasathi Deevena = ₹10k (ITI) / ₹15k (Poly) / ₹20k (Degree) annually for hostel/food.
• Karnataka Vidyasiri (FAAS): ₹1,500 per month for 10 months for selected students to support food & accommodation.
• Maharashtra RCSM (EBC): fee reimbursement for eligible EBC students (CAP admissions; income ≤ ₹8L; course rules apply) via MahaDBT.
• West Bengal SVMCM: merit-cum-means stipend; course-wise rates; online application and renewal via official portal.
• Uttar Pradesh Scholarships: consolidated state portal for pre/post-matric & fee reimbursement across categories.

How to actually apply (without losing your weekend)

1. Match scheme → portal. Central schemes mostly use the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). States use their own portals (linked in the table).
2. Assemble documents early: income/caste certificates, domicile, previous marksheets, admission proof, bank passbook, Aadhaar (per scheme rules). Some states require face/biometric KYC—watch for that prompt.
3. Submit once, track often: keep your application ID; check institute/district verification status weekly; fix rejections quickly.
4. Avoid double-dipping: many portals require you to pick one of overlapping schemes (central vs state). Taking both can get payments stopped and flagged.

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Disclaimer: Eligibility, amounts, and timelines change by notification. Always confirm on the official portal/notice before applying. If any link is down, try again from the parent department’s homepage.