Central Sector Scholarship Overview
| Particulars | Details |
| Scholarship Name | Central Sector Scholarship |
| Eligibility |
|
| Awards |
|
| Direct Application Link | scholarships.gov.in |
Central Sector Scholarship Dates 2025
Central Sector Scholarship dates are released by the government on the National Scholarship Portal. Typically, students have about a month to complete the application process. Those interested in applying for the Central Sector Scholarship application can find the important dates below.
Key Dates for Central Sector Scholarship 2025
| Events | Dates |
| Application start date | September 2025 (Tentative) |
| Application end date | October 31, 2025 (Tentative) |
Objective of Central Sector Scholarship
Offered to meritorious students, the Central Sector Scholarship Scheme for College and University Students aims to provide financial support to students from low-income families. The funds provided under this scholarship help the candidate to meet their daily expenses while pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate studies in general or professional courses.
Central Sector Scholarship Eligibility Criteria
This scheme is meant for bright students from economically disadvantaged families. While applying for this merit-cum-means scholarship, applicants must ensure they are above the 80th percentile of successful students in the relevant stream in their Class 12 board exam. Find below the detailed eligibility criteria for applying to the scholarship.
- Must be above the 80th percentile of successful candidates in Class 12 (10+2 pattern or equivalent) from their respective Board of Examination.
- Must be pursuing a regular degree course (not through correspondence, distance education, or diploma courses).
- Must be studying in colleges/institutions recognised by AICTE or other relevant regulatory bodies.
- Must not be availing of any other scholarship, fee waiver, or reimbursement from the Central or State Government.
- Annual gross parental/family income must be ₹4.5 lakh or less. An income certificate is required only for fresh applicants.
If you wish to know more about centrally funded scholarships, then read ‘UGC Scholarship – All You Need to Know’.
Reservation Policy for Central Sector Scholarship
- Reservation benefits are available to students from reserved categories, economically weaker sections, and minority communities, based on merit.
- The reservation percentages under the Central Reservation Policy are:
-
- 15% seats for Scheduled Castes (SCs)
- 7.5% seats for Scheduled Tribes (STs)
- 27% seats for Other Backward Classes (OBCs)
- There is a 5% horizontal reservation for students with benchmark disabilities (disability of 40% or more), applicable across all categories.
- If reserved slots remain unfilled in any specific category after considering all States/UTs, the vacant seats are redistributed to other categories to maximize the number of beneficiaries, while adhering to the overall slot ceiling.
Central Sector Scholarship Awards
Central Sector Scholarship awards a total of 82,000 scholarships every year. 50% of the scholarship is earmarked for girl candidates, and the remaining 50% for boy candidates. These scholarships are distributed to State Education Boards based on the population of the 18-25 year age group in each state, after accounting for the shares allocated to CBSE and ICSE. Furthermore, the scholarships allotted to State Education Boards are divided in the ratio of 3:2:1 among the pass-outs of Science, Commerce and Arts, respectively. The selected students receive the scholarship amount directly into their bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode. Below are the details of the rewards given under the Central Sector Scholarship scheme.
| Level of Study | Duration | Scholarship Amount (₹ per annum) | Notes |
| Graduation Level | 1st to 3rd year | ₹10,000 | Applies to regular graduation courses |
| 4th and 5th year (for 5-year integrated/professional courses) | ₹20,000 | For 5-year integrated professional courses | |
| All 4 years (for technical courses like B.Tech) | ₹10,000 for 1st-3rd years, ₹20,000 for 4th year | Scholarship covers entire course duration for technical courses | |
| Postgraduation Level | 1st and 2nd year | ₹20,000 | Applies to all postgraduate courses |
Central Sector Scholarship Application Process 2025
Students must fill out the Central Sector Scholarship application form online through the central government’s scholarship portal, the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). Follow the steps below to complete the application process.
Step 1: Go to the official NSP website of the Indian Government (scholarships.gov.in/) and click on the ‘Student’ tab to start the registration process.
Step 2: Click on the login button to access the login page, where you can get access to your existing account or create one using the ‘Register Yourself’ button.
Step 3: Click the ‘Register Yourself’ button and then fill out the OTR (One Time Registration) form.
Step 4: Provide your mobile number, OTP and Captcha in the given boxes.
Step 5: Now, complete the e-KYC process by providing your Aadhaar card number and the OTP that you receive on your registered mobile number.
Step 6: Now you will be asked to provide your name, gender, date of birth, mother’s name, father’s name, and your email ID. Once everything is filled, click on the Verify button.
Step 7: Once registered, you will get your registration ID on your screen. Copy that and save it for the next steps.
Step 8: Next, go back to the login page and fill in all the required fields to access your account.
Step 9: Now, click on the ‘Fresh Application’ button to start the Central Sector Scholarship 2025 application process.
Step 10: Now, read the instructions carefully and check the consent box and click on the ‘I Agree’ button to get started.
Step 11: Now select your domicile state, scholarship category, and the application type from the drop-down menu.
Step 12: Once you fill it all in and click on the submit button, it will take you back to the homepage, where you can view your new application information under the ‘My Application’ tab.
Step 13: Now, click the proceed button and then expand the ‘Current Status’ tab as shown in the picture below to fill out the application.
Step 14: Now, enter your information like your community, religion, annual family income, parents’ profession, state, district, pin code, etc. Then click on the ‘Save & Next’ button.
Step 15: Next, you need to fill in your educational details and then click on the ‘Save & Next’ button.
Step 16: On the next page, you will be asked to select the school/college you are currently studying.
Step 17: After this, you have to fill in your competitive exam details if you appeared in one.
Step 18: Enter your ration card and UDID details in the next section (if applicable). Click on the ‘Save & Next’ button.
Step 19: Now select Central Sector Scholarship from the list of scholarships you are eligible to apply for.
Step 20: Now you need to upload your income certificate and ID card for Beedi/Mine/Cine worker (if applicable).
Step 21: After that, click on the ‘Final Submit’ button. Once you do that, your application will be submitted on the NSP portal.
Note: The online scholarship applications submitted by candidates are verified at two levels – one at the institute level, where the candidate is studying, and the other at the education board level through which the candidate passed their Class 12 exam.
Central Sector Scholarship Withdrawal Process
Students who no longer wish to participate in the Central Sector Scholarship can withdraw their application and apply for other scholarships on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). The exact steps are provided below.
Step 1: Log in to your NSP account and click on the application link for Central Sector Scholarship as shown in the image below.
Step 2: Now tap on the withdraw application button to start the process.
Step 3: Enter your application ID, name, and the reason for withdrawing your application.
Step 4: Click on the ‘Withdraw’ button and give your confirmation on the next page to withdraw your Central Sector Scholarship.
Documents Needed for Central Sector Scholarship
Applicants must keep a few necessary documents ready at the time of the application process. The list of the required documents for the Central Sector Scholarship Scheme for College and University Students is given below.
- Bank passbook issued in the name of the applicant for filling bank details
- Aadhaar card number (In case Aadhaar is not yet assigned, alternatives like Aadhaar enrolment ID slip, voter ID card, driving license, PAN, passport etc. can be used)
- Income certificate issued by the competent authority
- Caste certificate, if applicable
- Disability certificate, if applicable
- Class 12 mark sheet
Central Sector Scholarship Renewal Policy
The beneficiaries of this merit-cum-means scholarship are eligible to receive it for a maximum period of 5 years, covering both graduation and post-graduation. Candidates must be pursuing graduation and post-graduation in the same stream. Moreover, they must fulfill the prescribed eligibility criteria in order to have the scholarship renewed.
- Students who change their college/institute can continue or renew the scholarship, provided the course remains the same and the new institution has a valid AISHE Code (check at aishe.gov.in/aishe/aisheCode).
- Students who missed renewing their application in a previous year may still apply for renewal later, provided they meet the eligibility conditions.
- For annual renewal, students must score at least 50% marks in their annual examination and maintain a minimum of 75% attendance.
- Students must not be involved in any disciplinary or criminal activities, including ragging. Any violation may result in cancellation of the scholarship.
- All applications, fresh or renewal, must be submitted online through the National Scholarship Portal (https://www.scholarships.gov.in). Applications sent directly to the Ministry of Education will not be accepted.
Also, read ‘Means Scholarship – All You Need to Know’ to enrich your knowledge of scholarships offered for economically weak students.
Central Sector Scholarship Contact Information
| Particulars | Details |
| Address | West Block 1, 2nd Floor, Wing 6, Room No. 6, R. K. Puram, Sector 1, New Delhi 110066 |
| Telephone | 011-20862360 |
| ns1-scholarship@gov.in |
Central Sector Scholarship FAQs
How can a student get a Central Sector Scholarship?
A student can apply for the Central Sector Scholarship by meeting all the eligibility criteria and submitting an application through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
Who is eligible for the Central Sector Scholarship?
Students who are among the top 20th percentile of successful students in the relevant stream of the Class 12 board examination are eligible. They must be pursuing a regular undergraduate/postgraduate/professional course from a recognised institution in India. Additionally, the annual family income from all sources should be less than ₹4.5 lakh.
What are the documents required for the Central Sector Scholarship?
Students applying for the Central Sector Scholarship need to provide their bank passbook, Aadhaar card number, income certificate, caste certificate (if applicable), disability certificate (if applicable), and Class 12 mark sheet.
What is the minimum income requirement for the Central Sector Scholarship?
There is no minimum income requirement. However, the applicant’s annual family income from all sources must not exceed ₹4.5 lakh.
What is the minimum percentage requirement for renewal of the Central Sector Scholarship?
To be eligible for renewal, students must secure at least 50% marks in their previous examination and maintain a minimum 75% attendance.
Is this scholarship available for General category students?
Yes, the Central Sector Scholarship is available for all categories of students, including the General category. However, reservations are provided as per Government of India norms: 15% for SC, 7.5% for ST, 27% for OBC, and 5% for PwDs.
What is the last date to apply for the Central Sector Scholarship 2025?
The last date of application for the Central Sector Scholarship 2025 is October 31, 2025 (Tentative).
What is the Central Sector Scholarship amount?
The scholarship provides ₹10,000 per annum for the first three years of graduation and ₹20,000 per annum during the 4th and 5th years of 5-year integrated/professional courses. For technical courses like B.Tech, students receive ₹10,000 per annum for the first three years and ₹20,000 in the fourth year. Postgraduate students receive ₹20,000 per annum for two years.