Types of Government Scholarships for NEET Candidates
To support deserving candidates, the government offers various scholarships that ease financial burdens and help turn aspirations into achievements. Below are the details of the two main types of government scholarships available for NEET candidates.
1. Central schemes: Central government scholarships are national-level initiatives designed to support meritorious and underprivileged students across India. These schemes are funded and administered by central authorities such as the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, among others.
2. State-funded schemes: State governments also offer scholarships tailored to their local student population, often targeting specific social groups, income levels, or academic achievements. These schemes vary by state but generally include tuition assistance, hostel support, and exam preparation aid.
Top Central Government Scholarships Schemes
The central government offers several scholarship schemes to support NEET aspirants pursuing medical education. Given below are the top central sector scholarship schemes that provide financial assistance based on merit, financial need, and social background.
1. Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students: The Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students offers financial support to academically meritorious students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, enabling them to pursue higher education. Implemented by the Ministry of Education through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), the scheme is designed to ease students’ financial burdens by covering part of their day-to-day expenses during their academic journey.
- Successful applicants pursuing regular undergraduate courses (1st to 3rd year) receive ₹12,000 per annum.
- Students enrolled in professional courses, including integrated programs in the 4th and 5th years, are awarded ₹20,000 per annum.
- Postgraduate students across all streams receive ₹20,000 per annum.
Scheme open from: 02-06-2025
Scheme open till: 31-10-2025
Eligibility:
- Must be an Indian national.
- Must have passed Class 12 with a minimum of 80% marks in Science, Commerce, or Humanities from a recognized board following the 10+2 pattern or equivalent.
- Must be enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate program in a professional field at a college or institution recognized by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) or any other relevant regulatory body
- Annual family income should not exceed ₹4,50,000.
2. INSPIRE Scholarship Program: The Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) program is a flagship initiative of the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India. It is designed to attract and nurture young talent in the field of science. Launched in November 2008, this prestigious scheme aims to encourage academically bright students to pursue careers in basic and natural sciences
- Each successful applicant will receive a scholarship of ₹5,000 per month, amounting to a total of ₹60,000 per year
- All SHE (Scholarship for Higher Education) scholars are required to undertake summer research projects under the guidance of an active researcher in any of the recognised research centres across India.
- A summertime mentorship grant of ₹20,000 will be transferred to the scholar’s State Bank of India (SBI) bank account directly through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode every year.
Application launch date: June 2025
Eligibility:
- Students must be among the top 1% scorers in the Class 12 examinations conducted by any State or Central Education Board in India.
- They must be pursuing Natural and Basic Science courses at the B.Sc., B.S., Integrated M.Sc., or M.S. level.
- Students pursuing Integrated M.Sc. courses in Natural and Basic Sciences at the following institutions are also eligible: Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs), National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Basic Sciences, University of Mumbai and Visva-Bharati, Shanti Niketan.
- The following students are also eligible: KVPY (Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana) fellows pursuing Bachelor’s/Master’s level courses in Natural Sciences, NTSE (National Talent Search Examination) scholars, JBNSTS (Jagadish Bose National Science Talent Search) scholars and International Olympiad medallists in science disciplines pursuing relevant courses.
3. PM Yasasvi Central Sector Scheme of Top Class Education for OBC, EBC, and DNT Students: The PM Yasasvi Central Sector Scheme of Top Class Education is a significant initiative by the Government of India aimed at empowering students from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Specifically designed for students belonging to the OBC, EBC, and DNT categories, the scheme offers comprehensive financial support to help them pursue higher education beyond Class XII. By promoting access to quality education, this scheme plays a vital role in bridging the educational gap and enabling equal opportunities for marginalized communities.
Award:
- Full tuition fee and non-refundable charges, up to ₹2 lakh per year for private institutions and up to ₹3.72 lakh per year for private flying clubs offering Commercial Pilot Training and Type Rating Courses.
- Living expenses of ₹3,000 per month per student.
- Books and stationery allowance of ₹5,000 per year per student.
- A one-time grant of up to ₹45,000 for purchasing a new computer or laptop (of a reputed brand) along with essential accessories such as a UPS and printer.
Scheme open from: 02-06-2025
Scheme open till: 31-10-2025
Eligibility:
- Students must belong to OBC, EBC, or DNT categories with a total annual family income not exceeding ₹2.5 lakh.
- Must have secured admission in a full-time prescribed course in a notified institution as per its general selection criteria.
- Scholarships are limited to the number of slots allocated to each institution; if applications exceed the available slots, selection is based on inter-se merit.
- In case of a tie for the last slot, preference is given to the student with the lower family income.
- Students who do not receive this scholarship but are otherwise eligible may apply for the Post-Matric Scholarship (PMS) through their State/UT.
- Unused slots in the first year may be offered to eligible students in the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year, prioritizing those with more years remaining in their course.
- 30% of slots are reserved for eligible girl students; unfilled slots may be allotted to boys based on merit.
- Girl students selected under the general merit list are not counted within the reserved 30% quota.
- A maximum of two siblings from the same family can benefit under this scheme; an affidavit must be submitted for verification.
- Scholarship will be discontinued if the student fails to progress to the next class/semester.
- Preference is given to OBC candidates when allocating slots.
4. Post Matric Scholarship For Students With Disabilities: The Post Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities is a centrally sponsored initiative aimed at promoting inclusive education and empowering students with benchmark disabilities. This scheme provides financial assistance to students with 40% or more disability to support their education beyond Class 10. By covering essential academic expenses, the scholarship ensures that students with disabilities can pursue higher education without financial barriers and participate fully in academic and professional opportunities.
Award:
- The maintenance allowance is ₹800 per month for hostellers
- The maintenance allowance is ₹500 per month for day scholars
- The disability allowance is ₹4,000 per year for students with visual impairment or intellectual disabilities
- The disability allowance is ₹2,000 per year for students with other types of disabilities
- The book allowance is ₹1,000 per year
Application launch date: June 2025
Eligibility:
- The scholarships are available only to Indian nationals.
- All components of the scholarship are open to students with a benchmark disability of 40% or more, as defined under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
- A maximum of two children with disabilities from the same parents can receive the scholarship. If the second child is a twin, both are eligible.
- The scholarship is awarded for one academic year per class. If a student repeats a class, they will not receive the scholarship for that class again.
- Students receiving this scholarship cannot avail any other scholarship or stipend. If they do, the benefits under this scheme will be discontinued.
5. Prime Minister’S Scholarship Scheme For Ministry of Railways: The Prime Minister’S Scholarship Scheme For Ministry of Railways, was established under the National Defence Fund. It was first announced by the then Hon’ble Prime Minister of India during his address from the historic Red Fort on August 15, 2005. Launched in the academic year 2008–09 for the Railway Protection Force (RPF), the scheme aims to promote higher technical and professional education among the dependent wards and widows (below the rank of Gazetted Officer) of ex-serving and serving RPF/RPSF personnel.
Award:
- ₹2500- per month for male students
- ₹3000- per month for female students
Scheme open from: 02-06-2025
Scheme open till: 31-10-2025
Eligibility:
- Only students who took regular admission in the academic year 2022–23 are eligible for PMSS 2022–23.
- Applicants must have secured at least 60% marks in the Minimum Entry Qualification (MEQ), such as Class 12, Diploma, or Graduation.
- The scholarship is limited to two eligible wards per family, and this condition must be verified by both the beneficiaries and the concerned Zonal Railways/RPSF.
- Only colleges, institutes, and universities registered under AISHE (All India Survey on Higher Education) are eligible.
- Eligible courses under PMSS include professional degree programs such as: BE, B.Tech, BDS, MBBS, B.Ed, BBS, BCA, MCA, B.Pharm, and similar professional courses.
6. Ishan Uday Special Scholarship Scheme for Northeastern Region: Ishan Uday Special Scholarship Scheme for Northeastern Region is a flagship initiative of the University Grants Commission (UGC) aimed at promoting access to higher education among economically disadvantaged students from the North Eastern Region (NER) of India.
Award: ₹8,000 per month for 10 months in a year for the entire duration of the undergraduate course (general degrees).
Application timeline: July – December every year (tentative)
Eligibility:
- Must be an Indian national with a valid domicile certificate of any NER state.
- Must have passed Class 12 or equivalent from a school located in the North Eastern Region through a recognized board (CBSE, ICSE, NIOS, etc.).
- Must be enrolled in the first year of a regular full-time undergraduate degree program in a recognized institution.
- Admission must be through general merit, not under management quota.
- Mode of study must be regular/full-time; students in distance/open/private/part-time courses are not eligible.
- The annual family income should not exceed ₹4,50,000.
- Students should not already hold any other scholarship; if selected under this scheme, they must relinquish any other scholarship or benefit.
State Government Scholarship Schemes
To ease the financial burden for meritorious and underprivileged students, various state governments in India offer targeted scholarship schemes. These schemes cover coaching expenses, tuition fees and hostel charges.
FAQs
Is NEET rank the only criterion for government scholarships?
No, apart from NEET rank, eligibility is based on family income, caste or minority status, state domicile, and sometimes Class 12 academic performance. Each scholarship has specific criteria.
What is the typical disbursement process for government scholarships after NEET admission?
Scholarship amounts are disbursed through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system into the student’s bank account. Disbursement usually takes 2 to 6 months after verification and may happen in installments.
What happens if a student discontinues or fails after receiving the scholarship?
If a student drops out, fails, or changes courses, scholarships are typically terminated, and repayment of received funds may be required. In hardship cases, appeals may be considered for waiving repayment.
Do reserved category NEET students get automatic scholarship benefits?
No, reserved category students must apply for scholarships and meet eligibility criteria. They may receive priority or relaxed academic requirements, but benefits are not automatic.
What documents are typically required to apply for NEET-related government scholarships?
Documents include NEET scorecard, Class 10 & 12 mark sheets, income certificate, caste/minority certificate (if applicable), Aadhaar or ID proof, domicile certificate, admission letter/fee receipt, and bank account details.