Merit scholarships reward meritorious students with financial assistance, which helps them realize their educational dreams of achieving a fulfilling career. The merit-based scholarships evaluate a student’s merit on the basis of their academic records or their performance in scholarship tests. A number of organisations, be it government ones or private, offer merit scholarships for students towards encouraging them to pursue the next level of education or professional courses.
Given below is the compilation of top merit-based scholarships, funded by both government and private organisations, with key details.
Merit Scholarships – Government-funded Scholarships
Under government-funded scholarships come those national merit scholarships which are either implemented by the State government or Central government. While State scholarships cater to the needs of the students of a particular state, Central government scholarships can be availed by students across the country.
Find below the list of some top merit-based Scholarships funded by either State government or Central government.
| Scholarship | Tentative date | Provider’s name |
| KVPY – Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana | July/August | Department of Science and Technology, GOI |
| NTSE Scholarship | September | NCERT |
| Swami Vivekananda Merit cum Means Scholarship | September | Government of West Bengal |
| UGC Merit Scholarship – Post Graduate Merit Scholarship for University Rank Holders PG Scholarships for Professional Courses | March | University Grants Commission |
Now, find below the key details of the above-mentioned merit-based scholarships.
KVPY – Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana
KVPY (Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana is a government-funded national merit scholarship which offers a monthly amount of up to INR 7,000 along with a contingency grant to meritorious students who are studying in Class 11 & 12 (PCM/B), 1st year of B.Sc/BS/BStat/BMath) or Integrated M.Sc course in Basic Sciences. Under this merit-based scholarship scheme, applicants go through an aptitude test and interview round before the final selection for the KVPY scholarship.
Eligibility: Class 11 & 12 students or 2nd-year students studying in Cambridge International Exam Board with at least 75% marks in Maths & Science subjects in class 10th board exam; students studying in 1st year of B.Sc/BS/B.Stat/B.Math or Integrated M.Sc, MS of Basic Science related subjects with a score of at least 60% marks in Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology in class 12 board exam; SC/ST/PWD candidates are given a relaxation of 10% in marks
Award: INR 5,000 per month during 1st to 3rd year of B.Sc/BS/B.Stat/B.Math/Integrated M.Sc/MS along with the contingency grant of INR 20,000 per annum; INR 7,000 during the 4th & 5th years of Integrated M.Sc/MS/M.Math/M.Stat with a contingency grant of INR 28,000 per annum
Application deadline: July/August
NTSE Scholarship
This is a talent search exam conducted by NCERT for the students of class 10. The selected candidates receive a scholarship amount of up to INR 2,000 per month. Conducted at two levels, i.e., state and national, NTSE gives out around 1,000 scholarships every year to talented students who qualify NTSE. Under this national merit scholarship, students receive the scholarship benefit up to doctoral level, provided students fulfil the conditions laid by NCERT at every level of study.
Eligibility: Students studying in class 10 in a recognised school, students of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) can also apply
Award: Students selected for NTSE scholarship get INR 1,250 per month at Class 11 & 12 level, INR 2,000 per month at UG & PG level and at PhD level, the scholarship amount is as per UGC norms
Application Deadline: September
Swami Vivekananda Merit cum Means Scholarship
This scholarship is a merit cum means scholarship which offers a monthly amount of up to INR 8,000 to meritorious and needy students of minority communities. This scholarship is meant for students of West Bengal studying in class 11 to doctoral level.
Eligibility: Applicant must be domiciled in West Bengal and studying in West Bengal, candidate at higher secondary/diploma/UG level must have scored at least 75% marks in Class 10 & 12 respectively, applicant at PG level must have scored at least 53% marks in graduation in case of general education or 55% marks in case of engineering, annual family income must not exceed INR 2.5 Lakh.
Award: Up to INR 8,000 per month
Application Deadline: November
UGC Merit Scholarship – Post Graduate Merit Scholarship for University Rank Holders PG Scholarships for Professional Courses
This UGC merit-based scholarship offers a monthly amount of INR 3,100 for two years to rank holders of undergraduate courses who are enrolled in a master’s programme at a recognised college/university. An MHRD scheme, this scholarship is meant for applicants who are not more than 30 years of age and are pursuing their first postgraduate degree. Candidates studying a PG course through distance mode cannot apply for this scholarship.
Eligibility: 1st or 2nd rank holders at UG level, must be enrolled in a full-time PG programme, must have done graduation in Life Sciences/Physical Sciences/Chemical Sciences/Earth Sciences/Mathematical Sciences/Social Sciences/Commerce/Languages, must not be above 30 years in age
Award: INR 3,100 per month for two years
Application Deadline: October
Merit Scholarships – Private-funded Scholarships
Scholarships funded by corporates, NGOs, Trusts and other organisations come under private-funded scholarships. Some of these merit scholarships are availed by the students of a particular area, while some by students from all over India.
Given below is the list of some top merit-based scholarships funded by private organisations.
| Scholarship | Tentative date | Provider’s name |
| Aditya Birla World Academy Scholarship | July/August | Aditya Birla World Academy |
| Legrand Empowering Scholarship Program | July | Legrand India |
| North South Foundation (NSF) Scholarship | September | North South Foundation |
| Sumedha Scholarship – Yashad-Sumedha Scholarship | August/September | Sumedha in partnership with Hindustan Zinc Limited |
| Baba Gurbachan Singh Scholarship | September | Sant Nirankari Mandal |
| National Scholarship Exam | September | National Institute of Career Education Foundation |
| Dr. Reddy’s Foundation Sashakt Scholarship | August | Dr Reddy’s Foundation |
| L’Oréal India Scholarship | July | L’Oréal India |
| GP Birla Scholarship | July | G.P. Birla Educational Foundation |
Now, find below the key details of the above-mentioned merit-based scholarships.
Legrand Empowering Scholarship Program 2023-24
Legrand Empowering Scholarship Program 2023-24 is a merit-based scholarship which offers an amount of INR 1,00,000 per annum or tuition fee waiver. This scholarship is meant for Class 12 passed girl students to pursue a career in Finance or Science. Under this scholarship scheme, 50 meritorious girl students receive this scholarship.
Eligibility: Girl students who have passed Class 12, must have scored a minimum of 70% marks in Class 10 and 12, seeking admission or have secured admission in B.Tech/BE/B.Arch./other graduation (Finance or Science) – BSC/BCOM/BBA/etc. in the current academic year.
Award:
- 60% of annual course fees up to INR 60,000 per year (whichever is less) till the completion of the course will be provided to girl students based on their academic performance.
- 80% of annual course fees up to INR 1,00,000 per year (whichever is less) till the completion of the course will be awarded to the special category* students based on academic performance.
- Job opportunities can also be provided to students from the special category* at the end of their graduation who qualify all basic job requirements for a particular role.
*Special category: Students with single parents/students who lost their parents due to COVID.
Application Deadline: August
Latest Update – The applications for the Legrand Empowering Scholarship for Transgender and Differently-Abled Girl Students are open. Eligible candidates can apply on or before September 24, 2023.
North South Foundation (NSF) Scholarship
North South Foundation (NSF) Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship which offers a scholarship amount of up to INR 25,000 to meritorious students who have passed class 12. Under this scholarship scheme, those students who want to pursue a career in engineering, medicine or 3-year polytechnic diploma in engineering can avail the benefits of this scholarship.
Eligibility: Students among top 100% in Class 10 & 12 & CET/JET ranking in their respective states, must have taken admission into a professional course like Engineering, Medical, Dental, Polytechnic, B.Sc (Agriculture), B.V.Sc, etc., of a government or government-aided college, the annual family income must not exceed INR 90,000
Award: An annual scholarship of up to INR 30,000
Latest Update: The application for the North South Foundation (NSF) Scholarship 2023-24 can be submitted by December 31, 2023.
Sumedha Scholarship – Yashad-Sumedha Scholarship
This scholarship is a means as well as merit-based scholarship which offers an amount of INR 40,000 annually to students who are studying in the 1st semester of B.Tech. Under this scholarship scheme, selected students receive the benefits till they graduate, provided they maintain first-division marks.
Eligibility: Students must be studying in 1st semester of B.Tech. degree of a government college, must be the permanent residents of Udaipur, Rajsamand, Chittorgarh, Bhilwara and Ajmer districts of Rajasthan, must have secured at least 75% marks in senior secondary exam, annual family income must not exceed INR 2.5 Lakh.
Award: INR 40,000 per annum till four years of B.Tech. programme
Application Deadline: The last date to apply for this scholarship is September 15, 2023.
IndusInd Foundation Merit-cum-Means Scholarship
This scholarship is a means as well as merit-based scholarship which offers an amount of up to INR 1,500 per month to needy meritorious students who have passed class 12 and have secured admission in a regular degree programme.
Eligibility: Students who have passed class 12 in the current academic year with a minimum 85% marks (aggregate), must have taken admission in a regular degree course of a recognised university in India
Award: Up to INR 1,500 per month
Application Deadline: September
Baba Gurbachan Singh Scholarship
This scholarship is a merit-cum-means scholarship which offers INR 50,000 per year per student or the tuition
fee/annual fee payable each year (whichever is less) to students who are studying in 1st year of a degree/diploma course. Under this scholarship scheme, 1st-year students of B.A., BSc, B.Com, Engineering (Diploma), Hotel Management, BBA, BCA, M.Com, M.A., MCA, Diploma/Degree or Training in any Sport, Instrumental Music/Vocal Music courses can avail the scholarship benefits.
Eligibility: Applicants with 60% or above marks in class 10 or 12, must be studying in 1st year of diploma/degree course, annual family income must not exceed INR 3.5 Lakh, and applicants can be regular or correspondent students.
Note: Needy students with less than 60% marks can be considered for the scholarship in case of special circumstances.
Award: INR 50,000 per year per student or the tuition fee/annual fee payable each year (whichever is less)
Application Deadline: November
The application for Baba Gurbachan Singh Scholarship 2023-24 can be submitted by November 30, 2023.
National Scholarship Exam
National Scholarship Exam is a talent search scholarship exam which offers a scholarship of up to INR 35,000 to qualified students of class 5 to 12, diploma and degree courses. Under this national merit scholarship programme, a national level exam is conducted to select talented young students.
Eligibility: Students studying in class 5 to 12 or holding a diploma/graduate degree
Award: Up to INR 35,000
Application deadline: September
The application for this merit-based scholarship exam can be submitted by 30 September 2019.
SOF Girl Child Scholarship Scheme (GCSS)
SOF Girl Child Scholarship Scheme is a merit-based scholarship which offers a scholarship amount of INR 5,000 per annum to meritorious and needy girl students who are studying in class 1 to 10. Under this scholarship scheme, a total of 300 girl students receive this scholarship benefit every year.
Eligibility: Girl students studying in class 1 to 10 with a score of 60% or equivalent in the previous class, must have a family income INR 15,000 per month
Award: INR 5,000
Application deadline: October
Dr. Reddy’s Foundation Sashakt Scholarship
This scholarship is for those meritorious girl students who are confident of getting into India’s best Science colleges after passing class 12. Under this scholarship scheme, students receive INR 2.4 Lakh for three years to pursue higher studies. Institutions like Hindu College, Miranda College and Hansraj College of Delhi, Vivekananda College of Kolkata, Loyola and Madras Christian College of Chennai and several others come under this merit-based scholarship scheme.
Eligibility: Girl students who have passed class 12 and are confident of getting admitted into the best Science colleges of India, applicants with rural background, financially weak background and interest in scientific research can apply.
Award: INR 2.4 Lakh for three years (INR 80,000 per year)
Application deadline: July
In 2019, the deadline to submit the scholarship application was 31 July 2019.
L’Oréal India Scholarship
This scholarship is a merit-based scholarship which offers an amount of up to INR 2.5 Lakh to class 12 passed meritorious girls who wish to pursue an education in any scientific field. Under this scholarship scheme, shortlisted candidates go through a round of interview before final selection for the scholarship.
Eligibility: Girl applicants who have passed class 12 from Science stream with at least 85% marks in PCB/PCM, have taken admission in a graduate programme in the current academic year, are not more than 19 years of age, have not more than INR 4 Lakh as annual family income
Award: INR 2.5 Lakh in equal instalments over the period of the degree of study, provided the candidate passes each year of study
Application deadline: July
GP Birla Scholarship
This scholarship is a merit-based scholarship which offers an annual scholarship amount of INR 50,000 to class 12 passed students of West Bengal. Under this scholarship scheme, 100 scholarships are disbursed amongst the selected candidates after qualifying a round of interview.
Eligibility: Applicants must be a domicile of West Bengal, must have passed Class 12 with at least 80% marks from the state board or 85% from CBSE, must be continuing studies in any of the streams like humanities, science, medicine and several others from a recognised college/university.
Award: INR 50,000 per annum along with a one-time payment of INR 7,000 towards the purchase of books in the 1st year of the course
Application Deadline: July