These coveted scholarships are offered by colleges, private enterprises, and non-profit organisations. In India, two primary types of merit scholarships are extended to students: government-funded and privately-funded opportunities.
This comprehensive article aims to provide students with in-depth information about merit scholarships in India, including eligibility criteria, benefits, application processes and more.
Merit Scholarships – Government-Funded Scholarships
Government-funded scholarships encompass national merit scholarships, which can be implemented either by the state or central government. Below is a detailed list of some of the renowned government-funded merit scholarships in India:
INSPIRE Scholarship For Higher Education (SHE)
This merit scholarship falls under the Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE), a flagship programme initiated by the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India.
Regarded as one of the most prestigious technology scholarships in the country, it is awarded to deserving students pursuing bachelor’s and master’s courses in Natural and Basic Sciences. Every year, the program grants 10,000 scholarships to needy students, empowering them to excel in their academic pursuits.
- The applicants must be within the age group of 17-22 years.
- To qualify, candidates must have achieved aggregate marks within the top 1% of their Class 12 examination from any Central or State board in India.
- The students must:
- be pursuing courses in Natural and Basic Sciences at the B.Sc., B.S., and Int.M.Sc./M.S. level
OR
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- have secured ranks within the top 10,000 in JEE of IIT, AIPMT, or NEET
OR
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- be selected under Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY) and pursuing bachelor’s/master’s level courses in Natural Sciences
Benefits: The selected candidates will be awarded a total scholarship of ₹80,000 per year. The beneficiaries will receive ₹60,000 as a cash payment per annum, while an additional ₹20,000 will be granted as a summertime attachment fee to those who undertake a research project during the summer.
Application Timeline: October-December (tentative)
Application Process: Students can apply for the INSPIRE Scholarship For Higher Education (SHE) through the official website.
e-Medhabruti Scholarship Scheme
The e-Medhabruti Scholarship Scheme is extended by the Higher Education Department, Government of Odisha. It is one of the merit scholarships which aims to encourage and motivate talented students from Odisha to pursue undergraduate, postgraduate, technical, and professional studies.
- The applicants must be permanent residents of Odisha.
- The candidates must have an annual family income of less than ₹6,00,000.
- The students must have secured a minimum of 60% marks in the previous qualifying examinations.
For UG Merit Scholarship –
- The students must have passed Class 12 of Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE), Odisha or an equivalent exam.
- The applicants must have secured 60% or more marks from an institution recognized by CBSE and ICSE.
- The candidates must be pursuing a regular degree course or a three-year degree course in any of the recognised institutions/colleges/universities.
For PG Merit Scholarship –
- The applicants must have passed a three-year degree or equivalent exam.
- The candidates must have secured 60% or more marks from a recognised institute.
- The students must pursue a regular course in the arts, commerce, or science stream or any other non-professional postgraduate course from any recognised colleges/institutions/universities.
For Technical & Professional Merit Scholarships –
- The applicants must have passed Class 12 of CSHE, Odisha/CBSE/ICSE, or equivalent exam or three-year degree or equivalent 3-year course (only for master’s course) with 60% or more marks.
- The candidates must be pursuing regular technical/professional courses in any recognised colleges/institutions/universities.
Benefits:
The selected candidates will be entitled to receive the following benefits:
| Merit Category | Number of Scholarship | Rate of Scholarship per year (₹) | Amount to be paid at a time |
| UG Merit | 5,000 | 5,000 | 15,000 |
| PG Merit | 3,500 | 5,000 | 20,000 |
| Technical and Professional Merit | 3,500 for UG courses and 2,500 for PG courses | 10,000 | As per course duration |
Application Timeline: February (tentative)
Application Process: Candidates can apply for the e-Medhabruti Scholarship Scheme through their official website.
| e-Medhabruti Scholarship Scheme Guidelines |
NEC Merit Scholarship
The NEC Merit Scholarship is an initiative of the North Eastern Council, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Government of India for students pursuing diploma/degree/postgraduate courses or registered M.Phil./Ph.D. programmes.
This merit scholarship aims to provide financial assistance to students of the North-Eastern Region to pursue higher education at a recognised Indian institution.
Eligibility Criteria:
- The applicants must be permanent residents of one of the North-Eastern states (Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura).
- The candidates must have taken admission in a diploma/degree/postgraduate course or be registered for an M.Phil. or Ph.D. programme.
- The students must have an annual family income of less than ₹8,00,000 from all sources.
- The candidates must have passed the HSLC/HSSLC/Secondary School Leaving/Senior Secondary Leaving Certificate examination from a recognised State/Central Board with a minimum of 60% marks in aggregate (for diploma courses).
- The applicants must have passed the HSSLC/Senior Secondary Leaving Certificate examination from a recognized State/Central Board with a minimum of 60% marks in aggregate (for degree courses).
- The students must have passed a degree-level examination in any discipline (B.A./B.Sc./B.E./B.Tech./M.B.B.S./LLB/BCA/BBA etc.) of any recognised Institute/ University with a minimum of 60% marks in aggregate (for postgraduate courses).
- The applicants must hold a PG degree from any recognised university with a minimum of 60% marks in aggregate (for M.Phil./Ph.D. programmes).
Benefits: The selected students will receive the following benefits under the NEC Merit Scholarship:
- For diploma level courses – ₹20,000 per annum
- For degree level courses – ₹22,000 per annum
- For PG courses – ₹25,000 per annum
- For M.Phil./Ph.D. programmes – ₹30,000 per annum
Application Timeline: January-December (tentative)
Application Process: Applicants can apply for the scholarship through the National Scholarship Portal.
| NEC Merit Scholarship Guidelines |
Merit Scholarships – Privately-Funded Scholarships
Privately-funded scholarships consist of diverse merit scholarships offered by corporates, NGOs, trusts, and other organisations. The eligibility for these scholarships may vary, allowing students to avail of them either from a specific state or from all over India, depending on the criteria set by the scholarship providers.
These scholarships aim to recognise and support students who exhibit outstanding academic achievements, extracurricular activities, leadership skills, and other areas of merit. These scholarships are bestowed solely on the basis of merit, regardless of the applicant’s financial circumstances.
Below, students will find a comprehensive list of privately-funded merit scholarships:
Legrand Empowering Scholarship Program
The Legrand Empowering Scholarship Program is a CSR initiative by Legrand that aims to extend financial assistance to meritorious girl students, differently-abled girl students, and transgender students, enabling them to pursue their higher education.
Eligibility Criteria:
- The scholarship is exclusively available to girl students across India.
- Applicants must have secured admission in B.Tech./B.E./B.Arch./BBA/B.Com./B.Sc. (Math and Science) degrees in India.
- Applicants must have completed Class 12 in the year 2022–2023.
- Students must have achieved a minimum of 70% or above in both Class 10 and Class 12 examinations. (Note: Exceptions will be given to differently-abled girl students and transgender students)
- The total annual family income of the applicants from all sources must be below ₹5,00,000.
| Note: Preference will be given to students from the *special category. |
Benefits:
The selected candidates will receive the following benefits:
- 60% of annual course fees up to ₹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 ₹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 for all basic job requirements for a particular role.
| *Special category: Differently-abled students/transgender students/students with single parents/students who lost their parents due to COVID-19. |
Application Timeline: The application deadline for this merit scholarship is August 31, 2023. Interested applicants can apply through the official website of Buddy4Study.
G.P. Birla Scholarship
This merit-cum-means scholarship is an initiative of the G.P. Birla Educational Foundation for meritorious students residing in West Bengal.
The G.P. Birla Educational Foundation was established by Late Shri G. P. Birla, a renowned industrialist, and philanthropist, to promote education, improve human resources and encourage the youth of the country to pursue education.
Eligibility Criteria:
- The applicants must be residents of West Bengal.
- The candidates must have passed the Class 12 examination in the respective academic year.
- The students must have secured 85% marks or more from WBCHSE (West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education) or 90% or more from ISC/CBSE.
- The applicants must be pursuing undergraduate courses in streams such as Science, Commerce, or Arts in one of the following disciplines from any recognised university/institution in India.
- Engineering
- Medicine
- Architecture
- Law
- Chartered Accountancy
- Company Secretary
- Cost Accountancy
- The applicants must have an annual family income of less than ₹3,00,000.
Note – For extra meritorious students, maximum family income criteria may be relaxed in specific cases at the Trustees’ discretion or need financial help to pursue further studies.
Benefits: A scholarship of up to ₹50,000 per year will be given to the selected students to cover the tuition and hostel fees. Furthermore, the candidates will receive a one-time payment of ₹7,000 to cover the expenses of purchasing books during their first year of college.
Important Note –
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Application Timeline – July-August (tentative)
Application Process: Applicants meeting the eligibility requirements can apply by sending the duly filled application form along with the required documents by post to the below address:G.P. Birla Educational Foundation,
78, Syed Amir Ali Avenue, Kolkata – 700019
(Landmark. Calcutta Ice Skating Rink)
Merck India Charitable Trust Scholarship Program
The Merck India Charitable Trust Scholarship Program, initiated by Merck India, strives to provide assistance to underprivileged students aspiring to pursue higher education.
This merit scholarship endeavours to offer sustained financial support, empowering talented individuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to build a solid foundation for a promising and secure future.
Eligibility Criteria:
- The scholarship is open to students who have successfully passed Class 10 (SSC) with minimum 80% marks.
- The candidates must have a family income of less than or equal to ₹20,000 per month.
- The students must be currently residing and studying in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Bengaluru to be eligible for this merit scholarship.
Benefits: The selected candidates will receive ₹35,000 per annum till graduation under this scholarship programme.
Application Timeline: February (tentative)
Application Process: Eligible applicants fulfilling the eligibility requirements can apply for the scholarship through the official website of Buddy4Study.
Atul Maheshwari Scholarship
The Atul Maheshwari Scholarship, an initiative of the Amar Ujala Foundation, is a merit-cum-means scholarship designed to offer financial aid to disadvantaged candidates studying in government institutions.
Eligibility Criteria:
- The candidates must be studying in Class 9 and 10.
- The students must have secured more than 60% marks in their last annual examinations.
- The applicants must have an annual family income of less than ₹1,50,000.
Benefits: Up to ₹50,000 (per annum)
Application Timeline: September (tentative)
Application Process: Candidates can apply for the scholarship through the official website of Amar Ujala Foundation.
| Also Read: Atul Maheshwari Scholarship 2023 – Know All About It |
Merit Scholarships – FAQs
What are merit scholarships?
Merit scholarships refer to financial assistance awarded based on academic, athletic, artistic, leadership, or special-interest merit rather than monetary need.
What is the last date to apply for the Legrand Empowering Scholarship Program?
The last date to apply for the Legrand Empowering Scholarship Program is August 31, 2023. Interested candidates can apply for the scholarship via the official website of Buddy4Study.
How much financial support will be provided under the Merck India Charitable Trust (MICT) Scholarship Program?
Financial support of ₹35,000 per annum till graduation will be provided under this scholarship programme.
What is the selection process for the Atul Maheshwari Scholarship?
The selection process for the Atul Maheshwari Scholarship involves a written examination followed by an interview. Candidates need to qualify for both stages to be selected for the scholarship. For more information related to the scholarship, kindly refer to the above article.
What documents are required to apply for merit scholarships?
While applying for merit scholarships, applicants must prepare certain documents in advance. The most common documents required include a passport-size photograph, a copy of the marksheet from the previous examination, a domicile certificate (if applicable), and identification proof such as an Aadhaar card or ration card.
What expenses are covered under merit scholarships?
Merit scholarships cover expenses such as tuition fees, material fees, on-campus housing, meal plans, student parking permits (if any), and books purchased at the university. However, it is important to note that the student is responsible for additional costs, such as remaining tuition and fees, housing and dining expenses, and non-educational expenditures.