National Scholarship Portal, also known as NSP, is a dedicated online scholarship portal that hosts around 50 scholarships offered by the central government, state governments and other government agencies such as the University Grants Commission (UGC). The portal was introduced under the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) to offer a vast variety of services that include scholarship application, application verification and disbursal of scholarships.
The NSP Centrally-Funded Scholarship schemes are offered by different government departments namely, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Department of School Education and Literacy, Department of Higher Education and others.
Latest Update – The applications for NSP centrally-funded scholarship schemes for the academic year 2022-23 have started.
NSP Centrally-Funded Scholarships – An Overview
| S.No. | Central Government Departments | Number of Scholarships |
| 1. | Ministry of Minority Affairs (MOMA) | 3 |
| 2. | Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) | 3 |
| 3. | Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment | 1 |
| 4. | Ministry of Labour and Employment | 3 |
| 5. | Ministry of Tribal Affairs | 1 |
| 6. | Department of School Education & Literacy | 1 |
| 7. | Department of Higher Education | 1 |
| 8. | WARB, Ministry of Home Affairs | 2 |
| 9. | RPF/RPSF, Ministry of Railway | 1 |
Get detailed information regarding scholarships offered by all the above-mentioned government ministries and departments in the sections below.
NSP Centrally-Funded Scholarships – Ministry of Minority Affairs
The scholarships offered by the Ministry of Minority Affairs are commonly known as MOMA scholarships. These scholarships are meant to support the studies of minority community students i.e., students belonging to Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, Jain and Zoroastrian (Parsi) communities. These can be broadly categorised as pre-matric scholarships, post-matric scholarships and merit-cum-means scholarships.
While the pre-matric scholarships are meant for students studying in Class 1 to 10, the post-matric scholarships are meant for students studying in Class 11 and above. Furthermore, the merit-cum-means scholarship is available for students pursuing professional or technical courses.
List of NSP Centrally-Funded Scholarships by MOMA
| Scholarship Name | Application Timeline* | Awards |
| Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Minorities | Between August and December | Admission fee, tuition fee, and maintenance allowance |
| Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Minorities | Admission fee, tuition fee, and maintenance allowance | |
| Merit-cum-Means Scholarship for Professional and Technical Courses | Course fee up to INR 20,000 per annum and maintenance allowance |
*The application timeline mentioned above is tentative and may change at the discretion of the provider.
Also Read: MOMA Scholarships – Minority Scholarships
NSP Centrally-Funded Scholarships – DEPwD
The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India also offers scholarships for physically disabled students to help them study and earn their livelihood. The three major scholarships offered under the NSP Centrally-Funded Scholarship category by DEPwD include pre-matric scholarships, post-matric scholarships and scholarships for top class education for students with disabilities.
While the pre-matric scholarships are meant for students studying in Class 9 and 10, the post-matric scholarships are meant for students in Class 11 and above. Furthermore, the scholarships for top class education is meant for students who are pursuing studies at graduate, postgraduate or diploma level. The table given below highlights the key details of all the scholarships.
List of NSP Centrally-Funded Scholarships by DEPwD
| Scholarship Name | Application Timeline* | Awards |
| Pre-matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities | Between August and December | Maintenance allowance, book grant, and disability allowance |
| Post-matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities | Maintenance allowance, disability allowance, and book allowance | |
| Scholarships for Top Class Education for students with disabilities | Up to INR 2 lakh per annum and other benefits |
*The application timeline mentioned above is tentative and may change at the discretion of the scholarship provider.
NSP Centrally-Funded Scholarships – Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment offers only one scholarship under the NSP Centrally-Funded Scholarship category with the name of ‘Top Class Education for SC Students’. The scholarship is meant for SC category students who have taken admission at the undergraduate or postgraduate level. A total of 1,500 students are supported with the help of this scholarship every year. The selected students will receive a full tuition fee and other allowances. The applications for this scholarship are open between August and January.
NSP Centrally-Funded Scholarships – Ministry of Labour & Employment
The Ministry of Labour & Employment, one of the most significant ministries of the Government of India, offers scholarships for children of beedi workers, Iron Ore, Manganese Ore & Chrome Ore Mine (IOMC) workers, Limestone & Dolomite Mine (LSDM) workers, and cine workers. Typically categorised into two categories namely, pre-matric and post-matric scholarships, these scholarships offer financial assistance for students whose parents (either mother or father) belong to the categories of workers mentioned above.
The table below gives a detailed insight into all the scholarships offered by the ministry under NSP centrally-funded scholarship category.
List of NSP Centrally-Funded Scholarships by Ministry of Labour & Employment
| Scholarship Name | Application Deadline* | Awards |
| Financial Assistance for Education of the Wards of Beedi/Cine/IOMC/LSDM Workers – Post-Matric | 31st October 2022 | Up to INR 15,000 |
| Financial Assistance for Education of the Wards of Beedi/Cine/IOMC/LSDM Workers – Pre-Matric | 31st October 2022 | Up to INR 1,840 |
| Aam Aadmi Bima Yojna Scholarship for Andhra Pradesh | Offline | Not specified |
*The application timeline mentioned above is tentative and may change on the discretion of the provider.
NSP Centrally-Funded Scholarships – Ministry of Tribal Affairs
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India offers ‘National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students’ under NSP centrally-funded scholarships. This scheme is meant for ST category students who are pursuing professional courses at undergraduate, postgraduate, MPhil, and PhD levels. The selected students will get up to INR 28,000 per month and other benefits. The application timeline for this scheme lies between August and December.
NSP Centrally-Funded Scholarships – Department of School Education & Literacy
The Department of School Education & Literacy works under the Ministry of Human Resource Development. The department offers various schemes and welfare programmes to promote school education among children. The schemes listed under NSP centrally-funded scholarships include the National Means cum Merit Scholarship and the National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education (NSIGSE). The table below highlights key details of both the scholarships.
List of NSP Centrally-Funded Scholarships by Department of School Education & Literacy
| Scholarship Name | Application Timeline* | Awards |
| National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education | Between August and November | INR 3,000 |
| National Means cum Merit Scholarship | Between August and November | INR 12,000 per annum |
*The application timeline mentioned above is tentative and may change at the discretion of the provider.
NSP Centrally-Funded Scholarships – Department of Higher Education
With an objective to promote higher education among students, the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Human Resource Development offers ‘Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships for College and University Students’. Under this scholarship, the meritorious students from economically weaker sections will get financial assistance to cover the day-to-day expenses incurred while pursuing higher studies.
The students who are pursuing a regular course at the undergraduate or postgraduate level can avail of benefits up to INR 20,000 per annum under this scheme. The application timeline for this scholarship ranges tentatively between August and January.
NSP Centrally-Funded Scholarships – WARB, Ministry of Home Affairs
The Welfare and Rehabilitation Board (WARB), Ministry of Home Affairs also enlists scholarships under NSP centrally-funded scholarships popularly known as ‘Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme’ for Central Armed Police Forces & Assam Rifles (CAPF & AR) and State Police Personnel. This scheme supports the wards and widows of individuals who are serving/retired/martyred during their service. Introduced in the year 2006-07, this scheme was revised in 2019-20. The revised version of the scheme also included the wards and widows of state police officials.
The girl students will receive INR 3,000 per month and the boy students will receive INR 2,500 per month under this scholarship. The application timeline for this scholarship remains open between August and November (tentative).
NSP Centrally-Funded Scholarships – RPF/RPSF, Ministry of Railway
Just like the PM scholarship scheme for CAPF & AR and State Police Personnel, the RPF/RPSF under the Ministry of Railway offers ‘Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme for RPF/RPSF’. The wards and widows of Ex/Serving RPF/RPSF personnel will get financial assistance to pursue professional or technical degree courses. A total of 150 scholars will receive benefits under this scholarship. While the girl students will receive INR 2,250 per month, the boys will receive INR 2,000 per month.
The application timeline for this scholarship falls between the month of August and January (tentative).
NSP Centrally-Funded Scholarships – North Eastern Council (NEC), DoNER
In the academic year 2020-21, the North Eastern Council under the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region, Government of India has also enlisted its scholarship scheme named NEC Merit Scholarship. Under this scholarship, the students who are residents of North Eastern States can avail scholarships up to INR 30,000 per annum for their diploma, degree, postgraduate and MPhil/PhD programmes. A total of 1,600 fresh scholarships will be awarded to eligible students coming from the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura.
The application timeline for this scholarship fall between the months of August and January (tentative).
Also Read: NSP Portal – National Scholarship Portal (NSP 2.0)