NUA-O Scholarship 2025 – Odisha UG/PG Apply, Award & Date

The Nutana Unnata Abhilasha (NUA) Odisha scholarship is a state-level initiative launched by the Higher Education Department of the Government of Odisha to enhance access to inclusive and quality higher education. It is aimed at students pursuing full-time undergraduate and postgraduate courses in state universities, government and aided colleges, Sanskrit colleges, and unaided private institutions, provided they are admitted through the SAMS portal. The scheme promotes skill development, reskilling, and upskilling among youth. Financial assistance ranging from ₹9,000 to ₹11,000 per year is provided through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), with higher awards granted to female and SC/ST students.

The scholarship is not available to students whose parents are income taxpayers or hold permanent government positions.

NUA-O Scholarship 2025: Overview

Name of the Scholarship Scheme	NUA-O Scholarship Odisha
Implementation by	Higher Education Department, Government of Odisha
Beneficiaries	Undergraduate and Postgraduate students of Odisha
Award	Up to ₹11,000 annually
Last Date to Apply	February 2025-26 (Tentative)

Also Read: Odisha Scholarship Portal 2025 – Eligibility & Application Process

NUA-O Scholarship 2025: Eligibility Criteria

To apply for the NUA-O Scholarship, candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria:

Must be a permanent resident of Odisha.
Must be enrolled in a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate programme at a state university, government or non-government aided college, aided Sanskrit college, or a private unaided institution under the Higher Education Department.
Admission must be through the Student Academic Management System (SAMS) portal.

The following categories of students are not eligible for the NUA-O Scholarship:

Students enrolled in open universities, distance education, or correspondence courses.
Students pursuing self-financed courses under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode.
Candidates whose admission has not been confirmed by the head of their institution.
Students whose parents are government employees (central/state), employed in PSUs, aided institutions, or autonomous bodies.
Applicants whose parents are income tax payers.
Recipients of the KALIA Scholarship.
Students who have not completed institutional verification.

NUA-O Scholarship 2025: Scholarship Award

Selected students under the NUA-O Scholarship scheme will receive annual financial assistance directly in their bank accounts via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The scholarship amount varies based on the applicant’s category and gender.

NUA-O Scholarship Award:

Category	Male Students (₹/year)	Female Students (₹/year)
General/EBC/OBC/SEBC	₹9,000	₹10,000
SC/ST	₹10,000	₹11,000

Note: The scholarship is granted for a maximum of three years for undergraduate programs and two years for postgraduate courses. A student is eligible to receive the scholarship only once at each academic level — once during UG and once during PG.

How to Apply for the NUA-O Scholarship

Follow these steps to complete the NUA-O Scholarship application on the Odisha State Scholarship Portal:

Step 1: Visit the Odisha state scholarship portal and register as a new user. Existing users can directly click on the ‘Login’ button.

Step 2: Enter the Aadhaar number to proceed with the registration.

Step 3: Log in using your User ID and Password.

Step 4: After logging in, select the appropriate department and scheme name.

Step 5: Fill in all required details, including personal information, academic records, eligibility status, and bank account details.

Step 6: Use the “Save as Draft” option to save your progress or click “Next” to continue.

Step 7: Review the completed application form in the preview section.

Step 8: Download and print a copy of the submitted form for your records.

NUA-O Scholarship 2025: Documents Required

To apply for the NUA-O Scholarship 2025, eligible students must submit a self-declaration form along with a passport-size photograph to their respective institutions. The declaration must include the following details:

Proof of permanent residence in Odisha.
Complete residential information including district, block, postal address, and name of the college.
Aadhaar number and a valid mobile number.
Bank account details, including account number and IFSC code.

Important:
Students admitted through the Common Application Form (CAF) must ensure that their bank details are correctly updated on the SAMS portal. In case of discrepancies, they must use the self-declaration form available on the college scholarship portal to request corrections.

The declaration should also confirm the following:

The student meets all eligibility criteria and does not fall under the excluded categories.
Neither parent is an income taxpayer or falls under any tax liability.
The student is actively pursuing their course with regular attendance.
Neither parent is employed by the Central or State Government, public sector undertakings, government-aided institutions, autonomous bodies, or receives grants from educational institutions.

Declaration format:

Students who are 18 years or older must submit their self-declaration in Form A.
For students below 18 years, a parent or guardian must submit a declaration in Form B.

NUA-O Scholarship 2025 Odisha – FAQs

Who is eligible to apply for the NUA-O Scholarship 2025?

Students who are permanent residents of Odisha and enrolled in full-time UG or PG courses through the SAMS portal under the Higher Education Department are eligible.

Which students are not eligible for the NUA-O Scholarship?

Students in distance learning, open universities, correspondence, PPP-mode self-financed courses, or whose parents are government employees or income taxpayers are not eligible.

What is the financial benefit offered under the NUA-O Scholarship?

Eligible male students get ₹9,000–₹10,000 and female students get ₹10,000–₹11,000 annually, depending on their category.

For how long is the NUA-O Scholarship awarded?

The scholarship is given for up to 3 years for UG and 2 years for PG courses. A student can receive it only once per academic level.

How is the scholarship amount disbursed?

The amount is directly credited to the student’s bank account via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).