Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities is the initiative of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Government of India, which offers financial assistance to students facing physical, intellectual, or sensory health challenges.
The scholarship programme is designed to support students with disabilities who are pursuing their studies in Class 11 and onwards including degree, diploma, and postgraduate courses.
The scheme provides a range of benefits, covering maintenance and disability allowance, book allowance and reimbursement of mandatory non-refundable fees.
Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities – Objectives
The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act), Section 31(1) ensures that every child with a benchmark disability aged between six and eighteen years has the right to receive free education in either a neighbourhood school or a special school of their choice.
Section 32(2) of the RPwD Act mandates that the appropriate government and local authorities must guarantee that every child with a benchmark disability has access to free education in a suitable environment until they reach the age of eighteen years.
To fulfil these constitutional and legal obligations, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in the Government of India initiated six scholarship schemes for students with disabilities between April 1, 2012, and April 1, 2017.
These schemes include:
- Pre-Matric
- Post-Matric
- Top Class Education
- National Overseas Scholarship
- National Fellowship for Persons with Disabilities (NFPwD)
- Free Coaching for Students with Disabilities (SwDs)
This comprehensive guide delves deeper into the details of the Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities, its eligibility criteria, benefits, application process, and more.
Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities – Overview
| Particulars | Details |
| Name | Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities |
| Name of the Provider | Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disability, Government of India |
| Awards | Maintenance and Disability allowance, Book Allowance |
| Help Desk Phone No. | (0120)-6619540 |
| Help Desk Email ID | helpdesk@nsp.gov.in |
Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities – Specified Disabilities
Eligibility for scholarship schemes under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) has been extended to the students with specific disabilities outlined in the Schedule of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
The 2016 Act has broadened the scope of specified disabilities. It covers a total of 21 categories. List enumerating these specified disabilities incorporated in the Act are as under:
- Blindness
- Low-Vision
- Leprosy-Cured Person
- Hearing-Impairment (deaf and hard of hearing)
- Locomotor-Disability
- Intellectual Disability
- Mental Illness
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Cerebral Palsy
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Chronic Neurological Conditions
- Specific Learning Disabilities
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Speech and Language Disability
- Thalassemia
- Haemophilia
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Multiple Disabilities including Deaf Blindness
- Acid Attack Victim
- Parkisnson’s Disease
- Dwarfism
Also Read: Pre-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities
Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities – Eligibility Criteria
- Only Indian nationals are eligible to apply under this scholarship scheme.
- The scholarship is accessible to students with a benchmark disability, defined as 40% or more according to the ‘Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.’
- To be eligible, students must have a valid disability certificate issued by the authorised body specified in the relevant rules.
- A maximum number of two children of the same parents and facing disabilities can benefit under this scholarship scheme. If the second child is part of a twin, both twins can receive the scholarship.
- Scholarships are awarded for one year only for each academic level. If a student needs to repeat a grade, they won’t receive a scholarship for that specific grade in the subsequent year.
- Scholarship recipients under this program cannot simultaneously receive any other scholarships or stipends. The disbursement of scholarships will discontinue if a student accepts another scholarship or stipend.
- The annual family income of students from all sources must not exceed ₹2.5 lakh.
- The Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities will be awarded to students pursuing any recognized post-matriculation or post-secondary courses, including those up to the Master’s degree level, in recognized institutions or universities. However, there are certain exceptions to this eligibility, which are as follows:
- Eligibility will not be granted to candidates who have switched their subject at the same level of education, for example an applicant pursuing B.Com. switches to B.A. in another subject. However, eligibility is retained for students pursuing L.L.B/B.Ed/B.El.Ed. after having passed B.A./B.Sc./B.E., etc. under this scheme.
- The scholarship may be availed by the applicants for any one course only even if they are pursuing their studies in two different courses simultaneously provided, it is permissible under the rules/regulations.
- Scholarship awards will be given to students who pursue any recognized professional or degree courses including technical certification or diploma courses if otherwise eligible irrespective of having passed or failed in their undergraduate examinations in arts/science/commerce.
- Eligibility is also extended to students who pursue their studies through correspondence courses. The term “correspondence” refers to distance learning and continuing education.
Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities – Requirement of Aadhaar and Unique Disability Identity Card (UDID)
- The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) has officially recognized Aadhaar as a valid identity document in accordance with Section 7 of the Aadhaar Act, 2016.
- As part of the application process for the scholarship, applicants may be required to undergo Aadhaar-based biometric authentication.
- In order to be eligible for the benefits under the scholarship scheme, it is imperative for the applicants to either hold a Unique Disability Identity Card (UDID) or complete the UDID enrollment process.
Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities – Scholarship Amount
The amount of Post-Matric scholarship includes the following components:
- Maintenance Allowance
- Disability Allowance
- Reimbursement of Compulsory Non-refundable Fees
- Book Allowance
Maintenance Allowance
| Groups | Maintenance
Allowance Per Month (Hostellers) (₹) |
Maintenance
Allowance Per Month (Day Scholars) (₹) |
| Group I
All Bachelor and Post-Graduate Degree Courses in the Following Discipline:
|
1600 | 750 |
| Group II
Professional Courses Leading to Degree/Diploma, Certificate in Degree Courses in the Following Discipline:
|
1100 | 700 |
| Group III
All Other Courses Leading to a Graduate Degree Not Covered Under Group I & II Services:
|
950 | 650 |
| Group IV
All Post-Matriculation Level Non-degree Courses for Which Entrance Qualification is a High School (Class X) Pass Certification
|
900 | 550 |
Note:- The list of courses in groups I to IV is illustrative, not exhaustive. State Governments/Union Territory Administrations can determine course groupings as per their discretion.
Disability Allowance
Allowance Per Annum |
Day Scholar (₹) | Hosteller (₹) |
| Visual Impairment
or Intellectual Disabilities |
4000 | 4000 |
| All Other Types of Disabilities | 2000 | 2000 |
Reimbursement of Compulsory Non-Refundable Fees
Under the post-matric scholarship program, scholars are entitled to receive reimbursements for compulsory fees, including enrolment/registration, tuition, games, union, library, magazine, and medical examination fees, along with any other mandatory fees that the scholar must pay to the educational institution, university, or Board.
The ceiling on maximum annual fee for the post-matric scholarship is set at ₹1.50 lakh. Refundable deposits such as caution money and security deposits will not be included in this reimbursement.
Note:-
- Recognized institutions have the authority to provide full reimbursement for the mandatory non-refundable fees associated with both free and paid seats in recognized courses.
- This reimbursement should align with the fee structure approved by the competent authority of the State or Central Government and is subject to a maximum limit of ₹1.50 lakh per annum.
Book Allowance
The amount for book allowance is ₹1500 per annum.
Also Read: Top Scholarships for LGBTQ+ Students in India and Abroad
Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities – Application and Selection Process
- Applications will be invited through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) at scholarships.gov.in.
- Applicants must submit their applications through the online system by the specified deadline.
- They are required to upload all necessary documents online in the prescribed format:
- Photograph
- Proof of Age
- Disability Certificate
- Parent’s Income Certificate
- Tuition Fee Receipt
- Last Academic Qualification Certificate, etc.
- The educational institutions where the candidates are enrolled should also register on the portal and verify the details provided by the candidates.
- A nodal officer, appointed by the State, will oversee all applications and process them on behalf of the State Government.
- The State Government will digitally sign the final list in the Public Finance Management System (PFMS) to disburse scholarship funds to the beneficiaries.
- If a candidate is a permanent resident of one state but pursuing his studies in another state, their application should be recommended by the Education/Welfare Department of their state of permanent residence.
- The allocation of available slots for each scholarship across states will be determined on the basis of the online verification by the respective department/nodal officer of the state.
- This allocation will consider the number of eligible applications received per state and the percentage of the state’s population with disabilities. Slots will be distributed proportionally to ensure that the benefits of the scholarship scheme are accessible nationwide.
- The merit criteria for selection will primarily be the percentage of disability indicated in the disability certificate. For ‘Specific Learning Disability’, where the certificate specifies a disability percentage of 40% or above, this threshold will be considered for the purpose of merit criteria.
- In the event of a tie, the candidate’s age will be taken into account, with preference given to the older applicant.
- Based on the specified merit criteria and the allocation of slots across states, the final selection process will be conducted through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities – Duration and Renewal of Scholarship
1. The scholarship or award granted will remain in effect from the point of award until the course is completed, subject to good conduct and regular attendance of the recipient.
- The scholarship will be renewed annually if the scholar progresses to the next higher class within the continuous duration of the course, regardless of whether a university or the educational institution conducts the exams.
2. In cases where a student with benchmark disabilities, enrolled in Group I courses for the Post-Matric scholarship fails in the initial exam, the scholarship may still be eligible for renewal.
- However, for second and subsequent failures in any class, students will bear their expenditures until they advance to the next higher class.
3. If students are unable to take the annual examination due to illness or unforeseen events, the scholarship may be renewed for the following academic year upon submission of a medical certificate or other necessary evidence to the satisfaction of the Head of the Institution.
- Applicants must also provide certification that they would have successfully passed the examination if they had been able to appear in it.
4. Regulations of the university or institution might permit students to advance to a higher class even if they have not technically passed the exams meant for the lower class.
- If such students are later required to retake the examination for the lower class, they can still receive the scholarship for the higher class they’ve been promoted to, provided they meet all other eligibility criteria for the scholarship.
Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities – Other Conditions
- If a student is found to have obtained a scholarship through false statements, the scholarship will be revoked, and the awarded amount may be reclaimed at the discretion of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Government of India. The student will also be blacklisted and permanently barred from receiving any scholarships under any scheme.
- If a scholar changes their subjects in the course of study from the one for which the scholarship was initially awarded, the originally granted scholarship may be cancelled.
- If, during the academic year, a scholar discontinues the studies for which the scholarship was granted, they may be required to refund the scholarship amount, based on the decision of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Government of India.
- Maintenance allowance is disbursed from the 1st of April or from the month of admission, whichever is later, up to the month of conclusion of the examinations, marking the end of the academic year.
- For renewal of scholarship, the maintenance allowance will be disbursed starting from the month immediately following the month in which the scholarship was last paid in the previous year, as long as the course of study remains uninterrupted.
- Scholarship is not provided during the internship/housemanship period in the M.B.B.S. course or during practical training in other courses if the student receives remuneration or an allowance/stipend during these periods.
- The scholarship is contingent upon the satisfactory progress and conduct of the scholar. If the Head of the Institution reports that a scholar is not making satisfactory progress due to their actions or has engaged in misconduct, such as participating in strikes or irregular attendance without permission, the authority can cancel the scholarship. They may also withhold further payments for a specific period as they may deem fit.
Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities – Mode of Scholarship Disbursal
The scholarship scheme will be executed via the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), and the scholarship funds will be directly transferred to the bank account of the beneficiary through the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) system by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities – Monitoring of Application
- The monitoring of the scheme will be done by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, using the National Scholarship Portal as a primary tool.
- The State Government is responsible for maintaining detailed beneficiary lists on the basis of district and category, to support effective implementation.
Note:- For more details about the Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities, kindly refer to this official notification.
Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities – How to Apply?
Steps for filling out the application form of the Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities:
Step 1: Registration as New Users
- First-time applicants need to register with the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
- To begin, they should navigate to the ‘Applicant Corner’ section and select the ‘New Registration’ tab.
- Candidates are required to provide all the necessary information in the registration form and then click on ‘Register’ to complete the registration process.
- Upon successful registration, a unique student application ID and password will be generated, and these details will be sent to the registered mobile number.
Step 2: Logging In to NSP
- After registration, applicants must log in to the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) using the newly generated ID and password.
- An OTP (One-Time Password) will be sent to the registered mobile number in order to change the password for added security.
Step 3: Accessing the Application Form
- Once the password is updated, candidates will be directed to the ‘Applicant’s Dashboard’ page.
- On the Applicant’s Dashboard page, applicants should click on ‘Application Form’ to begin the scholarship application process.
Step 4: Providing Details
- Applicants should provide all the necessary information, including registration and academic details, basic details on personal information, contact , including scheme-specific information.
Step 5: Document Upload
- Applicants should ensure that all the required supporting documents, such as those verifying their identity and academic eligibility, are uploaded as part of the application process.
Step 6: Saving as Draft
- It is recommended for applicants to save the partially filled application form as a draft at various stages of completion.
- This allows them to review every detail and ensure accuracy before final submission.
Step 7: Final Submission
- To complete the scholarship application process, candidates should carefully review all entered information.
- Once satisfied, they can click on the ‘Submit’ button after having reviewed the application form.
Note:- To apply for the Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities through Buddy4study portal, please click here.
Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities – FAQs
What is the objective of the Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities?
The primary objective of the Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities is to empower individuals with disabilities by offering opportunities for higher education. This is in line with their legal entitlement to free education under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. It ensures access to education and support until applicants reach adulthood. This is being actively promoted and implemented by the Government of India.
Who provides the Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities?
The Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities is provided by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disability (DEPwD), Government of India.
What benefits does the Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities offer?
The scheme ‘Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities’ includes three key benefits. They are as follows:
- Maintenance Allowance
- Disability Allowance
- Book Allowance
What are the general eligibility criteria for the Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities?
To qualify under the scheme ‘Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities’, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Applicants should be Indian national
- Applicants should have valid ‘Disability Certificate’ with benchmark disability, 40% or More
It must be noted that only a maximum of two children of the same parents, who are faced with disabilities can avail the benefits under this scholarship scheme. Scholarships are granted for one year per academic level, and recipients cannot concurrently receive other scholarships.
What are the mandatory requirements for the Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities?
Applicants are required to have Aadhaar card or complete the UDID (Unique Disability Identity Card) enrollment process.
Which courses are eligible under the scheme ‘Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities’?
The scholarship covers recognised post-matriculation or post-secondary courses, with certain exceptions. For example, applicants pursuing the same stage of education in a different subject may not become eligible.
How can I apply for the Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities?
The applicants can apply for the scholarship through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), ensuring that they upload all necessary documents in the prescribed format. Additionally, the educational institution the student is enrolled in should also be registered on the portal.
How is the selection process for the Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities conducted?
The selection for the scholarship is based on the percentage of disability mentioned in the disability certificate. In cases where there is a tie in disability percentage, older candidates are given preference. The final selection is made through the National Scholarship Portal.
How long does the Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities last, and how can it be renewed?
The scholarship remains valid until the completion of the course, with annual renewals based on good conduct and regular attendance. Renewals may also be granted if a student faces failure in the initial stages or encounters illness or unforeseen circumstances. This should be supported by appropriate evidence.