Scholarships for EWS Students in India: Eligibility, Benefits and Documents Required

Pursuing higher education can be challenging for students belonging to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) due to increasing academic expenses and limited financial resources. To address this issue, the Government of India, educational institutions and private organisations implement numerous scholarship schemes aimed at providing quality education to eligible EWS students.

Some of the popular scholarships for EWS students in India are National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS), PM YASASVI Schemes for School and College Education, the Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships for College and University Students, and the Post-Matric Scholarship for EBC students. Each scheme follows distinct eligibility criteria, income criteria, selection procedures and fund disbursement structures, which applicants must review carefully before applying.

List of Scholarships for EWS Students in India

1. National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS)

2. PM YASASVI Central Sector Scheme of Top Class Education in Schools for OBC, EBC and DNT Students

3. PM YASASVI Central Sector Scheme of Top Class Education in College for OBC, EBC and DNT Students

4. Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships for College and University Students

5. Post-Matric Scholarship for EBC Students (Economic Backward Classes)

Scholarships for EWS Students in India – Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for EWS scholarships vary across schemes but generally focus on family income limits, academic performance, category requirements, and institutional recognition. Applicants must carefully check scheme-specific conditions before applying to avoid rejection.

National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS)

• The parental income of the student from all sources must not exceed ₹3,50,000 per annum
• The student must have secured a minimum of 55% marks or an equivalent grade in the Class 7 examination
• A 5% relaxation in marks is applicable for SC/ST students
• The student must be studying as a regular student in a government, government-aided or local body school
• Students studying in Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVS), Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVS), and residential schools are not eligible for this scholarship
• Reservation benefits are applicable as per state government norms

PM YASASVI Central Sector Scheme of Top Class Education in Schools for OBC, EBC and DNT Students

• The scheme aims to support meritorious OBC, EBC, and DNT students by funding their education from Class 9 to Class 12
• Only students belonging to OBC, EBC, or DNT categories are eligible to apply
• The student must be studying in a top class school identified under the scheme
• The annual household income must be below ₹2.5 lakh
• Scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit
• The number of scholarships for each state is decided based on the OBC population data

PM YASASVI Central Sector Scheme of Top Class Education in College for OBC, EBC and DNT Students

• The student must belong to OBC, EBC or DNT category with a total annual family income up to ₹2.5 lakh
• The student must have secured admission to a full-time prescribed course in a notified institution
• Scholarships are awarded within the number of slots allotted to the institution and course
• If eligible applicants exceed available slots, scholarships are given to top-ranked students based on merit
• In case of a tie for the last slot, preference is given to the student with lower family income
• If slots remain vacant in the first year, they may be filled by students of higher years based on previous year merit, giving priority to those with more years left to complete the course
• 30% of the total slots are reserved for girl students; if insufficient girls are available, the slots may be given to boys
• The scheme benefit is limited to a maximum of two siblings per family
• Since funds are mainly allocated for OBC students, preference is given to OBC candidates during selection

Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships for College and University Students

• Students must be above the 80th percentile among successful candidates in the relevant stream in Class 12 or equivalent
• The applicant must be pursuing a regular degree course; distance, correspondence, or diploma courses are not eligible
• The course must be pursued at an AICTE-recognised institution or an institution approved by the concerned regulatory body
• The student must not be availing any other scholarship, including state-run scholarships, fee waiver, or reimbursement schemes
• The gross annual family income must not exceed ₹4.5 lakh; an income certificate is required only for fresh applicants
• Students changing their college/institution may continue or renew the scholarship if the course remains the same and the institution has a valid AISHE Code
• Students who missed renewal earlier may apply for renewal in subsequent years on NSP, subject to eligibility
• For renewal, students must secure at least 50% marks and maintain minimum 75% attendance; any indiscipline, criminal activity, or ragging can lead to cancellation of the scholarship
• Applications for fresh and renewal scholarships must be submitted online through the National Scholarship Portal only

Post-Matric Scholarship for EBC Students (Economic Backward Classes)

• The scholarship is open to Indian nationals belonging to the general category (excluding SC, ST, and OBC)
• Employed students with combined family income up to ₹1.00 lakh are eligible for non-refundable fee reimbursement only
• Unemployed students with parental/guardian income up to ₹1.00 lakh are fully eligible under the scheme
• An income certificate issued by a competent authority of the state/UT is mandatory
• The scholarship is applicable for recognized post-matric or post-secondary courses pursued in government institutions only
• Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) and aviation-related courses are not eligible
• Students studying at the same education level in a different subject (e.g., B.A. after B.Com) are not eligible
• Students who have completed one professional course and then pursue another (e.g., LLB after B.Ed) are not eligible
• Students of Class 11 and 12 continuous school courses are not eligible, except those treated as post-matric after Class 10
• Postgraduate medical students are eligible only if they are not allowed to practice during the course
• Students joining professional or technical courses after UG/PG are eligible if otherwise qualified; no course change is allowed
• Correspondence/distance education students are eligible for non-refundable fee reimbursement and an annual ₹900 book allowance
• Only two boys per family can avail the scholarship; no limit applies to girl students
• Students cannot hold another scholarship or stipend simultaneously; one must be chosen and reported to the institution
• Receiving free lodging or book grants from other sources is allowed in addition to this scholarship
• Students receiving government-funded coaching are not eligible for stipends during the coaching period

Also Read: NSP Centrally Funded Scholarships Schemes – Scholarship List, Eligibility and Application Process

Scholarships for EWS Students in India – Benefits

Scholarships for EWS students offer financial support to cover tuition fees, maintenance allowance, academic expenses and other education-related costs. The amount and type of benefits depend on the course level, institution and specific scholarship scheme

National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS)

Under the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS), selected students receive a financial assistance of ₹12,000 per annum

PM YASASVI Central Sector Scheme of Top Class Education in Schools for OBC, EBC and DNT Students

Under this scheme, financial assistance is provided towards tuition fees, hostel charges, and other school-related expenses, with an upper limit of ₹75,000 per year for students studying in Classes 9 and 10 and ₹1,25,000 per year for those in Classes 11 and 12

PM YASASVI Central Sector Scheme of Top Class Education in College for OBC, EBC and DNT Students

• OBC, EBC, and DNT students who secure admission in notified institutions are eligible for scholarships covering full tuition fees and non-refundable charges, subject to a ceiling of ₹2.00 lakh per annum per student for private institutions and ₹3.72 lakh per annum per student for private flying clubs offering Commercial Pilot Training and Type Rating courses
• Eligible students are provided a living expense allowance of ₹3,000 per month
• A book and stationery allowance of ₹5,000 per annum is granted to each student
• A one-time assistance of up to ₹45,000 is provided for the purchase of a latest computer or laptop of a reputed brand, including accessories such as a UPS and printer

Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships for College and University Students

1. Graduation: Students pursuing graduation courses receive a scholarship amount of ₹12,000 per year

2. Post Graduation: Students enrolled in postgraduate courses are provided with a scholarship of ₹20,000 per year

3. Professional Course (5-year / Integrated): Students studying in five-year or integrated professional courses receive ₹12,000 per year during the first to third year and ₹20,000 per year in the fourth and fifth year

4. Technical Course (B.Tech / B.Engg.): Students pursuing technical courses such as B.Tech or B.Engg. are granted ₹12,000 per year for the first to third year, while a scholarship of ₹20,000 is provided only in the fourth year

Post-Matric Scholarship for EBC Students (Economic Backward Classes)

Group A: Students pursuing degree and postgraduate level courses such as Engineering, Medicine, Management, Computer Science, M.Phil., Ph.D., CA/CS/ICWA, and LLM receive a maintenance allowance of ₹750 per month for hostellers and ₹350 per month for day scholars

Group B: Students enrolled in professional and postgraduate courses like Pharmacy, Nursing, LLB, Mass Communication, Hotel Management, Tourism, Interior Design, Banking, Insurance, MA, MSc, MCom, and MEd are given ₹510 per month for hostellers and ₹335 per month for day scholars

Group C: Students studying general graduate courses such as BA, BSc, and BCom receive a maintenance allowance of ₹400 per month for hostellers and ₹210 per month for day scholars

Group D: Students pursuing post-matric non-degree courses like Class 11–12, ITI, and Polytechnic diploma courses are provided ₹260 per month for hostellers and ₹160 per month for day scholars

Also Read: PMSS – Application Dates, Eligibility, Rewards and Registration Process

Documents Required for Scholarships for EWS Students in India

While specific requirements may vary depending on the scholarship and institution, the common documents required in order to apply for scholarships meant for students from the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) are as under:

• Aadhaar Card
• PAN Card
• Voter ID Card
• Passport (if applicable)
• Income Tax Returns (ITR) of the previous year (if applicable)
• Salary slips of the family’s earning members
• Bank statement
• Income certificate issued by a competent authority
• Marksheets of previous examinations (Class 10, 12, etc.)
• Degree certificates
• Admission confirmation letter from the current institution
• A certificate issued by a designated authority, such as a Tehsildar or a Revenue Officer, confirming the family’s annual income.
• Caste certificate (if applicable)
• Disability certificate (if applicable)
• Domicile certificate (if applicable)

Also Read: Scholarship for Top Class Education for Students with Disabilities – Important Dates, Eligibility Criteria and Scholarship Amount

Scholarships for EWS Students in India –  Application Links

Scholarships	Application Link
National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS)	Click Here
PM YASASVI Central Sector Scheme of Top Class Education In Schools for OBC, EBC and DNT Students	Click Here
PM YASASVI Central Sector Scheme of Top Class Education In College for OBC, EBC and DNT Students	Click Here
Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships for College and University Students	Click Here
Post-Matric Scholarship for EBC Students (Economic Backward Classes)	Click Here

FAQs

Who is considered eligible under the EWS scholarships in India?

Students belonging to economically weaker families who meet the income limits prescribed under individual scholarship schemes and meet academic and institutional requirements are considered eligible for different EWS scholarships in India.

Can a student apply for more than one EWS scholarship at the same time?

No, most scholarship schemes do not allow students to avail more than one scholarship simultaneously.

Is an income certificate mandatory for all EWS scholarships?

Yes, an income certificate issued by a competent authority is mandatory for all EWS scholarships in India.

Are students studying in private or distance education institutions eligible for EWS scholarships?

The eligibility criteria varies for each EWS scholarship. While some scholarships allow private institutions students, some scholarships don’t. Thus, students are required to check the eligibility criteria before applying for any scholarship.

Where can students apply for EWS scholarships in India?

Most central government scholarships for EWS students can be applied for online through the National Scholarship Portal, while state-specific schemes have their separate portals.