Scholarships for Low-Income Students – In the past, students from low-income families faced challenges when it came to pursuing higher education. The cost of high school and college education was a burden they couldn’t easily bear. However, times have changed, and now there are scholarships for low-income students available from different educational institutions.
The government has also stepped in to support talented individuals who lack financial resources. All one needs to do is apply for these grants before the deadline and meet the eligibility criteria. These opportunities make higher education achievable for those who have the talent but lack the financial means.
These scholarships play a pivotal role in breaking down financial barriers and enabling access to higher education for deserving students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
This article highlights some essential scholarships available in India for low-income students, providing details about each programme.
Scholarships for Low-Income Students – Detailed List
K. C. Mahindra Scholarships for Post-Graduate Studies Abroad
About
The K. C. Mahindra Scholarships for Post-Graduate Studies Abroad is one of the merit-based scholarships for low-income students who have been accepted into a postgraduate program at a reputable foreign university. The scholarships are funded by the K. C. Mahindra Education Trust, a charitable organization that was founded in 1956 by K. C. Mahindra, the founder of the Mahindra Group.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must have a First Class degree or an equivalent diploma from a recognized university.
- The scholarship is open to Indian candidates.
- Applicants must have secured admission or applied for admission in reputable foreign universities.
Scholarship Amount
- Top 3 K.C. Mahindra Fellows receive a maximum scholarship of INR 10 lakh per scholar.
- Successful applicants, excluding the top 3, are eligible for a maximum scholarship of INR 5 lakh per scholar.
Application Period
The application period for K. C. Mahindra Scholarships for Post-Graduate Studies Abroad may vary each year. However, the application for the academic year 2023 has already closed. The deadline to apply was March 31, 2023.
Mahindra All India Talent Scholarship (MAITS)
About
The Mahindra All India Talent Scholarship is another one of the scholarships for low-income students and is funded by the K. C. Mahindra Education Trust. It aims to assist students from economically disadvantaged families in pursuing job-oriented diploma courses at recognized Government Polytechnics in India.
Eligibility Criteria
- Academic Qualification: The candidate should have successfully passed the SSC/HSC or equivalent examinations in the 10th/12th standard with a minimum of 60% marks.
- Admission to a Recognized Polytechnic Institute: The candidate should have secured admission to a government or any other recognized Polytechnic Institute for a diploma course.
- Low Family Income: The candidate should belong to a family with a low yearly income. Specific income criteria may be provided by the scholarship program, and applicants need to meet the requirements accordingly.
Scholarship Amount and Duration
- Scholarship Amount per Annum – INR 10,000/-
- Maximum Duration of Scholarship – 3 years
Application Period
The application process for the Mahindra All India Talent Scholarship (MAITS) will start in August 2023.
National Means Cum Merit Scholarship (NMMSS)
About
The National Means Cum Merit Scholarship (NMMSS) is one of the prestigious scholarships for low-income students initiated by the Government of India under the Department of School Education & Literacy. It aims to support meritorious students from economically weaker sections of society and promote educational access and reduce the financial burden for deserving students pursuing secondary education.
Eligibility Criteria
- The candidate must be a regular student studying in class VIII after getting a clear promotion from class VII with a score of at least 55% or equivalent grades.
- The candidate must be pursuing education from Government/Local Body/Government-aided schools.
- The candidate’s annual family income should not be more than INR 3.5 lakh.
- The candidate can belong to any of the following categories: General, SC/ST, OBC and PwD.
Scholarship Amount and Duration
- Class 8 – INR 12,000/- per annum
- Class 9 – INR 12,000/- per annum
- Class 10 – INR 12,000/- per annum
- Class 11 – INR 12,000/- per annum
- Class 12 -INR 12,000/- per annum
Application Period
The application period for the National Means Cum Merit Scholarship (NMMSS) for the academic year 2023-2024 has not yet started. The application period is usually announced in the month of August and the deadline to apply is in the month of October. The application process is conducted online through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Yojana
About
The Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Yojana is one of the Indian Government funded scholarships for low-income students. It was launched by the Government of India in 2015. The scheme aims to provide financial assistance to meritorious students from economically weaker sections to pursue higher education.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the PM-USP scholarship, students must meet the following criteria:
- Students must belong to the top 80th percentile of successful candidates in the relevant stream as determined by their respective Board of Examination in Class XII of the 10+2 pattern or equivalent.
- They should be pursuing regular degree courses and not correspondence or distance mode or diploma courses.
- The courses must be offered by colleges/institutions recognized by the All India Council for Technical Education and respective Regulatory Bodies concerned.
- Applicants should not be benefiting from any other scholarship schemes, including state-run scholarship schemes or fee waiver and reimbursement schemes.
- Students with a gross parental/family income of up to INR 4.5 lakh per annum are eligible for the scholarship. Income certificate is required only for fresh applicants.
- In case a student changes his/her course or institution, he/she needs to inform the authority concerned regarding the same.
Scholarship Amount and Duration
- Graduation level: INR 12,000/- per annum for the first three years.
- Postgraduate level: INR 20,000/- per annum.
- Students pursuing professional courses: INR 20,000/- per annum in the 4th and 5th year, if the duration of the course is 5 years/Integrated course. INR 12,000 p.a. for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd year and INR 20,000 in the 4th year, if the student is pursuing a technical course such as B.Tech. or B.Engg.
Application Period
The application period for the PM-USP scholarship is usually from January to March of each year. The application process is conducted online through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
Swami Dayanand Education Foundation (SDEF) Scholarship – India
About
Swami Dayanand Education Foundation (SDEF) Scholarship – India is one of the scholarships for low-income students offered by the Swami Dayanand Education Foundation (SDEF). The scholarship is open to economically weak students from India who are pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate degrees in engineering, medical, or other professional courses.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the SDEF SCHOLARSHIP-INDIA, students must:
- Be a citizen of India.
- Be a regular student pursuing an undergraduate or postgraduate degree from a recognized institution.
- Have a family income of less than INR 6 lakh per annum.
- Obtain at least 75% marks in the qualifying examination.
- Have a good academic record.
Scholarship Amount and Duration
- Scholarship amount: INR 50,000/- per annum
- Renewable for a maximum period of 4 years
Application Period
The application period for the Swami Dayanand Education Foundation (SDEF) Scholarship – India is usually from January to March of each year. The application process is conducted online through the SDEF website.
Azim Premji University Undergraduate Scholarship
About
The Azim Premji University Undergraduate Scholarship is one of the scholarships for low-income students which aims to offer financial assistance to individuals pursuing higher education. This scholarship program provides monthly financial aid to students, enabling them to sustain their educational journey. It is administered by the Azim Premji Foundation.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to apply for the scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- The applicant should have successfully completed or appeared for the 12th board exams.
- The applicant’s age should not exceed 19 years as of July 1, 2019.
- The annual family income should not exceed INR 12 lakh.
- A minimum of 50% marks should have been obtained in the class 12th board exams.
- Applicants who are in the process of appearing for their final examinations by June 2019 are also eligible to apply.
Scholarship Amount and Duration
- Students with an annual family income of less than INR 4 lakh will receive a 100% fee waiver.
- Students with an annual family income of INR 4 lakh to 8 lakh will receive a 75% fee waiver.
- Students with an annual family income of INR 8 lakh to INR 10 lakh will receive a 50% fee waiver.
- Students with an annual family income of INR 10 lakh to INR 15 lakh will receive a 25% fee waiver.
- Students with an annual family income of more than INR 15 lakh will not be eligible for a fee waiver.
Application Period
The application period for the Azim Premji Foundation Scholarship is February 1 to March 15 of each year. The application process is conducted online through the Azim Premji Foundation website.
Baba Gurbachan Singh Scholarship Scheme
About
The Baba Gurbachan Singh Scholarship Scheme is one of the scholarships for low-income students that is offered by the Sant Nirankari Mandal to individuals who are pursuing diploma or degree courses from recognized universities in India.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Baba Gurbachan Singh Scholarship Scheme, students must meet the following criteria:
- They must be regular students pursuing a diploma or degree course from a recognized university or educational institution in India.
- Their annual family income must not exceed INR 3.50 lakh.
- They must have secured at least 60% marks in the Class 10 or Class 12 examination.
- They must not have been detained by the institution or failed an examination or penalized by the institution on the grounds of indiscipline.
- They must not be in receipt of any similar scholarship.
Scholarship Amount/Duration
- INR 50,000 per annum
Application Period
The application period for the Baba Gurbachan Singh Scholarship Scheme is usually from November to December of each year. The application process is conducted online through the Sant Nirankari Mandal website.
Scholarships for Low-Income Students – Official Websites
| Scholarships for Low-Income Students | Websites |
| K. C. Mahindra Scholarships for Post-Graduate Studies Abroad | kcmet.org/what-we-do-Scholarship-Grants.aspx |
| Mahindra All India Talent Scholarship (MAITS) | kcmet.org/what-we-do-Scholarship-Grants.aspx |
| National Means Cum Merit Scholarship (NMMSS) | scholarships.gov.in |
| Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Yojana | scholarships.gov.in |
| Swami Dayanand Education Foundation (SDEF) Scholarship – India | swamidayanand.org/scholarship-india |
| Azim Premji Foundation Scholarship | azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/undergraduate/fees-financial-aid |
| Baba Gurbachan Singh Scholarship Scheme | nirankari.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Baba-Gurbachan-Singh-Scholarship-Scheme-2022-23.pdf |
Scholarships for Low-Income Students – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Where can low-income students find government-funded scholarships?
Government-funded scholarships for low-income students can be found on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
What is the National Scholarship Portal (NSP)?
The National Scholarships Portal is a government platform that offers a one-stop solution for various services related to scholarships for low-income students. It facilitates the entire process, starting from student applications to the receipt, processing, sanction, and disbursal of scholarships to students.
What is the application fee for the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Yojana?
The Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Yojana is one of the scholarships for low-income students which does not have any application fee. Applicants can submit their applications for the scholarship without incurring any charges.
What is the scholarship amount for the National Means Cum Merit Scholarship (NMMSS)?
The scholarship amount for the National Means Cum Merit Scholarship (NMMSS) is INR 12,000/- per annum (INR 1000/- per month) per student. It is one of the scholarships for low-income students which is awarded to individuals who are studying in classes IX to XII in Government, Government aided schools.