ST Scholarship is awarded to the students of the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India. The objective of the ST scholarship is to provide financial assistance to these students to complete their studies at both school and college level. Some of the most popular ST scholarships are Pre-matric Scholarship, Post-matric Scholarship, Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship, and Overseas Scholarship.
This article comprises a comprehensive information about each ST scholarship such as its eligibility, award details, selection criteria, etc. Pick the scholarships that match your credentials and apply for them as specified.
Updates: The last date to apply for the National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students – Scholarship (Formally Top Class Education for Schedule Tribe Students) is October 31, 2023.
ST Scholarship – The Complete List
How many ST scholarships are available? When is the right time to apply for an ST scholarship? The following table provides critical information on all the types of scholarships available for ST students in India along with other information like application timeline and number of scholarships. This will help the students to be well informed and prepared before the application deadline.
Complete List of ST Scholarship
| Scholarship Name | Number of Scholarships | Application Timeline* |
| Pre-Matric Scholarship for ST Students | NA | April to June |
| Post-Matric Scholarship for ST Students | NA | April to June |
| National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students | Scholarship – 1,000
Fellowship – 750 |
August and January |
| National Overseas Fellowship for ST Students | 20 | December |
| PG Scholarship for Professional Courses for SC/ST Students | 1,000 | August and January |
*The application timeline mentioned above is tentative and subject to change at the discretion of the scholarship provider.
ST Scholarship – Post-matric scholarship for ST
This ST scholarship is centrally-funded and implemented by the state governments. The students who fulfil the prescribed eligibility criteria for the scholarship can apply. The awards are fully funded by the central government and administered by the state governments. The applications are made online through the national scholarship portal.
Eligibility
- The students who belong to ST category are eligible to apply
- The annual family income should not exceed INR 2 Lakh per annum
- They must be pursuing post-matric and post-secondary courses in recognized Schools/ Institutes/Universities
The scholarship award to the ST students based on the courses they are enrolled into are as follows:
Post-matric ST Scholarship awards
| Courses | Scholarship allowance- Day scholars | Scholarship allowance- Hostellers |
| Group I–
(I) Degree and postgraduate such as MPhil, Ph.D., postdoctoral research in medicine, engineering, technology, planning, architecture etc. (II) Commercial pilot license (III) Postgraduate diploma courses in management and medicine (IV) CA/ICWA/CS/ICFA etc. (V) MPhil, Ph.D., postdoctoral programs (VI) LLM |
INR 1,200 |
INR 500 |
| Group II–
(I) Graduate and postgraduate degree leading to a diploma, degree, and a certificate in Nursing, LLB, BFS etc.
(II) Postgraduate courses not covered in Group I |
INR 820 | INR 530 |
| Group III– all other courses not covered in Group I and II | INR 570 | INR 300 |
| Group IV– Post-matriculation level non-degree courses such as ITI, Polytechnic | INR 380 | INR 230 |
Application process
- The application should be made through the national scholarship portal online
- The candidates should upload the following documents along with the application such as passport size photograph, attested copies of certificates, diploma, degrees, caste certificate & income declaration
ST Scholarship – National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students
This is a central sector scheme that combines the ‘Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF) for ST Students’ and ‘Top Class Education Scheme for ST Students’. Funded by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, this scheme is open to ST students who are pursuing regular and full-time professional courses at graduate/postgraduate level and MPhil/PhD level. A total of 750 slots are available for the fellowship and 1,000 slots for the scholarship.
ST Scholarship – Financial assistance, tenure, and fellowship
The maximum duration of fellowship for candidates pursuing M.Phil. is 2 years or the date of dissertation (whichever is earlier), whereas the maximum duration of fellowship for candidates pursuing a PhD is 5 years or the date of viva-voce (whichever is earlier). However, if a candidate pursues PhD after M.Phil., the fellowship duration will be 5 years (2 years for M.Phil. and 3 years for PhD). The financial assistance offered under the fellowship includes –
ST Scholarships – Fellowship Details
| S.No. | Particulars | Details |
| 1. | Fellowship amount | For M.Phil. – INR 25,000 per month
For PhD – INR 28,000 per month |
| 2. | Annual contingency grant | For M.Phil. – INR 10,000 (For Humanities & Social Sciences) and INR 12,000 (For Science, Engineering & Technology)
For PhD – INR 20,500 (For Humanities & Social Sciences) and INR 25,000 (For Science, Engineering and Technology) |
| 3. | HRA | As per the rules of University/Colleges/Institutions |
| 4. | Escorts/Reader Assistance | INR 2,000 per month for physically handicapped and blind candidates (for all subjects) |
The financial assistance offered under the scholarship includes –
- Full tuition fees and other non-refundable dues with a maximum ceiling of INR 2.5 Lakh per annum
- INR 3,000 per annum for books and stationery
- INR 2,200 per month for living expenses with a maximum ceiling of INR 26,400 per annum
- INR 45,000 as one-time assistance for computer and accessories
Eligibility
Fellowship
- ST students should have passed post-graduation course
- The candidates must be registered for regular and full-time MPhil/PhD courses in Universities/Institutes/Colleges recognized by UGC
- Transgender students are also eligible to apply
Scholarship
- The ST candidates who have taken admission in an institution notified/identified by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs are eligible
- The annual income of their family should be less than INR 6 Lakhs from all sources
Application process
- The applicant needs to make an online application on the national scholarship portal
- The application needs to be filled as specified
- Upload the documents required and submit the form
ST Scholarship – National Overseas Scholarship for ST
The scheme provides financial assistance to students pursuing higher studies at Masters, PhD or postdoctoral level research programmes abroad. There are 20 scholarships awarded to ST students. 30% of total scholarships are allotted to female applicants. The awardees are requested to come to India after finishing the studies. The stay can be extended for a maximum of 2 years with permission from the Indian Government and Indian Mission abroad.
There are 4 passage grants for ST students who are already in receipt of merit scholarship for post-graduate studies, research or training abroad from a foreign government where the cost of passage is not provided.
ST Scholarship – Course and number of scholarships awarded
| S.No | Courses | No of fellowships |
| 1 | Engineering | 7 |
| 2 | Management | |
| 3 | Economic/Finance | |
| 4 | Pure Science | 3
|
| 5 | Applied science | |
| 6 | Agriculture | 5
5 |
| 7 | Medicine | |
| 8 | Humanities & social science | 5 |
Eligibility
- For postdoctoral students- 55% marks in the previous year exam (Masters or PhD) with 5 years of experience in research/training/ professional in the concerned fields
- For PhD students- 55% marks in the previous year exam (Masters) with 2 years of relevant research/training/professional experience in the concerned field
- For master’s candidates, marks secured should not be less than 55% marks in the previous examination
- The candidate’s age should be below 35 years
- The annual family income should be less than INR 6 Lakh per annum
The following table describes information on the maintenance allowance and other benefits prescribed under the scheme:
ST Scholarships – national overseas allowances & other benefits
| Allowances | Other benefits |
| US- annual maintenance allowance is USD 15,400 for all level of courses | Poll tax, visa fees, incidental journey expenses, medical expenses, travel costs etc. |
| UK- annual maintenance allowance is GBP 9,900 for all level of courses |
Application process
- The candidates need to download the relevant form from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs online portal and fill the form. The deadline is generally in December of an academic year (subject to change)
- The following documents should be attached along with the application form: caste certificate, income certificate, and domicile certificate, bank details, Aadhaar number, and passport size photo
ST Scholarship – Pre-matric (Class IX & X) for ST
Pre-matric ST Scholarship will help the pre-matric students of Class IX and X in progressing to their post-matric stage of education and excel in their overall studies. This will help the financially constrained students and also reduce dropouts at this stage. This scholarship will be awarded to the students by the state government in which they are domiciled.
Eligibility
- The students should belong to the ST category
- The annual family income should not exceed INR 2 Lakh per annum
- The students should not get any other funds from other governments
- He/She must be a regular and full-time student of a recognized government school or school recognized by the Government or Central/State Board of Secondary Education
The following table describes the value of scholarship awarded in this scheme to the ST students:
Pre-matric ST Scholarship awards
| Scholarship | Day scholars | Hostellers | Allowance for disabled students- Types | Amount of allowance for disabled students |
| Scholarship for 10 months | INR 150 | INR 350 | Monthly reader allowance | INR 160 |
| Books and ad hoc grants | INR 750 | INR 1,000 | Monthly transport allowance | INR 160 |
| Monthly helper allowance | INR 160 | |||
| Monthly escort allowance | INR 160 | |||
| Monthly helper allowance | INR 160 | |||
| Monthly coaching allowances to retarded students | INR 240 |
Application process
- The students have to apply online on the national scholarship portal website
- The students also need to make sure that the following documents are uploaded: caste certificate, income certificate, and domicile certificate, bank account details, Aadhaar number, and passport size photo
Selection process
All eligible students belonging to ST category can avail this scholarship
ST Scholarship – PG Scholarship for Professional Courses for SC/ST Students
The scholarship is being offered by the University Grants Commission for SC/ST students who are pursuing a postgraduate course in professional subjects. The key objective of the scholarship is to provide financial assistance to deprived students for professional studies. Every year, 1,000 SC/ST category students are provided with financial assistance up to INR 7,800 per month for the duration of their PG course.
Eligibility
- The students must belong to SC/ST category
- They must be pursuing the first year of a professional course at postgraduate level during the current academic year
- They must be studying in any of the following institutions/colleges/universities –
- Universities/Institutions/Colleges included under section 2(f) & and 12(B) of UGC Act
- Deemed to be Universities included under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956 and are eligible to receive grants-in-aid from UGC
- Universities/Institutions/College funded by Central/State Government
- Institutes of National Importance
Awards
- INR 7,800 per month for ME/MTech students
- INR 4,500 per month for other professional courses
Also Read – SC Scholarship- All you need to know