Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Students 2026-27 – Important Dates
Students applying for this scheme must complete their NSP application within the given timeline. They should also keep track of verification deadlines to avoid delays in application processing.
Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Students 2026-27 – Important Deadlines
| Event | Official Deadline |
| Scheme open from | June 1, 2026 |
| Student application open till | October 31, 2026 |
| Defective application verification open till | November 15, 2026 |
| Institute verification open till | November 15, 2026 |
| DNO/SNO/MNO verification open till | November 30, 2026 |
Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Students 2026-27 – Eligibility Criteria
To become a recipient of the Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Student scheme, the applicant needs to fulfil a number of eligibility criteria:
- Students belonging to SC category, with a total annual family income up to ₹8 lakh are eligible. The income certificate must be issued by a revenue officer not below the rank of Tehsildar.
- First year students enrolled in a full-time prescribed course at a notified institution.
- A maximum of two siblings from the same family can benefit under this scheme. Students must submit an affidavit confirming they are not the third sibling availing the benefit.
- 30% of the slots in each institution are reserved for eligible SC girl students, based on merit.
Note: If sufficient girl students are not available, the slots may be transferred to boy students. Girl students selected in the overall merit list will not be counted within the 30% reserved quota.
Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Students 2026-27 – Benefits
Here are the rewards and benefits of the scholarship, designed to support SC students in covering tuition, academic needs, and living expenses:
- Full tuition fees and non-refundable charges of up to ₹2,00,000 per year for private institutions.
- Academic allowance: ₹86,000 in the first year and ₹41,000 in subsequent years for living expenses, books, stationery, and a computer/laptop with accessories.
Note: Scholarship payments start once the student secures admission and classes begin. Tuition fees, other charges, and academic allowance are paid directly to students via Direct Benefit Transfer, and students must deposit the fees to their institute within one month of receiving the payment.
Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Students 2026-27 – Application Process
Step 1: Visit the official website of NSP.
Step 2: Register yourself on NSP if you haven’t already.
Step 3: Click on the “Student” tab present in the homepage.
Step 4: On the page that appears, click on the “Apply for scholarship- Login” button.
Step 5: Login using your details.
Step 6: In the page that appears after, select the “Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Students” option and enter the required details.
Step 7: Click on the “Apply” button to successfully complete the application.
Also Read: National Scholarship Portal
Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Students – Documents Required
To complete the application on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), applicants must upload the following documents:
- SC caste certificate
- Family income certificate issued by a competent authority
- Admission letter from the institution
- Previous academic qualification certificates
- Bank account details for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
- Aadhaar card or any other valid identity proof
Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Students 2026-27 – Institutes-Wise Slots
| Institute Category | Number of Colleges | Slots |
| IITs | 23 | 250 |
| NITs | 31 | 364 |
| IIITs | 25 | 235 |
| IIMs | 21 | 216 |
| NLUs | 20 | 112 |
| Agriculture and Allied Science Institutions | 22 | 71 |
| Fashion Institutions | 22 | 68 |
| Hospitality Institutions | 24 | 57 |
| National Institutes (Dealing with Various Disabilities) | 6 | 12 |
| Flying Training Institute (IGRUA) | 1 | 3 |
| Other Central government institutions | 32 | 153 |
| Other Government Institutions | 19 | 136 |
| Government institute of engineering & IT | 4 | 44 |
| Private institutions | 11 | 75 |
| Miscellaneous | 16 | 48 |
Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Students 2026-27 – Renewal of Scholarship
The Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Students can be renewed each academic year if the student continues to meet the eligibility criteria. Renewal conditions include:
- If a student changes their institution/college after selection, the scholarship will be discontinued.
- The student must have cleared all subjects in the previous academic year.
- The student should continue studying in the same course and at the same institution.
- Annual family income must remain below ₹8 lakh.
Students must apply for renewal through the National Scholarship Portal and submit proof of academic progress to continue receiving the scholarship benefits.
Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Students 2026-27 – Statistics
| Number of Available Scholarship Opportunities | Financial Year (FY) |
| 4100 | 2021-22 |
| 4200 | 2022-23 |
| 4300 | 2023-24 |
| 4400 | 2024-25 |
| 4500 | 2025-26 |
| 4600 (Tentative)* | 2026-27 |
*The tentative number of fresh slots are indicated in the following table which can be increased with the approval of the selection committee in the event of increasing demands for fresh slots by the existing or prospective empanelled institutes and availability of funds:
Central Sector Scholarship – Number of Fresh Scholarship Opportunities
| Number of Fresh Scholarship Opportunities | Financial Year (FY) |
| 1500 | 2021-22 |
| 1600 | 2022-23 |
| 1700 | 2023-24 |
| 1800 | 2024-25 |
| 1900 | 2025-26 |
| 2000 (Tentative) | 2026-27 |
Also Read: Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students
Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Students – FAQs
[sc_fs_multi_faq_headline-0=”h3″ question-0=”What is the last date to apply for the Top Class Education Scholarship for SC Students in 2026?” answer-0=”Applications for the 2026-27 cycle opened on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) on June 01, 2026, and the current deadline to apply is October 31, 2026. Institute verification typically follows within a few weeks of the closing date. Since NSP deadlines are occasionally extended, students should check scholarships.gov.in or bookmark this page for the latest update.” image-0=””headline-1=”h3″ question-1=” Who is eligible for this scholarship?” answer-1=”To be eligible, the applicant must belong to the Scheduled Caste (SC) category, have a total annual family income not exceeding ₹8 lakh from all sources, and secure admission in a full-time prescribed course at a notified institution based on the institution’s general admission criteria. Fresh scholarships are awarded only to students entering the first year of their course — second, third or fourth-year students cannot apply as fresh applicants, though existing beneficiaries can apply for renewal.” image-1=””headline-2=”h3″ question-2=”What documents are required to apply?” answer-2=”Applicants typically need an Aadhaar card, SC caste certificate, income certificate (issued by a competent revenue authority, generally not below the rank of Tehsildar), proof of admission/admission rank letter from the institution, fee structure or fee demand details, and an Aadhaar-linked bank account for receiving the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Exact document requirements should be confirmed on the NSP portal at the time of application.” image-2=””headline-3=”h3″ question-3=”What expenses are covered under this scholarship, and how much will I get?” answer-3=”The scholarship covers tuition and academic-related expenses. Tuition fees and non-refundable charges are covered up to ₹2,00,000 per year for private institutions (full tuition fee for government/central institutions). Additionally, students receive an academic allowance of ₹86,000 in the first year and ₹41,000 in every subsequent year to support living expenses, books, stationery, and a computer/laptop with essential accessories.” image-3=””
headline-4=”h3″ question-4=”How can I apply for the Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Students?” answer-4=”Students can apply through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) at www.scholarships.gov.in. First, complete the One-Time Registration (OTR); then log in, select ‘Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Students’, fill in personal, academic and bank details, upload the required documents (income certificate, caste certificate, admission proof, fee details), and submit. The institution then verifies the application before it is forwarded for approval.” image-4=””count=”2″ html=”true” css_class=””]
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