Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Students – Important Dates, Application Process and Eligibility

The last date to apply for the Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Students is October 31, 2025. This deadline is crucial for SC students aspiring to secure financial assistance for pursuing professional and higher education at top institutions across India. 

Launched by the Government of India, the scheme is a transformative initiative designed to reduce financial barriers and empower SC students to achieve academic excellence. It provides full coverage of tuition fees along with an academic allowance to support living expenses, books, and essential resources, enabling students to focus entirely on their education.

Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Students – Important Dates 

Activity	Deadline
Scheme open from	June 2, 2025
Student application open till	October 31, 2025
Defective application verification open till	November 15, 2025
Institute verification open till	November 15, 2025
DNO/SNO/MNO verification open till	November 30, 2025

Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Students – 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:

– SC students 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.

Also Read: National Scholarship Portal 2025

Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Students – Rewards and 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 – 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 – Objectives

The primary objectives of the Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Student scheme are as follows:

– The scheme is aimed at promoting quality education among Scheduled Caste (SC) students by providing financial assistance.

– It supports SC students in pursuing studies beyond the 12th standard.

– For the academic years 2024-25 and 2025-26, the scheme will be implemented across institutions notified by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Students – 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 – Statistics

Number of Available Scholarship Opportunities	Financial Year (FY)
4100	2021-22
4200	2022-23
4300	2023-24
4400	2024-25
4500	2025-26

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

Also Read: Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students 

Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Students – Application Process

The application process for the ‘Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Students’ is fully online, making it accessible to students across the country. The steps to apply are as follows:

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.

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 – FAQs

What is the last date to apply for the scholarship in 2025?

The last date to apply for the Central Sector Scholarship of Top Class Education for SC Students is October 31, 2025. Applications opened on 2 June, 2025, and students are advised to complete the process well before the deadline to avoid last-minute issues. After the deadline, no new applications will be accepted.

Who is eligible to apply for this scholarship?

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.

What expenses are covered under this scholarship?

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. Additionally, students receive an academic allowance of ₹86,000 in the first year and ₹41,000 in every subsequent year to support living expenses, purchase of books, stationery, and a computer or laptop with essential accessories.

How is the scholarship amount disbursed?

The scholarship amount is paid directly to the student’s bank account using the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system by the central government. Students must deposit the tuition fee to their institution immediately after receiving the payment, and in any case, within one month of receipt.

What are the renewal conditions for the scholarship?

The scholarship can be renewed annually if the student clears all subjects in the previous academic year, continues studies in the same course and institution, and maintains the annual family income within the prescribed limit of ₹8 lakh. Renewal applications must be submitted on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) along with proof of academic progress. If a student fails to get promoted to the next semester or class, the scholarship is discontinued and resumes only when the student is promoted.

Is there any reservation for girl students under this scheme?

Yes, 30% of the total slots in each institution are reserved for eligible SC girl students. These slots are filled based on inter-se merit. If there are not enough eligible girl students, the slots may be transferred to male candidates. However, if a girl student secures a position in the overall merit list, she will not be counted within the reserved 30 percent quota.

Can more than two siblings from the same family benefit from the scheme?

No. A maximum of two siblings from the same family can avail benefits under this scholarship scheme. Students applying must submit an affidavit confirming that they are not the third sibling seeking benefits under this scheme.