EligibilityDeadline Date: 26-Feb-2026
To be eligible, a candidate must:-
- be a domicile of Odisha
- be admitted to an educational institution recognised by the regulatory authorities, such as AICTE, MCI, and UGC, etc.
- have an annual family income of less than ₹8,00,000 from all sources
- have passed Class 12 from Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE), Odisha or equivalent exam from an institution recognised by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)/Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) OR
- have completed a three-year degree or equivalent 3-year course (only for master's course) with 55% or more marks
- be pursuing regular technical/professional courses in any of the recognised colleges/institutes/universities
Note:-
- Undergraduate and postgraduate professional degree programs and integrated courses, including B.E./B.Tech, MBBS, BDA, BHMS, BAMS, B.Pharma, B.Sc. (Nursing), B.Sc. (Agriculture), MBA, MCA, M.Tech, Integrated M.Sc., and other courses recognised by regulatory bodies like AICTE, MCI, DCI, CCIM, CCH, INC, UGC, etc., are applicable under this scheme.
- Students must apply for the scholarship in the first year of the degree course.
- For a list of eligible courses under this scholarship scheme, kindly refer to Appendix II in the 'Guidelines'.
- The following students are ineligible for this scholarship:
- Students enrolled in open universities or pursuing higher education through distance learning or correspondence courses.
- Students who are already receiving scholarships under any other state/central government schemes
- Students enrolled in diploma courses
- Students enrolled in M.Phil, PhD, B.Ed. and M.Ed. degrees
- Students pursuing their education abroad
- Students who have already completed one technical/professional course but are taking admission to another course at the same level
- Students who fail to receive validation from their respective principal or educational institution
Benefits
The selected candidates will receive ₹20,000 per year.
Documents
- Aadhaar card
- Aadhaar-seeded bank account details
- Domicile certificate issued by a competent authority, specifically Tahasildar or Additional Tahasildar
- Family income certificate issued by a Revenue Officer (RO), not below the rank of Tahasildar or Additional Tahasildar
- Transcripts/marksheets of the last qualifying examination
- College/institute ID card (Note:- If unavailable, a Letter of Undertaking authenticated by the concerned educational institution specifying the academic session, course, name, duration, and the student's roll or registration number may suffice)
How can you apply?
Eligible applicants can apply by following these steps:-
Step 1: Click on the 'Apply Now' button.
Step 2: Click on the 'Register' button and fill in the required details to register. (Note: If already registered, log in using Gmail/Mobile number/Email ID)
Step 3: Navigate to the respective scholarship tab and click on the 'Apply Now' button.
Step 4: Click on the 'Register Here' under the 'Sign In' button. (Note:- The applicants who are already registered can log in using valid credentials)
Step 5: Read all the instructions carefully, tick the terms and conditions, and click on 'Proceed' to continue.
Step 6: Provide the Aadhaar number and verify it to register.
Step 7: Once registered successfully, log in to the portal.
Step 8: Fill in the application form, upload photos and necessary documents, and click on the 'Apply' button to complete the process.
Important Dates
Application Deadline: 26 February 2026
Selection Criteria
The candidates will be selected based on the following criteria:-
- The aggregate percentage of marks obtained in the last qualifying examination
- This will be done for each merit category, district-wise and block-wise.
- The selection process will be executed in descending order of academic merit until the allocated scholarship quota is reached.
Note:- In case of a tie, students with lower annual household income will be given preference.
Important documents
Terms and Conditions
- If an exceptionally meritorious student, who falls within the merit list of their first year of admission, fails to apply for the undergraduate merit scholarship during their first year of admission. They may be entertained in the second year or any subsequent year, provided there are available vacancies for the respective academic year (first year's admission).
- Once awarded, the scholarship will be automatically renewed on an annual basis for the duration of the course, facilitated by transferring the scholarship information to the education institution for validation of the student's continued enrolment in subsequent years.
Note:- For detailed information, kindly refer to the 'Guidelines' document.
Important Links
Apply online link
Media Link
FAQ's
Question: Who is offering this opportunity?
Answer: The Department of Higher Education, Government of Odisha, is offering this scholarship.
Question: Are there extra benefits for disabled students?
Answer: All selected candidates will receive equal benefits.
Question: What is the mode of application?
Answer: The application is online through the official government portal.