Scholarships » Scholarships in India – Merit Scholarships, Means Scholarships, Talent Scholarships
by Shruti Pandey
Scholarships in India – Did you know thousands of crores worth of scholarships in India are available for both meritorious and underprivileged students? Probably not. With the rapidly increasing cost of education, a number of capable students are unable to fulfil their aspirations of higher studies. In fact, according to a report by the Institute for Policy Research Studies (PRS), New Delhi, the percentage of students enrolled in class 10th is 77% while the percentage of students enrolled in class 11 is limited to 52%. This clearly depicts the drop-out of students from class 10th to 11th and makes the need for scholarships in India critical and compelling for them.
To deal with this drop-out situation, the government and various other public as well as private organizations, have come up with suitable aids to meet their financial needs. You are open to a wide variety of scholarships for continuing your education such as merit-based, means-based, talent-based sports-based etc. You can explore details about all types of scholarships below. However, before heading to the list of such scholarships, you should be aware of some common myths about scholarships in India.
Latest Update: The last date to apply for NSP scholarships 2022-23 is 31st October 2022 and 30th September 2022.
Scholarships in India – Myths
The realm of scholarships is full of misconceptions. Some of the most common myths about scholarships in India are:
- Scholarships are available only for students belonging to economically backward classes or underserved sections of society.
- Only meritorious students are eligible to get a scholarship.
- The amount of scholarship that a student receives is not worth your efforts.
- Applying for a scholarship is a tedious task and involves you to follow too many guidelines.
- You can apply for only one scholarship.
However, when it comes to reality about scholarships in India, the following facts count –
- The realm of scholarships in India is very vast which are applicable to students of all classes, castes, creeds, categories and gender.
- Scholarships primarily aim at supporting education. Thus, a variety of scholarships are available to meet the custom needs of students namely, merit-based, means-based, talent-based, merit-cum-means based, sports-based etc.
- When it comes to education, every small or big effort that you make to get easy access to education counts.
- With the advent of technology, the application process has become more convenient and easier.
- You can apply for as many scholarships as you want to but can avail of only one. This condition of availing of a scholarship may vary from provider to provider.
Scholarships in India – Merit-based scholarships
What do you understand by merit-based scholarships? The scholarships which are disbursed on the basis of a student’s academic merit are broadly categorized under the merit-based scholarships section. Now the question arises, how will you identify such scholarships out of the thousands of options available? To make it easier for you, here is a selective list of some renowned merit-based scholarships announced every year.
So, if you are among the top rankers of your class, and looking for a scholarship to fund your education further, this list of merit-based scholarships available in India is positively going to help you.
List of merit-based scholarships in India
| S.No. | Scholarship Name | Applicable For | Application Period* |
| 1. | Swami Dayanand College Scholarship for Delhi/NCR | Class 12th passed students with minimum 85% marks | November to December |
| 2. | Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme for Central Armed Police Forces and Assam Rifles | Students willing to pursue a professional program in graduation or postgraduation | August to December |
| 3. | SOF Scholarship of Excellence in English (S.E.E) | Students of class 1 to 10 | July to December |
| 4. | Students for final year BE/BTech degree in Civil/Electrical Engineering | November to December | |
| 5. | INSPIRE Scholarship For Higher Education (SHE) | Class 12 passed students pursuing BSc/BS/MS/Int. MSc course | November to December |
| 6. | Siemens Scholarship Program | 1st year govt. college B. Tech students | June to August |
| 7. | Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY) | Class 11, 12 (PCM/B), BSc 1st year, Int. MSc 1st year students | June to August |
| 8. | 11th All India Maths Science (AIMS) Talent Examination | Students of class 1 to 10th | July to August |
| 9. | Dhirubhai Ambani Scholarship Programme | Class 12th passed students | June to August |
| 10. | National Scholarship Exam | School students of class 5 to 12 and diploma/degree students | April to September |
| 11. | BTSE Bihar Talent Search Examination | Students of class 7th to 10th | June to August |
| 12. | National Science Concours (NSC) | Students of class 6th to 12th | July to November |
| 13. | Citizens up to 68 years of age | Always Open | |
| 14. | Nagaland State Merit Scholarship | Class 11th to Post Graduate | May to July |
| 15. | JM Sethia Merit Scholarship Scheme | Students enrolled in class 9 to 12, Graduation, Postgraduation | May to July |
| 16. | JSPN Scholarship | Class 11th to graduation | May to July |
| 17. | SIA Youth Scholarship in Singapore | Class 10th passed students | June to July |
| 18. | A-STAR India Youth Scholarship | Class 8th passed students | June to July |
| 19. | NBHM Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies in Mathematics | Graduates in Mathematics or students enrolled/pursuing PG in Mathematics | June to July |
| 20. | J N Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship | Graduates/final year undergraduates | December to March |
| 21. | G.P. Birla Education Foundation Scholarship | Class 12th pass students from West Bengal | May to July |
| 22. | Bighelp National Merit Scholarship | Class 10th passed students | April to June |
| 23. | RGIPT M. Tech Fellowship | B. Tech/BE | March to June |
| 24. | KSCSTE Prathibha Scholarship Programme | Class 12th passedstudents (Science) | December to January |
| 25. | Abdul Kalam Technology Innovation National Fellowship | Professionals working in the Engineering profession in public-funded institutions | April to August |
*The application period mentioned is tentative which may change at the discretion of the scholarship-providing authorities.
Also Read: MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS – ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
Scholarships in India – Means-based scholarships
Scholarships are also broadly categorized into means-based scholarships which are disbursed to students after considering their financial needs. Yes, there are some scholarships in India that are specifically meant for students coming from economically backward classes. The major factor that determines whether a student is eligible for such scholarships is the annual family income of the family.
Explore some of the most popular means-based scholarships in the list provided below. This list can give you an awareness of what are the scholarships that fulfil your financial need in pursuit of education.
List of means-based scholarships in India
| S.No. | Scholarship Name | Applicable For | Application Period* |
| 1. | Pre-Matric Scholarships Scheme for Minorities | Students of class 1st to 10th | August to September |
| 2. | Post Matric Scholarships Scheme for Minorities | Students of Class 11th to PhD | August to September |
| 3. | HDFC Educational Crisis Scholarship | Students of class 6 to 12 / undergraduates/ postgraduates | June to August |
| 4. | Financial Assistance for Education of the Wards of Beedi/Cine/IOMC/LSDM Workers – Pre-Matric | Students of class 1st to 10th | August to October |
| 5. | Financial Assistance for Education of the Wards of Beedi/Cine/IOMC/LSDM Workers – Post-Matric | Class 11th to post-graduation including diploma | August to October |
| 6. | Dr. Ambedkar Post Matric Scholarship for Economically Backward Classes (EBC), Tripura | Class 11th to post-graduation | November to January |
| 7. | National Overseas Scholarship for SC Students | SC, Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Landless Agricultural Labourers and Traditional Artisans | April to May |
| 8. | AMP Higher Education Scholarship Fund | Muslim students pursuing graduation | May to July |
| 9. | SHDF Scholarships | Students pursuing diploma, degree or postgraduate degree | June to August |
| 10. | MBA applicants | June to August | |
| 11. | IDFC First MBA Scholarship | 1st year MBA Students (India) | July |
| 12. | The G.S.B Scholarship | Students from class 5 to graduate level | July to October |
| 13. | Azim Premji University Undergraduate Scholarship | Bachelor’s degree applicants | March to April |
| 14. | Nurturing Talent Programme | Class 5th passed students | February to April |
| 15. | Joining Hands Higher Education Scholarship Program | Undergraduate and postgraduate applicants | March to April |
| 16. | Padala Charitable Trust Scholarship | Class 11th, 12th, diploma and graduate students | March to May |
| 17. | Kind Circle Meritorious Scholarship | Students studying in Class 9 to 12, Graduation or Vocational programs (all years) | January to March |
| 18. | Jauhar National Fellowship | Muslim minority students (UG and PG) | September to November |
| 19. | Harvard Need Blind Scholarship | Undergraduates of Harvard University | December to February |
| 20. | AICTE-Saksham Scholarship Scheme | Differently-abled students | October to December |
| 21. | Loan for Professional/Educational/Training Courses to Disabled Persons | Candidates with 40% or more disability | Runs all through the year |
| 22. | Dr. Radha Krishnan Scholarship, HP Board of School Education | Class 10th/12th passed students | December to January |
| 23. | Medley Pharma Scholarship | Class 10th passed onwards | October to December |
| 24. | Sindhutai Sapakal Scheme for Educating Orphans and Children with Special Needs | Class 1st to post-graduation | October to December |
| 25. | Sitaram Jindal Foundation Scholarship | Class 11th to post-graduation | Runs all through the year |
*The application period mentioned is tentative which may change at the discretion of the scholarship-providing authorities.
Also Read:MEANS SCHOLARSHIP – ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
Scholarships in India – Merit-cum-means based scholarships
A merit-cum-means based scholarship is a collective term for scholarships that take both the academic merit and the financial need of the student into consideration for disbursal. When do these scholarships become live every year? Who can apply for these scholarships? Which are courses covered in such scholarships? Find the answer to all these questions in the list given below which contains the some of most prominent merit-cum-means based scholarships in India.
List of merit-cum-means based scholarships in India
| S.No. | Scholarship Name | Applicable For | Application Period* |
| 1. | LIC HFL Vidhyadhan Scholarship | Students of Class 8 to postgraduation | November to December |
| 2. | Merit Cum Means Scholarship for Professional and Technical Courses CS (Minorities) | Students pursuing Professional and technical course | August to September |
| 3. | Keep India Smiling Foundational Scholarship Programme | Meritorious and deserving students | July to January |
| 4. | North South Foundation (NSF) Scholarship | Class 12th passed students | July to September |
| 5. | Nirankari Rajmata Scholarship Scheme | Class 12th passed and graduate students | July to September |
| 6. | IndusInd Foundation Merit-cum-Means Scholarship | Class 12th passed students | July to September |
| 7. | Baba Gurbachan Singh Scholarship Scheme | 1st-year degree/diploma students | July to September |
| 8. | Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students | Class 12th passed students | August to October |
| 9. | Nurture Merit cum Means Scholarship | Students pursuing graduation | June to December |
| 10. | Vidyadhan Scholarship Program | Class 10th passed students | May to July |
| 11. | Shubh Aarambh Scholarship | Class 12th passed students | May to August |
| 12. | LIC Golden Jubilee Scholarship | Class 12th passed students pursuing UG/Vocational courses | November to December |
| 13. | Nirmaan Scholarship and Mentorship Program (NSMP) | Students who’ve passed class 12th | May to July |
| 14. | Early Success Merit cum Means Scholarship | Students studying in class 6 to class 12 | May to July |
| 15. | DAIICT Admission Cum Scholarship | Class 12th passed or appearing students | April to July |
| 16. | Ryan Merit cum Means Scholarship | Students studying in Classes 8 to 12 | April to June |
| 17. | SRM University Socio-Economic Scholarships | Students applying for an undergraduate course at SRM University | March to June |
| 18. | Inspire Merit cum Means Scholarship | Students pursuing graduation | March to June |
| 19. | National Means Cum Merit Scholarship | Class 9th students | August to October |
| 20. | Swami Vivekananda Merit Cum Means Scholarship for Minorities (West Bengal) | Class 11 onwards students | December to January |
| 21. | KEI High school Scholarship Program | Students studying in class 9 | January to March |
| 22. | Schindler Igniting Minds Scholarship Program | Class 10th/12th passed students pursuing diploma courses | January to March |
| 23. | Foundation for Excellence Scholarship | Students enrolling in BE/B.Tech and MBBS degree program | October to December |
| 24. | Federal Bank Hormis Memorial Foundation Scholarships | MBBS, B.E/B.Tech, B.Sc(Agri/Nursing) MBA Students | September to December |
| 25. | South Indian Bank (SIB) Scholarship Scheme | Undergraduates belonging to economically backward families of Kerala | September to October |
*The application period mentioned is tentative which may change at the discretion of the scholarship-providing authorities.
Also Read:MCM SCHOLARSHIP – KNOW ALL ABOUT MERIT CUM MEANS SCHOLARSHIP
Scholarships in India – Talent-based scholarships
Are you into the stream of music, art or dance? Are you looking for custom scholarships to fund your education in a talent-based field? If yes, there are several talent-based scholarships in India that will probably give you wings to fulfil your career ambition. Whether you want to become an artist, a musician or a dancer, you can opt for talent-based scholarships for your benefit’s sake.
Know which are the talent-based scholarships in India that you can avail from the list given below. It carries the names of some of the renowned scholarships based on talent.
List of talent-based scholarships in India
| S.No. | Scholarship Name | Applicable For | Application Period* |
| 1. | GEMS Genius Scholarship | School students | July to August |
| 2. | Cultural Talent Search Scholarship Scheme | Students in the age group of 10-14 years | November to January |
| 3. | Toto Music Award | Young and talented applicants under 30 years of age | June to August |
| 4. | National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement | Students between 5 to 18 years of age | June to August |
| 5. | Kalakriti Fellowship | Young artists of age 25 to 40 years | Runs all through the year |
| 6. | Madhobi Chatterji Memorial Fellowship | Young artists from any genre of Indian Classical Music or Dance | Runs all through the year |
| 7. | Mani Mann Fellowship | Young musicians of 25 to 40 years | Runs all through the year |
| 8. | Young Artistes Scholarship | Young artists between 18 and 25 years of age | September to November |
| 9. | Inlaks Fellowships for Indian Classical Music | Young vocal musicians | September to October |
| 10. | Lalit Kala Akademi Scholarship | 21 years to 35 years artists. | February to March |
| 11. | Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar | Young Indian authors of age 35 years or below | June to August |
| 12. | FICA Emerging Artist Award | Young artists (age 18 to 35 years) | July to August |
| 13. | New India Foundation Fellowships 2018 | Scholars and writers | April to June |
| 14. | Comix competition (International) | Comic creators | December to January |
| 15. | The Hindu Playwright Award | Playwrights above the age of 18 years | March to May |
*The application period mentioned is tentative which may change at the discretion of the scholarship-providing authorities.
Scholarships in India – Sports-based scholarships
Which sport do you like the most? Cricket? Football? Basketball? Or Chess? Irrespective of which sport you choose, have you ever thought of winning a scholarship on the basis of your contribution to these sports? Perhaps not. However, if you wish to make your contributions noteworthy in the field of sports, you are open to numerous scholarship opportunities in India offered by renowned sports institutions and other private organizations.
Find out which are the prominent sports-based scholarships in India in the list given below and excel in the field of your choice.
List of sports-based scholarships in India
| S.No. | Scholarship Name | Applicable For | Application Period* |
| 1. | AAI Sports Scholarship Scheme in India | Players above 14 years who represent India in Sub-Junior / Junior / Senior National Championships, All India Inter University Tournaments, National School Games | December to February |
| 2. | GEMS Genius Scholarship | School students | July to August |
| 3. | MKG Chess Scholarship | Girl chess player below the age of 18 years | June to July |
| 4. | University of Sussex Sports Scholarships Scheme (UK) | Master’s degree applicants (performing athletes) | August to October |
| 5. | ASA International Scholarship (Australia) | Students willing to study in Australia | November to December |
| 6. | Symbiosis Society Foundation Sports Scholarships | Sportsperson enrolling/studying at Symbiosis International University | June to July |
*The application period mentioned is tentative which may change at the discretion of the scholarship-providing authorities.
Scholarships in India – for women
To encourage and empower girls/women in the field of education and to ensure that no girl drops out of formal education, numerous scholarships for women are also being offered in India by the government as well as private organizations. These scholarships are disbursed both on the basis of academic merit or/and the financial need of the girls.
For all those girls out there, here is a curated list of scholarships exclusively for you to pursue further education. Hope these scholarships will act as a bridge in pursuit of your dreams and aspirations.
List of scholarships in India for women
S.No. | Scholarship Name | Applicable For | Application Period* |
| 1. | Dr. Reddy’s Foundation Sashakt Scholarship | Class 12th passed girls | July to August |
| 2. | Santoor Women’s Scholarship | Class 12th passed girls | July to August |
| 3. | Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship Scheme for Minorities Girls | Minorities girl students studying in Class 9th to 12th | July to September |
| 4. | Post-Graduate Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child | The single girl child of the family up to 30 years of age | February to March |
| 5. | Women Scientists Scheme-C (WOS-C) | Women scientists above 27 years of age | November to January |
| 6. | SOF Girl Child Scholarship Scheme (G.C.S.S) | Girls of classes 1 to 10 | June to October |
| 7. | L’Oréal India For Young Women in Science Scholarship | Class 12th passed girls (Science) | June to July |
| 8. | UGAM – Legrand Scholarship Program | Class 12th passed girls | June to July |
| 9. | AICTE-Scholarship Scheme to Girl Child (SSGC) under Pragati | Girl students entering the first year of technical courses | October to December |
| 10. | Marubeni India Meritorious Scholarship | Class 12 pass-outs pursuing the 1st year of graduation | November to January |
| 11. | Smt. Geeta Lochan Girl Child Scholarship Programme | Girl candidate of Arunachal University of Studies | May to June |
| 12. | Sasakawa India Leprosy Foundation Nursing Scholarship Programme | Girls who want to pursue B.Sc. (Basic Nursing) | March to May |
| 13. | Prabha Dutt Fellowship | Women journalists of the age group 25 to 40 years | Runs all through the year |
| 14. | Kalpana Chawla Memorial Award | Girl students appearing in class 12th | March to May |
| 15. | Lady Meherbai D Tata Education Scholarship | Women graduates | February to April |
| 16. | Tata Housing Scholarships for Meritorious Girl Students | Girl students in the 2nd year of BE/B.Tech/B.Arch | January to March |
| 17. | Muslim Nadar Girls Scholarship, Kerala | 1st-year girl students of HSC/ VHSC/ undergraduate course | July to August |
| 18. | Bigyani Kanya Medha Britti Scholarship (JBNSTS), West Bengal | Class 12th passed girls | May to July |
| 19. | Merit Scholarship for Undergraduate Girl Students | Undergraduate girl students | January to February |
| 20. | Women as Cyber Leaders Scholarship (UK) | MSc degree applicants (Female) | May to June |
| 21. | Facebook Grace Hopper Scholarship | Women pursuing a CS degree program | May to June |
| 22. | Said Business School Scholarships for Women (UK) | Women pursuing M.Sc. in Major Programme Management | April to June |
| 23. | International Women Forum Fellows Program | Emerging women leaders having at least 10 years of experience | April to June |
| 24. | Scholarship for Women: Professional MBA Facility Management | Female candidates | December to January |
| 25. | Women’s Cybersecurity Scholarships | Class 12 (studying or passed), graduate and postgraduate female applicants | January to March |
| 26. | MKG Chess Scholarship | Girl chess player below the age of 18 years | June to July |
*The application period mentioned is tentative which may change at the discretion of the scholarship-providing authorities.
Also Read:
Scholarships in India – for overseas studies
Planning to study abroad in the US or UK? How will you manage the funds for education overseas? While some of you may rely on the provision of educational loans, most of you might look up scholarships in India to study abroad. Yes, when it comes to international education, a number of international universities offer scholarship opportunities for Indian students to encourage cross-cultural education worldwide.
Adding to this, you are also open to scholarship opportunities that are being rendered by the Government of India and other countries’ governments. Below is a compilation of all such scholarships that can benefit you in pursuing your dream academic career overseas without any financial constraints.
List of scholarships in India for overseas studies
| S.No. | Scholarship Name | Applicable For | Application Period* |
| 1. | Alliance MBS Masters Scholarship (UK) | Postgraduate applicants | June to August |
| 2. | Bath Spa University Meritorious Scholarship (UK) | Undergraduate and Postgraduate applicants | June to August |
| 3. | Amity Global Institute Merit Scholarship, Singapore | Class 12 passed, and graduates | June to August |
| 4. | Newcastle University Business School Scholarships | Students entering Masters’s courses | from June to August |
| 5. | University of Strathclyde-Faculty of Science Research Elite Scholarships (Scotland) | Postgraduates | July to September |
| 6. | University of Strathclyde-Faculty of Science Postgraduate Elite Scholarships (Scotland) | Graduates | July to September |
| 7. | University of Strathclyde-Faculty of Science Undergraduate Elite Scholarships (Scotland) | Class 12th passed students | July to September |
| 8. | University of Dundee Global Excellence Scholarship | Undergraduate | July to October |
| 9. | Mexican Government Scholarships for International Students (Mexico) | Graduates, Post Graduates, PhD | July to September |
| 10. | Academic Excellence International Masters Scholarship (UK) | Master’s degree applicants | July to September |
| 11. | Scholarships to study online at the University of South Wales | Class 12th passed and graduates | June to January |
| 12. | Deakin India Merit Scholarship | Undergraduate & postgraduate program applicants | June to December |
| 13. | Nanyang Technological University NIE PhD Scholarship (Singapore) | PhD applicants | April to July |
| 14. | The Rhodes Scholarships, University of Oxford (UK) | Graduates or final year students | April to July |
| 15. | Academia Higher Education College Meritorious Scholarship (Slovenia, EU) | Students applying for courses in Business, Engineering and Media Production | June to August |
| 16. | The University of Strathclyde-Scotland Welcomes India Big Data Scholarship (Scotland) | Graduates | May to July |
| 17. | The University of Bristol Think Big Undergraduate Scholarships (UK) | Bachelor’s degree applicants | April to June |
| 18. | Regent’s University India Postgraduate Taught Masters Scholarship (UK) | Master’s degree applicants | March to June |
| 19. | The University of Lincoln India Scholarship (UK) | Postgraduate applicants | March to June |
| 20. | Carnegie Mellon University Academic Merit Scholarships, Australia | Graduates | March to June |
| 21. | UCC Ireland Meritorious Scholarship for Indian Students | Students passed class 12 or graduation/graduates | March to June |
| 22. | Manju Mehrotra Scholarship (UK) | Master’s degree applicants | March to June |
| 23. | Stanford Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship (US) | MBA applicants | April to June |
| 24. | ITC Foundation Scholarship Programme (Netherlands) | Master’s degree applicants | February to April |
| 25. | IHS Holland Scholarship (Netherlands) | Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree applicants | March to May |
*The application period mentioned is tentative which may change at the discretion of the scholarship-providing authorities.
The list of scholarships in India is never-ending. Every year hundreds of scholarships are available at your disbursal. Stay connected with Buddy4Study to get timely alerts about all types of scholarships available in India. Also, you can avail dedicated application support while applying for any scholarship.
Also Read:NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PORTAL – A HUB FOR GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIPS
The list of State Scholarship portal are as follows:
Scholarships for Uttar Pradesh | UP Scholarship |
Scholarships for Maharashtra | Mahadbt |
Post Matric Scholarships disbursem*nts through ePass | Epass Scholarship |
Jnanabhumi online portal of the Government of Andhra Pradesh | Jnanabhumi |
scholarshipportal of Jharkhand | E Kalyan Scholarship |
Government of Madhya Pradesh,MP scholarships | MP Scholarship |
Karnataka education board,ePASS Karnataka | Epass Karnataka Scholarship |
TS epass scholarship is offering by Telangana Govt | Telangana Epass |
Scholarship Portal Government of Punjab | Punjab Scholarship |
E-Grantzportal, Government of Kerala | E Grantz |
Minorities under the Government of Karnataka, GOKDOM | Gokdom |
Oasis scholarshipportal, West Bengal scholarships | Oasis Scholarship |
Chhattisgarh Scholarship Portal | CG Scholarship Portal |
SJE Rajasthan Scholarship Portal, Government of Rajasthan | SJE Scholarship |
Digital Gujarat scholarship, Government of Gujarat. | Gujarat Scholarship |
HP ePass scholarshipportal, Himachal Pradesh | HP Epass Scholarship |
West Bengal ScholarshipSchemes, West Bengal | West Bengal Scholarship |
Government of Bihar Post-Matric scholarship SC/ST/BC/EBC | Bihar Scholarship |
| Scholarshipfor BC, MBC and Minorities, Govt ofTamilNadu | TN Scholarship |
