Scholarships 2026: Government of India, State and Study Abroad
Central, State and international scholarships for Indian students in one place: who can apply, how much each one pays and whether it is fully funded, how selection works, the letters of recommendation it asks for, the visa for study abroad, and this year's dates on the National Scholarship Portal. Every guide is written from the scholarship's own documents, and each source is named.
Open now on the National Scholarship PortalStudy abroadLetters of recommendation
Government of India scholarships 10
Partial: a fixed yearly amount
Who can apply, amount and how to apply PM YASASVI Top Class (College)Department of Social Justice and EmpowermentFully fundedGovernment of IndiaLast date 31 Oct 2026Full tuition (with a ceiling at private institutions) plus allowances
Who can apply, amount and how to apply Top Class Scholarship (SC)Department of Social Justice and EmpowermentFully fundedGovernment of IndiaLast date 31 Oct 2026Full tuition (with a ceiling at private institutions) plus a yearly allowance
Who can apply, amount and how to apply NMMS (Class 9 to 12)Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of EducationPartialGovernment of IndiaLast date 31 Oct 2026Partial: Rs 1,000 a month
Who can apply, amount and how to apply AICTE Pragati (girls, degree)All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)PartialGovernment of IndiaLast date 31 Oct 2026Partial: Rs 50,000 a year
Who can apply, amount and how to apply AICTE Saksham (disability, degree)All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)PartialGovernment of IndiaLast date 31 Oct 2026Partial: Rs 50,000 a year
Who can apply, amount and how to apply UGC PG ScholarshipUniversity Grants Commission (UGC)Monthly stipendGovernment of IndiaLast date 31 Oct 2026Monthly stipend
Who can apply, amount and how to apply INSPIRE-SHE (science)Department of Science and TechnologyPartialGovernment of IndiaPartial: Rs 80,000 a year
Who can apply, amount and how to apply PM Research Fellowship (PhD)Ministry of EducationMonthly stipendGovernment of IndiaMonthly fellowship plus a research grant
Who can apply, amount and how to apply National Overseas Scholarship (NOS)Department of Social Justice and EmpowermentFully fundedStudy in Any country (study abroad)Full: tuition, yearly maintenance, travel, visa and insurance
Who can apply, amount and how to applyState government scholarships 2
Amount not stated on the portal
Who can apply, amount and how to apply UP Scholarship (pre and post-matric)Government of Uttar Pradesh (Social Welfare, Backward Class Welfare, Minority Welfare and Tribal Development departments)Amount not publishedState: Uttar PradeshScholarship and fee reimbursement (amounts in the department rules)
Who can apply, amount and how to applyScholarships to study abroad 9
Fully funded: fees, monthly stipend, travel and visa
Who can apply, amount and how to apply Commonwealth Master's (UK)Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (funded by the UK FCDO)Fully fundedStudy in United KingdomFully funded: fees, monthly stipend and airfare
Who can apply, amount and how to apply Rhodes Scholarship (Oxford)Rhodes Trust (a registered charity, not a government body)Fully fundedStudy in United KingdomFully funded: Oxford fees, stipend, flights and visa
Who can apply, amount and how to apply Gates CambridgeGates Cambridge Trust (a charitable trust, not a government body)Fully fundedStudy in United KingdomFully funded: Cambridge fee, maintenance, flights and visa
Who can apply, amount and how to apply Fulbright-Nehru Master's (USA)United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF)Fully fundedStudy in United StatesFunded: tuition, living costs, airfare, J-1 visa support and health cover
Who can apply, amount and how to apply DAAD EPOS (Germany, master's)DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)Monthly stipendStudy in GermanyMonthly stipend, insurance and travel
Who can apply, amount and how to apply DAAD Doctoral (Germany, PhD)DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), funded by the German Federal Foreign OfficeMonthly stipendStudy in GermanyMonthly stipend, insurance, travel and research allowance
Who can apply, amount and how to apply Erasmus Mundus (Europe)European Commission (Erasmus+)Fully fundedStudy in European UnionFull scholarship: participation costs and EUR 1,400 a month
Who can apply, amount and how to apply MEXT Japan (research students)Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, through the Embassy of Japan in IndiaFully fundedStudy in JapanFully funded: monthly stipend, no fees and airfare
Who can apply, amount and how to applyNo scholarship matches these filters.
Open now on the National Scholarship Portal
Every central scheme on the portal with this year's last date for students, read daily from scholarships.gov.in (last read 18 Oct 2026). After the last date, your institution and then the State or ministry officers verify your application.
| Scheme | Ministry or body | Applications | Last date | Official documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AICTE - Pragati Scholarship Scheme For Girl Students (Technical Degree) | All India Council For Technical Education | Open New and renewal | 31 Oct 2026 | Guidelines · FAQ |
| AICTE - Pragati Scholarship Scheme For Girl Students (Technical Diploma) | All India Council For Technical Education | Open New and renewal | 31 Oct 2026 | Guidelines · FAQ |
| AICTE - Saksham Scholarship Scheme For Specially Abled Student (Technical Degree) | All India Council For Technical Education | Open New and renewal | 31 Oct 2026 | Guidelines · FAQ |
| AICTE - Saksham Scholarship Scheme For Specially Abled Student (Technical Diploma) | All India Council For Technical Education | Open New and renewal | 31 Oct 2026 | Guidelines · FAQ |
| AICTE - Swanath Scholarship Scheme (Technical Degree) | All India Council For Technical Education | Open New and renewal | 31 Oct 2026 | Guidelines · FAQ |
| AICTE - Swanath Scholarship Scheme (Technical Diploma) | All India Council For Technical Education | Open New and renewal | 31 Oct 2026 | Guidelines · FAQ |
| Central Sector Scholarship Of Top Class Education For SC Students | Department of Social Justice & Empowerment | Open New and renewal | 31 Oct 2026 | Guidelines · FAQ |
| Financial Assistance For Education To The Wards Of Beedi/Cine/Iomc/Lsdm- Post Matric | Ministry of Labour & Employment | Open New and renewal | 31 Oct 2026 | Guidelines · FAQ |
Show all 31
| Scheme | Ministry or body | Applications | Last date | Official documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Assistance For Education To The Wards Of Beedi/Cine/Iomc/Lsdm- Pre Matric | Ministry of Labour & Employment | Open New and renewal | 31 Oct 2026 | Guidelines · FAQ |
| Financial Support To The Students Of NER For Higher Professional Courses(NEC Merit Scholarship) | North Eastern Council(NEC),DoNER | Open Renewals only | 31 Oct 2026 | Guidelines · FAQ |
| Free Coaching For Scs OBCs And Beneficiaries Of PM Cares Children Scheme | Department of Social Justice & Empowerment | Open New and renewal | 31 Oct 2026 | Guidelines · FAQ |
| Icar Junior Research Fellowships(Jrf) And Senior Research Fellowships(Srf) | Department of Agriculture Research and Education | Open New and renewal | 31 Oct 2026 | Guidelines · FAQ |
| Icar National Talent Scholarship(Nts-Pg) | Department of Agriculture Research and Education | Open New and renewal | 31 Oct 2026 | Guidelines · FAQ |
| Icar National Talent Scholarship(Nts-Ug) | Department of Agriculture Research and Education | Open New and renewal | 31 Oct 2026 | Guidelines · FAQ |
| Icar Post Graduate Scholarship(Pgs) | Department of Agriculture Research and Education | Open New and renewal | 31 Oct 2026 | Guidelines · FAQ |
| Ishan Uday Special Scholarship Scheme For NER | UGC | Open New and renewal | 31 Oct 2026 | Guidelines · FAQ |
| National Fellowship And Scholarship For Higher Education Of ST Students - Scholarship (Formally Top Class Education For Schedule Tribe Students) | Ministry of Tribal Affairs | Open New and renewal | 31 Oct 2026 | Guidelines · FAQ |
| National Means Cum Merit Scholarship | Department of School Education & Literacy | Open New and renewal | 31 Oct 2026 | Guidelines · FAQ |
| National Renewable Energy Fellowship Scheme | Ministry of New And Renewable Energy | Open New and renewal | 31 Oct 2026 | Guidelines · FAQ |
| National Scholarship For Post Graduate Studies | UGC | Open New and renewal | 31 Oct 2026 | Guidelines · FAQ |
| PM USP Special Scholarship Scheme For Jammu Kashmir And Ladakh | All India Council For Technical Education | Open Renewals only | 31 Oct 2026 | Guidelines · FAQ |
| PM YASASVI Central Sector Scheme Of Top Class Education In College For OBC, EBC And DNT Students | Department of Social Justice & Empowerment(Backward Classes) | Open New and renewal | 31 Oct 2026 | Guidelines · FAQ |
| PM YASASVI Central Sector Scheme Of Top Class Education In Schools For OBC, EBC And DNT Students | Department of Social Justice & Empowerment(Backward Classes) | Open Renewals only | 31 Oct 2026 | Guidelines · FAQ |
| PM-USP – Central Sector Scheme Of Scholarship For College And University Students (CSSS) | Department of Higher Education | Open Renewals only | 31 Oct 2026 | Guidelines · FAQ |
| Post Matric Scholarship For Students With Disabilities | Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities | Open New and renewal | 31 Oct 2026 | Guidelines · FAQ |
| Pre Matric Scholarship For Students With Disabilities | Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities | Open New and renewal | 31 Oct 2026 | Guidelines · FAQ |
| Prime Minister's Scholarship Scheme For Central Armed Police Forces And Assam Rifles | Ministry of Home Affairs | Open New and renewal | 31 Oct 2026 | Guidelines · FAQ |
| Prime Minister's Scholarship Scheme For Ministry Of Railways | Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) | Open New and renewal | 31 Oct 2026 | Guidelines · FAQ |
| Prime Minister's Scholarship Scheme For Wards Of States/UTs Police Personnel Martyred During Terror/Naxal Attacks | Ministry of Home Affairs | Open New and renewal | 31 Oct 2026 | Guidelines · FAQ |
| Scholarship For Top Class Education For Students With Disabilities | Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities | Open New and renewal | 31 Oct 2026 | Guidelines · FAQ |
| Stipend Scheme For Under Graduate And Post Graduate Studies In Indian Statistical Institute-Kolkata | Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation | Open New and renewal | 31 Oct 2026 | Guidelines · FAQ |
Source: National Scholarship Portal, Government of India. Apply only on scholarships.gov.in; applying is free.
Letters of recommendation: who asks for them
Government of India and State scholarships do not ask for letters of recommendation: your institution verifies your application. Most scholarships abroad do. Each guide below says how many letters, from whom, how they are sent and what they should cover, and has a helper that turns your examples into notes and a starting draft for your referee.
| Scholarship | Letters | From whom |
|---|---|---|
| Chevening (UK) | 2 | Two referees: two professional, two academic, or one of each. A professional or personal contact who knows you well, not a friend or relative. |
| Commonwealth Master's (UK) | At least 2 (the form asks for 3 referees) | The CSC page does not say who the referees must be. |
| Rhodes Scholarship (Oxford) | 4 to 5 | At least three academic referees who taught and graded you (they also give an estimated class ranking), and at least one character referee who can speak about your character and extra-curricular, service or leadership work. Not friends, peers or relatives. |
| Gates Cambridge | 1 Gates Cambridge reference, plus 2 academic references for the course | Someone of standing who can judge you against the scholarship's criteria: a current or former academic adviser, an employer, or a senior member of an organisation where you volunteered. One of your academic referees can write it if they address the criteria. Not a friend or family member. |
| Fulbright-Nehru Master's (USA) | As listed in the USIEF applicant instructions | The USIEF page checked does not state the number or type of reference letters; read the Applicant Instructions and Checklist on the USIEF page. |
| DAAD EPOS (Germany, master's) | 1 | Your current employer. |
| DAAD Doctoral (Germany, PhD) | 1 | A university teacher. |
| Erasmus Mundus (Europe) | Depends on the programme | Each programme sets its own rules. |
| MEXT Japan (research students) | 1 from your university (and one from your present employer where the Embassy asks for it) | The president or dean, or your academic adviser, at your current or last university. Working applicants may also be asked for a letter from their present employer. |
Your chances: what JanWatchdog shows and what it does not
Each guide has an eligibility check built from the scholarship's published rules, and the number of awards where the scholarship publishes it. JanWatchdog does not give a percentage chance of winning: no selector publishes one, and a made-up number would mislead. Where the awards are a fixed number, compare it with how many students compete in your State or field; where every eligible student is paid (for example AICTE Saksham), the check tells you whether you qualify.