Central Sector Scholarship (CSSS) 2026: eligibility, amount, selection and how to apply

Partial Government of India

PM-USP Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (CSSS), given by Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education. Partial: a fixed yearly amount.

Given byMinistry of Education

LevelUndergraduate, Postgraduate

MoneyPartial: a fixed yearly amount

How many get itUp to 82,000 new a year

This yearRenewals only, last date 31 Oct 2026

Apply on the National Scholarship Portal Check if you can apply

On the National Scholarship Portal this year: renewals onlyOpen from 1 Jun 2026 · last date for students 31 Oct 2026 · institute verification until 15 Nov 2026 · read 18 Oct 2026 from scholarships.gov.in

Open

Who can apply for Central Sector Scholarship (CSSS)

You can apply if

Above the 80th percentile of successful candidates in your stream in your Class 12 board exam
Gross family income up to Rs 4.5 lakh a year
Studying a regular degree course (not correspondence, distance or a diploma) at a college recognised by AICTE or the regulator concerned
Not getting any other merit scholarship, State scholarship, fee waiver or fee reimbursement

Reservation: 15% for SC, 7.5% for ST, 27% for OBC, and 5% horizontal reservation for students with benchmark disabilities (40% or more).

Check if you can apply

Answer from your own documents. The questions are the scholarship's published rules; your answers stay in this browser.

Answer the questions to see if you meet the published conditions.

How many get it: Up to 82,000 new scholarships a year, shared among State boards by their population aged 18 to 25 (after the CBSE and ICSE share) and split 3:3:1 among Humanities, Science and Commerce. Half are for girls. Source: Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education.

JanWatchdog does not give a percentage chance: the scholarship does not publish one. Meeting every rule makes you eligible to apply; selection then depends on the steps below.

What Central Sector Scholarship (CSSS) pays

Partial: a fixed yearly amount. Rs 12,000 a year at graduation level (first three years) and Rs 20,000 a year at postgraduation level. Five-year integrated or professional courses get Rs 20,000 a year in the 4th and 5th years; B.Tech and B.E. students get Rs 12,000 a year for years 1 to 3 and Rs 20,000 in year 4.

What it covers

A fixed amount towards day-to-day expenses, paid into the student's own bank account (Direct Benefit Transfer)

How Central Sector Scholarship (CSSS) selection works

Apply online on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP)
Your institution verifies the application, then the State Higher Education Department or the State Nodal Agency
Caste and education records are checked through DigiLocker
The selection list is shown on NSP and the money is paid by Direct Benefit Transfer

How to apply for Central Sector Scholarship (CSSS), step by step

Register on the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) and fill in the fresh application.
Upload or link your Class 12 result, income certificate and, if you apply in a reserved category, your caste certificate.
Give a bank account in your own name.
Submit before the last date and ask your college to verify it on NSP.
Track payment on the PFMS 'Know Your Payment' page with your NSP application ID.

Documents to keep ready

Class 12 marksheet
Family income certificate (only for fresh applicants)
Caste certificate, if applying in a reserved category
Bank account details in your own name

Keeping the scholarship every year

At least 50% marks in the annual exam and at least 75% attendance every year
Apply for renewal on NSP before the cut-off date; a missed renewal can be filed the next year if you still qualify
Complaints of indiscipline, criminal behaviour or ragging end the scholarship

Apply on the National Scholarship Portal

Letter of recommendation

No letter of recommendation is asked for. Your institution verifies your application online.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from these documents and pages, and this year's dates from the National Scholarship Portal. Checked 18 Oct 2026.

Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education: Guidelines for PM-USP CSSS (applicable from 2022-23, updated 7 Feb 2024)

JanWatchdog is not connected with any scholarship. Apply only on the official website; applying is free and no agent is needed.