While the National Scholarship Portal provides access to central government scholarship schemes, every Indian state independently operates its own scholarship programmes for students who are domiciles of that state. These state-specific schemes cover a wide range of categories — SC, ST, OBC, EBC, minority, merit-based, and physically disabled students — and often provide financial support that complements the central government scholarships. Many students eligible for state scholarships are unaware of them simply because state portals are less publicised than NSP.
This guide covers the most important state-specific scholarship programmes across India’s major states, the portals where they are applied for, and the general eligibility conditions that apply. If you are a domicile of any Indian state, checking your state’s scholarship portal alongside NSP is essential to ensure you do not miss out on any additional financial support you are entitled to as a resident of that state.
Major State Scholarship Programmes
Uttar Pradesh — scholarship.up.gov.in
Uttar Pradesh runs one of India’s largest state scholarship programmes covering Pre-Matric and Post-Matric students from SC, ST, General (EWS), OBC, and minority categories. The UP scholarship portal at scholarship.up.gov.in receives millions of applications every year. UP scholarship amounts range from ₹2,000 for school students to ₹12,000 or more for college students depending on the course and category. Applications typically open in July and close in November, with a separate renewal window for continuing students.
Maharashtra — mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in
Maharashtra’s MahaDBT portal is one of India’s most comprehensive state scholarship platforms, covering over 40 different government schemes for students and beneficiaries across categories. For students specifically, Maharashtra offers the EBC (Economically Backward Class) scholarship, the Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Hostel Maintenance Allowance, Rajashri Shahu Maharaj Scholarship, and the Swadhar Greh scheme for hostellers. The scholarship amounts are competitive — EBC students in degree courses receive up to ₹15,000 per year in tuition support.
Karnataka — karepass.cgg.gov.in
Karnataka’s KAREPASS portal manages scholarships for SC, ST, OBC, and minority students studying in Karnataka schools and colleges. Key schemes include the Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship, the Post-Matric Scholarship, and the Chief Minister’s Rajyotsava Scholarship for meritorious students. Karnataka also offers special scholarship support for students studying in backward taluks and educationally lagging districts. Applications are submitted through KAREPASS with Aadhaar-linked bank account details.
West Bengal — oasis.wb.gov.in
West Bengal’s OASIS portal manages Pre-Matric and Post-Matric scholarships for SC, ST, and OBC students. The Bikash Bhavan initiative also supports minority students with dedicated schemes. West Bengal is particularly known for its Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means Scholarship — one of the most generously funded state merit scholarships in India, offering ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 per month to students across UG, PG, and professional courses based on Class 12 and previous year’s marks.
Rajasthan — hte.rajasthan.gov.in
Rajasthan’s scholarship portal managed by the Higher Technical Education department covers the Chief Minister’s Higher Education Scholarship, the Ambedkar Fellowship for Post-Doctoral research by SC/ST students, and various OBC and EWS category scholarships for school and college students. The Chief Minister’s Higher Education Scholarship of ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 per year is specifically for students from Rajasthan who score above 60% in Class 12 from Rajasthan Board.
State Scholarship Amount Comparison
| State | Flagship Scholarship | Annual Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | Post-Matric SC/OBC | ₹3,000 – ₹12,000 |
| Maharashtra | EBC Scholarship | Up to ₹15,000 |
| West Bengal | Swami Vivekananda MCM | ₹12,000 – ₹60,000 |
| Karnataka | Post-Matric SC/ST | ₹5,000 – ₹25,000 |
| Rajasthan | CM Higher Education | ₹5,000 – ₹10,000 |
| Tamil Nadu | First Graduate Scholarship | ₹1,000/month |
West Bengal’s Swami Vivekananda scholarship is among the most generous state scholarship schemes in India — a PG student from West Bengal in a science or medical programme can receive up to ₹5,000 per month (₹60,000 per year), which when combined with a central government NSP scholarship provides very substantial financial support.
Most state scholarships require the student to be a domicile of that state and studying in an institution within the state. Students who move to a different state for higher education sometimes lose access to their home state scholarship — it is advisable to check this before deciding to study outside your home state.
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be a domicile of the state where you are applying — valid domicile certificate required
- Must be studying in an institution within the same state for most state scholarship schemes
- Caste certificate must be issued by a government authority in your home state
- Income certificate must reflect the combined family income below the state-specified threshold — usually ₹2.5 to ₹6 lakh per year
- Minimum marks requirements vary — Rajasthan CM scholarship requires 60% in Class 12, West Bengal Vivekananda requires 75%+
- Cannot receive a state scholarship and a central government scholarship for the same purpose simultaneously
- Bank account must be in the student’s name, Aadhaar-linked, and with a bank branch in the home state in some cases
- Annual renewal required — passing the current year’s examination is the primary renewal condition for all state scholarships
- Some state scholarships are reserved for students who are “first generation graduates” — the first person in their family to attend college
- Disability certificate from state government medical board required for disability category state scholarships
How To Apply For State Scholarships
- Step 1 — Identify your state’s portal: Google your state name + “scholarship portal” or refer to the NSP homepage which has links to all state portals under the “State Schemes” section.
- Step 2 — Register separately on your state portal: State portal registrations are separate from NSP — you need a new account on each state portal. Use your Aadhaar and mobile number for registration.
- Step 3 — Check all schemes available on the portal: Do not assume only one scheme applies — browse all available schemes and check eligibility for each. Some states have 20 to 40 different scholarship schemes on a single portal.
- Step 4 — Apply on NSP simultaneously: If the same scheme is available on both NSP and your state portal, apply only on one — applying on both may cause duplicate application rejection. Check which portal processes the scheme.
- Step 5 — Get a fresh domicile certificate: State scholarships universally require a domicile certificate. Get a fresh one from your tehsil office or state e-district portal before applying.
- Step 6 — Follow up with district scholarship office: State scholarship applications are processed at district level — contact your district scholarship officer if your application is stuck for more than 60 days after institute verification.
- Step 7 — Track on state portal and PFMS: Use your state portal’s status tracking and PFMS (pfms.nic.in) to monitor payment status. Most state scholarships are also disbursed through DBT.
Key Points To Remember
- State scholarship portals often have different application windows from NSP — check and apply on both within their respective timelines
- Moving to a different state for college does not automatically disqualify you from your home state scholarship — check the specific scheme rules
- West Bengal’s Swami Vivekananda scholarship is one of the best state scholarships in India for merit students — apply even if you have a central scholarship
- UP scholarship portal receives the highest volume of applications — apply in the first week of the window opening to avoid technical issues
- Some state schemes have lower income thresholds than NSP — check eligibility carefully before applying
- State scholarship amounts are in addition to central government scholarships in most cases — you can receive both simultaneously
Key State Scholarship Portals
- Uttar Pradesh: scholarship.up.gov.in
- Maharashtra: mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in
- Karnataka: karepass.cgg.gov.in
- West Bengal: oasis.wb.gov.in
- Rajasthan: hte.rajasthan.gov.in
- Tamil Nadu: tnscholarships.padasalai.net
- Telangana: telanganaepass.cgg.gov.in
- Bihar: pmsonline.bih.nic.in
- Madhya Pradesh: scholarshipportal.mp.nic.in
- Gujarat: digitalgujarat.gov.in
Career Growth Opportunities
State scholarships, particularly the West Bengal Swami Vivekananda scholarship and Maharashtra’s EBC scheme, carry significant financial support that allows students to pursue courses in premier institutions without the burden of financial pressure. Students who complete their degrees on state scholarship support often go on to state civil service careers, contributing back to the very state system that supported their education. Several state governments also offer employment preference in government jobs for scholarship recipients from scheduled communities.
| State Scholarship | Post-Education Opportunity |
|---|---|
| Swami Vivekananda (WB) | Preferred for WB state services, academic careers |
| Maharashtra EBC | State civil service and technical employment |
| Rajasthan CM Scholarship | RPSC and REET examination support networks |
| UP Post-Matric | UPPSC and state government employment pathways |
Working Conditions
State scholarship processing timelines vary significantly across states. West Bengal and Maharashtra typically process and disburse state scholarships within 4 to 6 months of application submission. Uttar Pradesh, due to its high application volume, often takes 6 to 9 months. Some state scholarships require annual bonafide certificates from the institution along with the renewal application. Students who change institutions during the scholarship year must inform the district scholarship office and update their application to avoid payment disruption.
Hidden State Scholarship Schemes That Most Students Miss
Beyond the flagship scholarship schemes listed on state portals, most Indian states run smaller, targeted scholarship programmes for specific communities and situations that are significantly underutilised because they are not prominently advertised. Andhra Pradesh runs the Jagananna Vidya Deevena scheme that provides full fee reimbursement for all categories of students studying in government and private colleges — not just SC/ST but including BC, EBC, and minority students — with a family income threshold of 2.5 lakh rupees. This scheme is applied through the AP scholarship portal at apepass.cgg.gov.in and has disbursed over 1,000 crore rupees annually since its launch. However, students from other states are frequently unaware of how comprehensive this AP scheme is compared to their own state equivalents.
Kerala runs a unique post-matric scholarship scheme called the Aspire Scholarship specifically for students from fishing community families — a category that is not covered by SC/ST or OBC classifications but represents a significant economically vulnerable population in coastal districts. Tripura has the Mukhyamantri Trishna Scheme for Scheduled Tribe students specifically from the Chakma and Reang communities — more targeted than the general ST Post-Matric scholarship. Assam runs the Chief Minister Special Scholarship for students affected by floods — an annual disaster-relief scholarship that is rarely mentioned in generic scholarship guides. Checking your state social welfare and education department websites in detail — not just the flagship scholarship portal — is the only way to discover these smaller, targeted schemes that often have less competition precisely because they are less well-known.
State Scholarship For Students Studying Outside Their Home State
The question of whether you can receive your home state scholarship while studying in a different state is one of the most commonly asked and least clearly answered questions in the Indian scholarship system. The general rule is that state government scholarships require you to be studying in an institution within that state — Maharashtra scholarship is for students in Maharashtra colleges, UP scholarship is for students in UP colleges. However, there are important exceptions. The NSP central government scholarships — Post-Matric SC/ST/OBC/Minority — apply wherever in India you are studying, as long as you are a domicile of the relevant state and the institution is NSP-registered.
Some states have modified their scholarship rules to accommodate outmigration for higher education. Rajasthan specifically allows its domicile students studying at IITs, NITs, and other centrally funded institutions in other states to claim the Rajasthan Chief Minister Higher Education Scholarship. West Bengal Swami Vivekananda scholarship can be claimed by WB domicile students studying at Delhi University, central universities, or IITs in other states — the scholarship is linked to the student’s WB domicile, not their institution’s location. Students planning to study outside their home state should check with the state scholarship authority before leaving — understanding which home state schemes remain accessible will significantly impact the scholarship strategy for their entire degree programme.
Conclusion
State-wise scholarships are a valuable and often overlooked source of financial support for students across India. Every state has unique schemes tailored to its domicile students, and combining a state scholarship with an NSP central government scholarship can dramatically reduce the cost of education at every level. Register on your state’s scholarship portal alongside NSP and apply for every scheme you are eligible for — more applications mean more chances of financial support that can change the course of your education.
