Scholarships in India: A Comprehensive Guide for Aspiring Students
- Team JCCCD
- Jun 7
- 3 min read
Pursuing higher education in India is becoming increasingly accessible thanks to a wide range of scholarship programs offered by the government, universities, and private organizations. These scholarships not only support students financially but also reward academic excellence and provide opportunities for growth in science, technology, management, and the humanities. Here’s an in-depth look at the major scholarship schemes currently available:
1. Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (Ministry of Education)
Launched in 2008, this scheme offers financial aid to meritorious students from economically weaker sections (annual income under ₹4.5 lakhs). Each year, 82,000 scholarships are awarded equally to boys and girls across state education boards. Eligible students must be above the 80th percentile in Class 12 and pursuing a regular undergraduate/postgraduate course.
Scholarship Amount: ₹12,000 per annum (first 3 years), ₹20,000 per annum (4th and 5th year)
Link: https://www.education.gov.in/scholarships-education-loan-0
2. University of Delhi Scholarships
Delhi University provides multiple scholarships and book grants for students across its affiliated colleges. A few notable ones include:
Dr. V.K.R.V. Rao Endowment Book-Grant – For 1st year UG students
Sh. Prem Prakash Award – For UG students with outstanding performance
Sardar Kartar Singh Grover Memorial Book-Grant – For BCA/B.Sc. 1st year students
Scholarships for Blind Students – Multiple schemes to support visually impaired students
Subject-specific Book-Grants – Including Economics, Botany, Psychology, etc.
DUWA Book Grant – For female students
Balak Ram Scholarship – For B.A./B.Sc. (H) Mathematics
3. External Scholarships (Ministry of Education – Department of Higher Education)
These scholarships are offered through partnerships with foreign governments and universities. Some require nominations by the Indian government, while others are direct applications.
Scholarships Inviting Applications via Sakshat Portal:
Commonwealth Master's Scholarship (UK) – Aug-Sept
Brunei Darussalam Scholarship – Jan-Feb
Chulabhorn Graduate Institute (Thailand) – June-July
Slovenian Government Scholarship – Feb-Mar
Commonwealth Scholarship (New Zealand) – Feb
Scholarships with Direct Applications:
Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) – Feb-Mar
Japanese Government (MEXT) – May
Israel Government Scholarship – Dec
Italian Government Scholarship – June-July
British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM – Feb-Mar
4. INSPIRE – Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE)
Managed by the Department of Science and Technology, INSPIRE aims to encourage students to pursue research in Basic and Natural Sciences.
Eligibility: Top 1% in Class 12, or top 10,000 rankers in JEE/AIPMT, or students from institutes like IISER/NISER
Scholarship Amount: ₹80,000 per annum
Number of Scholarships: 12,000 per year
5. HDFC Educational Crisis Scholarship Support (ECSS)
Offered by HDFC Bank, this scholarship supports students facing family crises such as loss of income, serious illness, or death in the family.
Eligibility: Family income below ₹2.5 lakhs or financial crisis in past 3 years
Amount:
School: ₹15,000–18,000
UG (General): ₹30,000
UG (Professional): ₹50,000
PG: Up to ₹75,000
Application Deadline: January
LINK: https://v.hdfcbank.com/content/dam/hdfc-aem-microsites/common-pdfs/pdf/ECSS_ApplicationForm.pdf
6. Aditya Birla Scholarship
This merit-based scholarship is awarded to students in elite institutions.
Eligible Institutions:
IIMs, XLRI for Management
IITs, BITS Pilani for Engineering
NLUs like NLSIU, NALSAR, NLUJ for Law
7. The Sashakt Scholarship (For Women in Science)
Aimed at empowering young women in STEM, this scholarship provides financial and mentoring support.
8. AICTE Pragati Scholarship for Girls
This initiative by AICTE supports female students from economically weaker backgrounds in technical education.
Eligibility: Enrolled in 1st/2nd year of AICTE-approved diploma/degree programs
Amount: ₹50,000/year + ₹2,000 monthly for 10 months
Seats: 5,000 + additional 5,000 for UTs
Application Time: Aug–Sept
Final Thoughts
India offers an array of scholarship opportunities across various domains, from humanities to science and engineering. Students should proactively check deadlines, eligibility, and application procedures to make the most of these schemes. Whether you're aiming for a government scholarship, an industry-led initiative, or external funding for international studies, there is financial help out there—ready for you to claim
