If you are a school or college student hoping for a government scholarship this year, the date to circle is 31 October 2026. Most central schemes on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), scholarships.gov.in, close for student applications that day, according to deadline lists published by Careers360 and Buddy4Study. That leaves under two weeks.
This guide lists the schemes still open, the documents you need, and the steps to finish your application without last-minute trouble.
NSP 2026-27 at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Portal | scholarships.gov.in |
| Applications opened | 1 June 2026 |
| Main deadline for central schemes | 31 October 2026 |
| Registration | One Time Registration (OTR) first, then the scheme application |
| Who checks your form | Your institute first, then the district or state nodal officer |
After you submit, your school or college must verify your application on the portal, and then the district or state verifies it. Deadlines for these steps come after the student deadline, but if your institute does not verify in time, your application lapses. Ask your scholarship desk to verify as soon as you submit.
Central schemes reported open until 31 October 2026
These are the main central schemes listed with a 31 October 2026 student deadline. Confirm each one on the portal, because ministries sometimes extend or shorten windows.
| Scheme | Who it is for |
|---|---|
| Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities | Students with disabilities in Class 11 onwards |
| Top Class Education for Students with Disabilities | Students with disabilities in notified top institutions |
| Top Class Education for SC Students | SC students admitted to notified top institutions |
| PM YASASVI (school and college) | OBC, EBC and DNT students |
| National Fellowship and Scholarship for ST Students | ST students in higher education |
| AICTE Pragati (girls), Saksham (disability), Swanath (orphans and wards of COVID or martyr victims) | Students in AICTE-approved diploma and degree courses |
| PM Scholarship for wards of CAPF and Assam Rifles, Railways (RPF/RPSF), and state police martyrs | Wards of eligible personnel |
| Beedi, Cine, IOMC and LSDM workers’ wards, post-matric | Children of registered workers |
| NEC Merit Scholarship | Students from the North Eastern states |
Some schemes have already closed this year. The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) and several pre-matric schemes closed on 31 August, and Central Sector Scheme renewals closed on 30 September, as per these lists. Many state schemes on NSP have their own dates, from 30 October to January 2027, so check your state’s section on the portal.
Who should apply
- Class 9 and 10 students for pre-matric schemes in their category, where still open.
- Class 11 students onwards, including diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate students, for post-matric schemes.
- Students from SC, ST, OBC, EBC, DNT, minority communities, students with disabilities, and wards of specific worker groups or armed forces personnel, depending on the scheme.
- Each scheme has its own family income limit and marks requirement. Read the scheme guidelines on the portal before applying, because applying to a scheme you are not eligible for leads to rejection.
You can usually hold only one central scholarship at a time. If you qualify for more than one, pick the one with the better benefit.
Documents to keep ready
- Aadhaar linked to your mobile number. NSP uses Aadhaar for OTR, and some schemes need face authentication through the app.
- Bank account in the student’s own name, seeded with Aadhaar for direct benefit transfer (DBT). Check seeding with your bank; unseeded accounts are the most common reason money does not arrive.
- Previous year’s marksheet.
- Income certificate of the family for the current year, from the competent authority.
- Caste or category certificate, or disability certificate, as applicable.
- Fee receipt and bonafide certificate from your current institute.
- Domicile certificate for state schemes.
How to apply on NSP, step by step
- Go to scholarships.gov.in and choose One Time Registration.
- Complete OTR with your Aadhaar and mobile number. Note your OTR ID; it stays the same for every year of your studies.
- Log in with your OTR ID and fill the application form: personal, academic, bank and income details.
- Select the scheme(s) you are eligible for. The portal shows only schemes that match your details.
- Upload documents in the format and size the portal asks for.
- Submit the final application. After final submission you cannot edit, so check every field first.
- Print or save the application, and ask your institute nodal officer to verify it on the portal.
- Track your status by logging in. It moves from submitted, to institute verified, to district or state verified, to payment.
Five mistakes to avoid
- Waiting for 31 October. The portal slows down sharply in the last week. Apply now.
- Name mismatch between Aadhaar, bank account and marksheet. Fix it before applying.
- A bank account not linked to Aadhaar for DBT. Your scholarship can be approved but never paid.
- Old income certificate. Use one issued for the current financial year.
- Not following up with your institute. An unverified application is the same as no application.
For college students planning ahead
If you are in your final year and planning an MBA, many B-schools offer their own fee waivers and merit scholarships in addition to government schemes. You can browse MBA scholarships by college on TopMBAColleges.
Frequently asked questions
What is the NSP scholarship last date for 2026-27?
For most central schemes it is 31 October 2026, as per published deadline lists. Some state schemes run until November 2026 or January 2027. Always check the scheme’s date on scholarships.gov.in.
Is One Time Registration (OTR) compulsory on NSP?
Yes. You complete OTR once with your Aadhaar and mobile number, and use the same OTR ID to apply every year.
Can I apply for two scholarships on NSP?
You can usually receive only one central scholarship at a time. Apply for the scheme that suits you best.
My application is submitted. What next?
Your school or college must verify it on the portal, followed by the district or state. Ask your institute’s scholarship nodal officer to verify it quickly.
Why has my approved scholarship not reached my bank account?
The most common reason is a bank account not seeded with Aadhaar for DBT. Check with your bank and update it.
Can I edit my NSP application after final submission?
No. Check every detail before you click final submit.
Sources
- National Scholarship Portal (official; confirm all dates here)
- Careers360: NSP scholarship last date 2026-27
- Buddy4Study: NSP last dates by scheme