National Scholarship For Post Graduate Studies, Eligibility, Benefits

The National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies is a UGC scheme under the Ministry of Education, offering financial assistance to meritorious Indian students pursuing their first postgraduate degree in recognised institutions. Selected students receive ₹15,000 per month for 10 months a year, for up to two years. With 10,000 scholarships available annually, the scheme reduces the financial burden of higher education and encourages students to pursue postgraduate studies. 

National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies Objectives

The National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies (NSPG) is a scholarship scheme of the University Grants Commission (UGC) under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. It aims to provide financial assistance to eligible Indian students pursuing their first postgraduate degree. The scheme helps students manage educational expenses and encourages them to continue their higher education.

• Financial Assistance: Provide financial support to students pursuing recognised postgraduate degree programmes in India.
• Promote Higher Education: Encourage students to continue their studies after graduation and complete a postgraduate degree.
• Reduce Financial Burden: Help students meet part of their educational expenses through monthly scholarship payments.
• Support Meritorious Students: Recognise and support deserving students through a merit-based selection process.
• Encourage Women’s Education: Promote women’s participation in postgraduate education by reserving scholarship slots for female candidates.
• Equal Educational Opportunities: Support students from different backgrounds while following the applicable Government of India reservation policy.

Also Read : UGC Act

National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies Eligibility Criteria

Students applying for the National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies must meet the eligibility conditions prescribed by the UGC. The scholarship is available to students pursuing their first postgraduate degree through a regular, full-time programme at an eligible institution.

• Nationality: The applicant must be an Indian student.
• Educational Qualification: Students must have completed a recognised undergraduate degree and secured admission to a postgraduate programme.
• First PG Degree: The scholarship is available only for the first postgraduate degree. Students who have already completed a PG degree are not eligible.
• Year of Admission: Applicants must be enrolled in the first year of a postgraduate degree programme.
• Age Limit: Students must be below 30 years of age on the date of admission to the first semester or year of their PG programme.
• Mode of Study: The course must be pursued through regular/full-time mode. Distance, correspondence, private, open and part-time programmes are not eligible.
• Recognised PG Programme: The postgraduate degree must meet the UGC requirements for course recognition, nomenclature and duration.
• Eligible Institutions: Students must be enrolled in an eligible university, college or institution meeting the scheme’s recognition and accreditation requirements.
• Integrated Courses: Students enrolled in integrated degree programmes can receive the scholarship only for the postgraduate component.
• Income Criteria: There is no family income limit for applying under the scheme.
• Other Scholarships: Students receiving this scholarship cannot simultaneously receive another scholarship, fellowship, stipend, salary or monetary benefit.

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National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies Benefits and Scholarship Amount

The National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies provides financial assistance to eligible students for a maximum period of two years. The scholarship amount is paid for 10 months each year, subject to the prescribed eligibility and renewal conditions.

• Monthly Scholarship: Selected students receive ₹15,000 per month for 10 months in a year.
• Annual Financial Assistance: Each selected student can receive ₹1,50,000 per year.
• Total Scholarship Amount: Students can receive up to ₹3,00,000 over two years, subject to successful renewal.
• Number of Scholarships: The scheme provides 10,000 scholarships annually, or as decided by the UGC.
• Reservation for Women: 30% of scholarship slots are reserved for female candidates.
• Preference for Girl Children: Preference is given to single, twin and fraternal girl children, as per the scheme guidelines.
• Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): The scholarship amount is transferred directly to the student’s Aadhaar-seeded bank account.
• Scholarship Renewal: Financial assistance can continue into the second year if students fulfil the academic, attendance and renewal requirements.

National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies Selection Process

The National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies selection process is conducted on an all-India merit basis following UGC guidelines. Students are selected based on their academic merit, eligibility, applicable reservation rules and availability of scholarship slots.

• Merit-Based Selection: Eligible applicants are selected on an all-India merit basis according to the scheme guidelines.
• Reservation Policy: The selection process follows the applicable Government of India reservation policy.
• Women’s Reservation: 30% of the available scholarship slots are reserved for women candidates, with preference for single, twin and fraternal girl children under the prescribed rules.
• Subject-Wise Allocation: Scholarship slots are distributed among academic fields such as Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Science, Engineering, Technology, Law, Management, Medicine and Agriculture.
• Application Verification: Applications submitted through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) are verified by the student’s institution and the concerned State Higher Education Department or designated State Nodal Agency.
• Final Selection: Students are awarded scholarships based on merit, successful verification and available slots. Simply submitting an application does not guarantee selection.

How to Apply for a National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies Online?

Eligible students can apply for the National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies online through the official National Scholarship Portal (NSP). Applicants must first complete the registration process, generate a One-Time Registration (OTR) number, and submit their scholarship application. 

• Step 1: Visit the Official Portal: Visit the National Scholarship Portal and select the option for new registration or OTR.
• Step 2: Complete New Registration: Read the registration guidelines, accept the terms and conditions, and verify your mobile number using the OTP. Complete the required e-KYC process to generate a reference number.
• Step 3: Generate the OTR Number: Download the NSP OTR App and AadhaarFaceRD app on an Android device. Complete face authentication using the reference number to generate your One-Time Registration (OTR) number.
• Step 4: Log In to the Portal: Return to the NSP website and log in using your OTR number and password. Complete OTP verification and reset your password if prompted.
• Step 5: Fill Out the Application Form: Open the Application Form from the applicant dashboard. Enter the required personal, academic, institution and bank details carefully.
• Step 6: Complete Document Requirements: Provide the required information and submit relevant documents to your institution for verification. These may include:
  • Undergraduate marksheet or degree certificate
  • Postgraduate admission proof
  • Aadhaar-linked bank account details
  • Category certificate, if applicable
  • Single/Twin/Fraternal Girl Child proof, if applicable
  • Other documents requested by the institution
• Step 7: Submit the Application: Review all the information before clicking Final Submit. Applicants can also use the Save as Draft option to complete the application later.
• Step 8: Track Application and Payment Status: Students can check their application status through NSP. Once the scholarship is approved, payment details can be tracked through the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) portal.