Scholarships Closing in October 2026: Last Dates You Can't Miss
Key Takeaways
- ✓About 20 major central, private, state and international scholarships close or are open for applications in October 2026.
- ✓Early cut-offs: Reliance Foundation UG (Oct 5), Chevening (Oct 6), DAAD Research Grants (Oct 7) and Commonwealth Master's (Oct 20).
- ✓Central and state government schemes require an Aadhaar-seeded bank account mapped via NPCI to receive direct benefit transfers.
What to Do Now
An important official update has been released regarding this scholarship. Check the details, verify your eligibility, and submit your application before the deadline.
Check Scholarship Details →October is among the busiest months in the Indian scholarship calendar.
Dozens of central government schemes, state fee-reimbursement portals, private CSR foundations, and foreign master's grants close their annual intake windows between October 1 and October 31, 2026.
Missing an October deadline usually means waiting an entire year for the next cycle.
We have compiled verified scholarships closing this month across government portals, corporate trusts, state initiatives, and international fellowships.
Explore real-time deadlines and filter schemes on our All Scholarships Directory.
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What to Do Right Now
Before reviewing the deadlines below, complete these four procedural steps:
- Prioritize by Closing Date: Do not assume October 31 applies to every scheme. Flag early deadlines first, such as the Reliance Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship on October 5.
- Obtain Institutional Verification Early: College schemes require verification by your Institute Nodal Officer (INO). Colleges often close internal submissions 3–5 days ahead of official portal deadlines.
- Verify Aadhaar-NPCI Bank Seeding: Government schemes disburse funds exclusively through Aadhaar Payment Bridge (APB). Check your seeding status on the NPCI portal immediately.
- Collect Tehsildar Income Certificates: Revenue departments take 7–14 days to issue digitally signed certificates. Income affidavits on stamp paper are rejected by most portals.
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1. Central Government & NSP Scholarships
The National Scholarship Portal hosts major Central Sector and Ministry schemes closing on October 31, 2026.
| Scholarship Name | Who It's For | Last Date | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Central Sector Scheme for College and University Students | Top 20th percentile Class 12 qualifiers entering regular UG/PG | 31 Oct 2026 | | PM Yasasvi Scholarship | Meritorious OBC, EBC, and DNT students in Class 9 and 11 | 31 Oct 2026 | | Top Class Education Scheme for SC Students | SC students in premier institutes (IITs, NITs, IIMs, AIIMS) | 31 Oct 2026 | | AICTE Pragati Scholarship for Girl Students | First-year female technical degree or diploma students | 31 Oct 2026 | | Post-Matric Scholarship for Minorities | Minority students (Class 11 to PhD) with income under ₹2 Lakh | 31 Oct 2026 | | National Scholarship Portal (NSP) Central Schemes | Master registration for central department awards | 31 Oct 2026 |
For step-by-step OTR instructions, read our NSP Portal Guide.
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2. Corporate & Private CSR Foundation Scholarships
Private foundations and corporate CSR trusts offer high-value grants with strict independent timelines.
| Scholarship Name | Who It's For | Last Date | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Reliance Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship | First-year UG students (income up to ₹15 Lakhs) | 05 Oct 2026 | | Dr. Reddy's Foundation Sashakt Scholarship | Female students entering first-year B.Sc. pure science | 31 Oct 2026 | | Foundation for Excellence (FFE) Scholarship | First-year B.Tech and MBBS students with high entrance ranks | 31 Oct 2026 | | ONGC Scholarship (CSR) | First-year Engineering, MBBS, MBA, and Geosciences students | 31 Oct 2026 | | Lila Poonawalla Foundation Scholarship | Female students in engineering, pharmacy, and science | 31 Oct 2026 | | Kotak Junior Scholarship Program | Class 11 students in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) | 31 Oct 2026 |
To learn how to clear private foundation interviews and tests, review our Corporate and Private Scholarships Guide.
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3. State Government Scholarships
These state portals are open now. Official last dates have not been announced yet, so apply early rather than waiting.
| Scholarship Name | Who It's For | Last Date | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Mukhyamantri Yuva Swavalamban Yojana (MYSY) | High-scoring Gujarat domicile students in degree/diploma courses | Open; last date not yet announced | | Jharkhand e-Kalyan Post-Matric Scholarship | SC, ST, and BC category students studying in Jharkhand | Open; last date not yet announced | | Jagananna Vidya Deevena (Andhra Pradesh) | Full fee reimbursement for ITI, Polytechnic, Degree, and Pharmacy | Open; last date not yet announced |
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4. Study Abroad & International Scholarships
Government-funded international awards closing application windows this month:
| Scholarship Name | Who It's For | Last Date | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Chevening UK Government Scholarship | Professionals with min 2 years experience for 1-year UK Master's | 06 Oct 2026 | | Commonwealth Master's Scholarship | Indian graduates with min 60% aiming for UK Master's (via CSC & MoE) | 20 Oct 2026 | | National Overseas Scholarship for SC/ST Students | Meritorious SC/ST scholars pursuing Master's or PhD abroad | 31 Oct 2026 | | DAAD Research Grants for Doctoral Candidates | Indian PhD scholars and researchers conducting research in Germany | 07 Oct 2026 |
Read our detailed procedural guide on How Indian Students Apply for the Commonwealth Master's Scholarship.
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5. Research & Doctoral Fellowships
National fellowship programmes for doctoral candidates and post-doctoral researchers closing in October:
| Scholarship / Fellowship Name | Who It's For | Last Date | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | SERB-ANRF National Post-Doctoral Fellowship | Ph.D. holders in Science and Engineering under 35 years | 31 Oct 2026 | | ICMR Junior Research Fellowship (ICMR-JRF) | Postgraduates in biomedical and social sciences pursuing medical research | 31 Oct 2026 |
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Excluded Schemes
Note that two schemes frequently cited on external blogs are closed:
- SBI Platinum Jubilee Asha Scholarship: The official portal confirms this cycle is closed. Do not submit details on third-party aggregator forms.
- Charpak Exchange Scholarship (France): Campus France says the autumn 2026 round will not open.
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Final Submission Checklist
- Check that the spelling of your name on your Aadhaar card matches your Class 10 marksheet.
- Keep clear scans of income certificates, category proofs and bonafide letters ready, sized to each portal's upload limit.
- Submit applications at least 5 days early to allow college authorities adequate time for verification.
Discover more matching opportunities and filter awards on the IndiaScholarships Discovery Hub.
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