Karnataka Scholarships: The Complete Guide (2026)

Karnataka runs 27 different scholarship schemes. Most of them run through one system, called SSP — but SSP is actually split across two separate websites, and mixing them up is one of the most common mistakes students make. This guide explains how it all fits together, in simple words.

SSP is not one website — it is two

SSP stands for State Scholarship Portal. Almost every Karnataka scholarship uses SSP. But there are two separate SSP websites, and you must use the correct one:

• ssp.karnataka.gov.in — for Pre-Matric scholarships (students up to Class 10).
• ssp.postmatric.karnataka.gov.in — for Post-Matric scholarships (Class 11, PUC, college, and beyond).

These are different websites with different logins. If you are in college and try to use the Pre-Matric site, or the other way around, your application will not go through correctly. Our SSP Karnataka portal guide walks through registration and login on both sites step by step.

Six groups, each with their own scheme

Karnataka does not run one general "SC/ST/OBC scholarship." It runs a separate scheme for each group, at both Pre-Matric and Post-Matric level. The six main groups are:

1. SC (Scheduled Caste)
2. ST (Scheduled Tribe)
3. OBC (Other Backward Classes — further split into Category 1, 2A, 3A, and 3B)
4. Minority (Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi)
5. General / EWS (Economically Weaker Section)
6. Persons with Disabilities (PWD) — requires a valid UDID (Unique Disability ID) card

If you are SC or ST outside Karnataka too, our SC/ST Scholarships in India guide covers the national picture.

What this means for you: Open the exact scheme page for your group and your class level. A search for "Karnataka scholarship" alone will not show you the right one — you need both pieces of information.

The income limit is different for each group

Many students assume the income limit is the same for every scholarship. In Karnataka, it usually is not.

• SC and ST schemes commonly allow a family income up to around ₹2.5 lakh per year.
• OBC schemes are commonly capped lower, around ₹1 lakh per year.

These numbers can change each year. Always check the exact limit shown on the SSP portal for your specific scheme, rather than assuming it matches another category.

Documents Karnataka almost always asks for

1. Aadhaar Card, linked to your mobile number and bank account.
2. SATS ID — a student ID number from the Student Achievement Tracking System, given by your school or college.
3. Caste Certificate with RD Number — issued by the Tahsildar or through the e-KSHANA system. The RD Number is used to verify your certificate online.
4. Income Certificate for the current financial year.
5. Previous year's marksheet, usually with a minimum pass percentage.
6. Bank account linked to Aadhaar (NPCI seeding) — needed for Direct Benefit Transfer.

Schemes you might not know about

Beyond the six main caste-based tracks, Karnataka also runs some smaller, specific schemes:

• CM Raitha Vidya Nidhi — for children of farmers.
• Sandeepani Shishya Vethana — only for Brahmin community students, run by the Karnataka State Brahmin Development Board.
• VTU Jnana Yaana Doctoral Fellowship and VTU SC/ST Welfare Scheme — only for students at Visvesvaraya Technological University.
• Labour Department Scheme — for children of unorganized workers, like auto drivers and daily wage laborers.
• Bhagya Lakshmi Scheme — a scheme connected to the girl child.

If you don't fit the six main groups, check this list — one of these schemes might apply to you.

How to find the right scheme — step by step

1. Check your class level first. Pre-Matric (up to Class 10) and Post-Matric (Class 11 onwards) use different websites.
2. Check your category — SC, ST, OBC, Minority, General/EWS, or PWD — and open the exact scheme for that group.
3. Confirm the income limit for your specific category. Do not assume it matches another group's limit.
4. Check the smaller schemes list if you don't fit the six main groups — you may still qualify through your parent's occupation or your institution.
5. Get your SATS ID and RD Number ready before you start the online form.