Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students
Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India · All India
| Scheme Name | Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students |
| Provided By | Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India |
| Eligibility Summary | Undergraduate, Postgraduate · Family income up to ₹4.5 Lakh/year |
About the Program
Complete guide to the Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship (CSSS) on NSP. Learn about the 80th percentile board criteria, ₹4.5L income ceiling, and online registration details.
Benefits & Financial Support
₹20k+
The scholarship provides financial assistance ranging from ₹12,000 to ₹20,000 per annum. Undergraduate students receive ₹12,000 per year for the first three years of their college and university courses. For postgraduate students, or for students in the fourth and fifth years of professional/integrated courses (e.g., B.Tech/B.E. in the fourth year), the scholarship amount is ₹20,000 per annum. The scholarship amount is disbursed directly into the beneficiary's Aadhaar-seeded bank account through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, utilizing the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) gateway.
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Undergraduate (Year 1-3):₹12,000 per annum.
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Postgraduate/Professional (Year 4-5):₹20,000 per annum.
Note: Requires scoring in the top 80th percentile of the board exams.
Eligibility Criteria & Income Limit
| Education Level | Undergraduate, Postgraduate |
| Course / Stream | All Streams |
| Minimum Marks | 80% |
| Income Limit | Up to ₹4.5 Lakh/year |
| Category / Caste | General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS |
| Domicile State | All India |
Mandatory Documents Checklist
- ✓Class 12 Marksheet proving 80th percentile standing
- ✓Income Certificate (< ₹4.5 Lakhs)
- ✓College Bonafide and fee structure
- ✓Aadhaar Card & Aadhaar-seeded Bank details
Selection Process
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Candidates are selected based on merit-cum-means criteria
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Applicants must be Indian nationals who have passed Class 12 and are among the top 80th percentile of successful candidates in the relevant stream from their respective Board of Examination
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The annual family income of the applicants must not exceed ₹4.5 lakh
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The merit list is generated considering gender (50% for boys and 50% for girls), academic stream (Science, Commerce, and Humanities in the ratio of 3:1:3 respectively), and category (15% for SC, 7.5% for ST, 27% for OBC)
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A 5% horizontal reservation is provided for students with Benchmark Disabilities (40% or more disability).
Renewal Policy
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The scholarship is renewable on a year-to-year basis for a maximum duration of five years, covering both undergraduate and postgraduate studies (except for students pursuing technical courses leading to a degree at the graduation level)
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To be eligible for renewal, students must secure at least 50% marks in their previous annual examinations and maintain a minimum of 75% attendance
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They must also not be involved in any ragging activities
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Renewal applications must be submitted online through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP)
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Students changing their institution may continue to receive the scholarship, provided the new course of study is eligible, and the new institution has a valid All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) code.
How to Apply Online
Applications are submitted online via Online. Complete eKYC, upload scanned documents, and submit before the closing date.
- 1One-Time Registration (OTR)
Visit the official NSP website (scholarships.gov.in). From Academic Year 2024-25 onwards, OTR is mandatory. Click on 'New Registration' and provide your basic details, including Aadhaar or Aadhaar Enrolment ID. Complete eKYC and generate your unique 14-digit OTR ID.
- 2Login
Use your OTR ID and password to log in to the NSP.
- 3Fill Application Form
Select the 'Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students' under the 'Central Schemes' section. Fill in all required academic, personal, and banking details accurately. Ensure your Class 12 board details are correctly entered, verifying your marks are above the 80th percentile cut-off.
- 4Upload Documents
Scan and upload all necessary documents in the prescribed format, which typically include Aadhaar Card, Class 12 Marksheet, Income Certificate, Caste Certificate (if applicable), Disability Certificate (if applicable), Bank Passbook (Aadhaar-linked), and proof of admission/Bonafide student certificate.
- 5Preview and Submit
Review your application thoroughly for any errors. Save the application as a draft if you need to make further checks. Once confirmed, click on 'Submit' to finalize your application. It's advisable to take a printout of the submitted application for your records.
- 6Institutional Verification
Your application will be sent to your institution's Nodal Officer for verification. You may need to show original documents to your institute for this process. Timely verification by the institution is crucial; otherwise, the application may be treated as invalid.
- 7Track Application Status
You can track your application status by logging into your NSP account and selecting 'My Applications'. The status will show stages like 'Draft', 'Finally submitted', 'Institute verified', 'Higher-level verified', 'Rejected', 'Sanctioned', or 'Sent for payment'.
- 8Track Payment Status
After sanction and processing, you can track your scholarship disbursement status through the 'Track Your Payment' option on the NSP portal, which often redirects to the PFMS portal. Keep your OTR, Application ID, and bank details handy.
Common Questions (FAQs)
What are the key eligibility criteria for the Central Sector Scholarship?
To be eligible, students must be Indian nationals, have passed Class 12 with marks above the 80th percentile of their respective board, be pursuing a regular (not distance or diploma) undergraduate or postgraduate course at a recognized institution, and have an annual family income of less than ₹4.5 lakh. They should not be availing any other scholarship.
How is the scholarship amount disbursed, and what are the amounts for different courses?
The scholarship amount is disbursed directly into the student's Aadhaar-seeded bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Undergraduate students receive ₹12,000 per annum for the first three years, while postgraduate students and those in the 4th/5th year of professional/integrated courses receive ₹20,000 per annum. For B.Tech/B.E. students, it's ₹12,000 for the first three years and ₹20,000 for the fourth year.
What are the conditions for renewing the scholarship for subsequent years?
For annual renewal, students must secure a minimum of 50% marks in their previous year's examination and maintain at least 75% attendance. They must also not be involved in any ragging activities. The scholarship can be renewed for up to five years. Renewal applications must be submitted online through the National Scholarship Portal.
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IndiaScholarships.in attempts to provide accurate information manually curated from official sources. Scholarship details, timelines, and eligibility can change without notice as per the provider's discretion. Applying for a scholarship does not guarantee selection. Always verify all information on the official Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India website before final submission.