NEC Merit Scholarship
North Eastern Council
| Scheme Name | NEC Merit Scholarship |
| Provided By | North Eastern Council |
| Eligibility Summary | Class 11-12, Graduation, Engineering (< ₹8L Income) |
About the Program
The NEC Merit Scholarship is a prestigious scheme for students of the 8 North Eastern states (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura) to pursue higher studies.
Benefits & Financial Support
₹30k+
The scholarship amounts vary based on the level of study: ₹20,000 per annum for Diploma courses, ₹22,000 per annum for Degree courses, ₹25,000 per annum for Post Graduate courses, and ₹30,000 per annum for M.Phil./Ph.D. programs. The scholarship will be disbursed directly to students' verified bank accounts, preferably in the applicant's name, which must be linked to Aadhaar, using the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode as per government guidelines. Students are required to maintain an active bank account throughout the scholarship period. The North Eastern Council (NEC) is not responsible for payment failures at the bank level.
Diploma: ₹20,000/yr | Degree: ₹22,000/yr | PG: ₹25,000/yr | M.Phil/PhD: ₹30,000/yr
Eligibility Criteria & Income Limit
| Education Level | Diploma, Undergraduate, Postgraduate, PhD |
| Course / Stream | Relevant courses |
| Minimum Marks | 60% |
| Income Limit | No income bar |
| Category / Caste | General, SC, ST, OBC |
| Domicile State | All India |
Mandatory Documents Checklist
Selection Process
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Selection for the NEC Merit Scholarship is purely merit-based, determined by the marks obtained by the candidate in their qualifying examinations
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A minimum of 60% marks in aggregate is required in the previous qualifying examination
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Scholarships are distributed according to level-of-course-wise slots allotted to each North Eastern state
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In instances of a tie in marks, preference is given to the candidate with a lower annual family income
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For M.Phil. and Ph.D. programs, selection criteria also include the relevance of the research topic or synopsis to the problems and issues pertinent to the North Eastern Region
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basic and theoretical research is generally not favored
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There is no reservation or quota based on category, religion, or gender
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Applicants must be Indian citizens and permanent residents of one of the North Eastern states (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura)
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They must be enrolled in a full-time diploma, degree, postgraduate, M.Phil., or Ph.D. program in a recognized Indian institution
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The annual family income from all sources must not exceed ₹8,00,000
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The scholarship is not available for students pursuing internships, practical training, distance learning, online programs, those admitted via management quota, or those already receiving other scholarships for the same course
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The merit list is published on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
Renewal Policy
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The scholarship is awarded for the entire duration of the course, subject to the fulfillment of specific renewal conditions annually
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All existing and eligible beneficiaries are required to fill out a renewal form on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) every year during their course period
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To qualify for renewal, students must successfully pass the previous year's examinations or be promoted to the next semester/year, without failing any courses or having backlogs pending for more than one year
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Students who change their subject of study or institution after receiving the scholarship for the previous course or part of it will not be eligible for renewal
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For M.Phil. and Ph.D. students, the renewal application must be accompanied by the latest progress report from their guide, countersigned by the Registrar of the Institute
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No separate merit list is generated for renewal applications.
How to Apply Online
Applications are submitted online via the official portal. Complete eKYC, upload scanned documents, and submit before the closing date.
- 1Registration
If you are a new user, click on the 'Register' button on the NSP website (scholarships.gov.in) and fill in the required registration details. If you are already registered, log in using your credentials.
- 2Login
After registration, or if already registered, log in to the NSP portal using your Permanent ID and Date of Birth.
- 3Select Scheme
Navigate to the available scholarship schemes and select "NEC Merit Scholarship for Students of NER".
- 4Complete Application Form
Fill in all the mandatory fields in the application form, including personal details, academic details (qualifying exam marks, current course, institution), bank details (Aadhaar-linked bank account number and IFSC code), and family income details (ensure family income is below ₹8 lakh).
- 5Upload Documents
Upload the necessary documents, which typically include: Permanent Residence Certificate (PRC), Income Certificate issued by the competent authority, Bank Account Passbook (in the applicant's name), mark sheets/certificates of the qualifying examination, and for M.Phil./Ph.D. candidates, a synopsis signed by the project guide/Director (Research) or an authorized official.
- 6Submission
You can either 'Save as Draft' to complete the application later or click 'Final Submit' to submit your application.
- 7Status Tracking
To check the status of your application, log in to the NSP portal using your Permanent ID and Date of Birth, then click on the "Check your Status" link on your dashboard.
- 8Renewal Application
For scholarship renewal, existing beneficiaries must apply annually through the NSP portal. They need to submit a renewal form and upload their previous year's exam mark sheet or pass certificate. M.Phil./Ph.D. students must also include a latest progress report from their guide.
Common Questions (FAQs)
Is there any reservation or quota for the NEC Merit Scholarship?
No, the NEC Merit Scholarship does not have any reservation or quota based on category, religion, or gender. Selection is based purely on merit.
Can students renew the NEC Merit Scholarship for subsequent years?
Yes, students can renew the scholarship annually. They must apply for renewal each year through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) and meet specific academic performance criteria, such as passing the previous year's examinations without significant backlogs, and not changing their subject or institution.
Is an Aadhaar card mandatory for applying for the NEC Merit Scholarship?
An Aadhaar number is preferred but not strictly mandatory for initial registration on the National Scholarship Portal for all states. However, the scholarship amount will be disbursed directly to an Aadhaar-seeded bank account, so linking your Aadhaar to your bank account is crucial for receiving funds.
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Legal Disclaimer
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 North Eastern Council website before final submission.