NEC Merit Scholarship
North Eastern Council
| Scheme Name | NEC Merit Scholarship |
| Provided By | North Eastern Council |
| Eligibility Summary | Diploma, Undergraduate, Postgraduate, PhD · No income limit |
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 annual scholarship amount varies by the level of the course: ₹20,000 for Diploma courses, ₹22,000 for Degree courses, ₹25,000 for Postgraduate programmes, and ₹30,000 for M.Phil. and Ph.D. scholars. The financial assistance is credited directly to the student's Aadhaar-linked bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Students are required to maintain an active bank account throughout the scholarship period, and the North Eastern Council (NEC) is not responsible for any 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
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A merit list is prepared exclusively on the basis of marks obtained by the candidate in the qualifying examinations and compliance with the level-of-course-wise slots allotted to each North Eastern state
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For M.Phil. and Ph.D. programs, selection also considers the relevance of the research topic/synopsis to issues pertinent to the North Eastern Region
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In the event of a tie in marks, preference is given to the candidate with a lower family income
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There is no reservation or quota based on category, religion, or gender.
Renewal Policy
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Scholarship renewal is not an automatic process and must be applied for annually through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP)
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Eligibility for renewal is subject to maintaining satisfactory academic progress, meaning the student must pass in the particular year or be promoted to the next semester/year
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Students should not have any additional backlogs pending from previous years
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If a student is not promoted or has backlogs pending for more than one year, they will not receive further scholarship
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For M.Phil. and Ph.D. scholars, the renewal application must be accompanied by the latest progress report from the guide, countersigned by the Registrar of the institution
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The scholarship is available for the prescribed duration of the course (e.g., M.Phil. for 2 years, Ph.D. for 3 years)
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Students who change their subject of study or institution after receiving the scholarship for the previous course are ineligible for renewal.
How to Apply Online
Applications are submitted online via the official portal. Complete eKYC, upload scanned documents, and submit before the closing date.
- 1
Visit the National Scholarship Portal (NSP): Go to the official website at https://scholarships.gov.in/.
- 2One Time Registration (OTR)
If you are a new user, complete the One Time Registration process. This requires an Aadhaar-linked mobile number and may involve face authentication.
- 3Login
Log in to the NSP using your generated OTR credentials.
- 4Select Scheme
From the list of available scholarships, select the "NEC Merit Scholarship Scheme.
- 5Fill Application Form
Accurately fill in all mandatory details, including personal, academic, domicile, income, and bank account information. Ensure your bank account is Aadhaar-seeded.
- 6Upload Documents
Upload all required documents in the prescribed format. These typically include: Permanent Residential Certificate (PRC), Income Certificate of parent/guardian, Marksheet of the qualifying examination, Admission proof from the institution, Student's Bank Account Passbook (preferably Aadhaar-linked), Aadhaar Card, Passport-size Photograph. For M.Phil. and Ph.D. applicants, a Research Synopsis approved by the guide/institution is also required.
- 7Verify and Submit
Review all the entered information and uploaded documents thoroughly before final submission.
- 8Track Status
After submission, you can track the status of your application online by logging into your NSP account with your Permanent ID and Date of Birth, then clicking on the “Check your Status” link. Your application will undergo verification at the institution and authority levels.
Common Questions (FAQs)
What are the scholarship amounts and how will I receive the funds?
The scholarship amounts are ₹20,000 p.a. for Diploma, ₹22,000 p.a. for Degree, ₹25,000 p.a. for Postgraduate, and ₹30,000 p.a. for M.Phil./Ph.D. programs. The funds are disbursed annually through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) directly into the student's Aadhaar-linked bank account. You must ensure your bank account is active and linked to your Aadhaar for smooth transactions.
What are the conditions for renewing the scholarship for subsequent academic years?
To renew the scholarship, you must submit a fresh renewal application annually through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). You need to maintain satisfactory academic progress by passing your exams and being promoted to the next year or semester without significant backlogs. Students changing their subject or institution will not be eligible for renewal. For M.Phil./Ph.D., a progress report countersigned by your guide and Registrar is mandatory for renewal.
Are there any reservations or income criteria for this scholarship?
No, there is no reservation policy based on category, religion, or gender; the selection is purely merit-based. However, there is an income criterion: the total annual income of your parents/guardians from all sources must not exceed ₹8,00,000.
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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.