Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities (DEPwD)
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Government of India · All India
| Scheme Name | Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities (DEPwD) |
| Provided By | Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Government of India |
| Eligibility Summary | Class 11, Class 12, UG, PG, Diploma, ITI, PhD · Family income up to ₹2.5 Lakh/year |
There are multiple versions of this scheme — check if one of these fits you better:
About the Program
A central sector scheme by DEPwD to support post-matric education of students with benchmark disabilities of 40% or more.
Benefits & Financial Support
₹19k+
The scholarship provides financial assistance which includes a monthly maintenance allowance, annual disability allowance, and an annual book allowance. Additionally, it offers reimbursement for compulsory non-refundable fees, such as tuition/admission fees up to ₹1.4 lakh per annum and other fees up to ₹10,000 per annum. The maintenance allowance varies based on the course level and whether the student is a hosteller or day scholar. For instance, recent guidelines indicate monthly support of ₹1,200 for hostellers and ₹650 for day scholars, provided for 12 months. Historically, more granular categories existed: Group 1 (Bachelor's/Post-Graduate Degree in Medicine, Engineering, etc.) provided ₹1,600/month for hostellers and ₹750/month for day scholars, while for Class XI & XII, Polytechnics, and Post-Matriculation Diplomas, hostellers received ₹900/month and day scholars ₹550/month. The disability allowance is between ₹2,000 and ₹4,000 per year, with visually impaired or intellectual disabilities receiving ₹4,000 annually, and other disabilities receiving ₹2,000 annually. The book allowance is ₹1,500 per annum. All payments are disbursed directly to Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts of the beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Covers non-refundable fees and offers a monthly maintenance allowance of up to ₹1,600 for hostellers and ₹750 for day scholars for 10 months annually.
Note: Minimum benchmark disability of 40% or more, certified by a competent authority.
Eligibility Criteria & Income Limit
| Education Level | Class 11, Class 12, UG, PG, Diploma, ITI, PhD |
| Course / Stream | Relevant courses |
| Income Limit | Up to ₹2.5 Lakh/year |
| Category / Caste | General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS |
| Domicile State | All India |
Mandatory Documents Checklist
- ✓Disability Certificate (40% or more benchmark disability)
- ✓Aadhaar Card
- ✓Income Certificate
- ✓Previous Year Marksheet
- ✓Admission Fee Receipt
- ✓School/College Bonafide Certificate
Selection Process
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Candidates are selected based on fulfilling eligibility criteria and the availability of a fixed number of awards
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The scheme has a fixed quota of 17,000 slots per year, which includes renewal cases
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Half of these slots are reserved for female candidates
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Fresh applications are considered only after renewal cases have been cleared
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In cases of a tie in eligibility, preference is given to the candidate with a higher percentage of disability
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If a tie persists, the older candidate receives preference
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The application process is entirely online through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP)
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Eligibility requires applicants to be Indian nationals with a benchmark disability of 40% or more, certified under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016
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They must be pursuing a post-matriculation course (Class 11 onwards, including diploma, degree, and postgraduate programs) at a recognized institution
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The annual family income from all sources must not exceed ₹2.5 lakh
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Applicants must not be receiving any other government scholarship or stipend
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A maximum of two children with disabilities from the same parents are eligible for this scholarship, with an exception made for twins.
Renewal Policy
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The scholarship is awarded for one academic year or for one class at a time
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For continued benefits, students must apply for renewal annually on the National Scholarship Portal
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Renewal applications are given priority and are cleared before fresh applications are considered
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Students are not eligible to receive the scholarship for a class they have to repeat
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The scholarship benefits are provided for the complete duration of the approved course
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It is essential for applicants to review the latest rules and guidelines on the official portal before applying for renewal.
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 National Scholarship Portal (NSP) at `https://scholarships.gov.in`. For academic year 2024-25 onwards, a One Time Registration (OTR) is mandatory. This generates a unique 14-digit OTR ID based on your Aadhaar/Aadhaar Enrollment ID, which is valid for your entire academic career.
- 2UDID Portal Consent
All disabled students must first log in to the UDID portal (`https://www.swavlambancard.gov.in/`) and provide consent to share their UDID details before submitting their application on NSP.
- 3Application Form
Log in to the NSP portal using your OTR ID and password. Select "Post Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities" from the available schemes. Carefully fill in all required personal, academic, disability, income, and bank details.
- 4Document Upload
Upload scanned copies of all necessary documents. These typically include: * Recent passport-sized photograph * Aadhaar Card * Disability Certificate (with 40% or more benchmark disability) issued by a competent medical authority * UDID Card or UDID enrollment proof * Income Certificate of parents/guardians from a competent revenue authority * Previous year's marksheet (qualifying examination) * Current year's fee receipt from the institution * Admission letter or bonafide certificate from the institution * First page of the bank passbook showing the Aadhaar-linked account number and IFSC * Hostel certificate (if applicable, for hosteller allowance)
- 5Submission and Tracking
Submit your application on the NSP. You can track your application status online through the NSP portal using your application ID.
Common Questions (FAQs)
What are the application deadlines for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 academic years?
For the academic year 2026-27, the National Scholarship Portal opens for applications from June 1, 2026. The last date for Post-Matric scholarship application submission is October 31, 2026. While specific dates for 2025-26 were not explicitly provided in every instance, scholarship cycles generally follow a similar pattern, with portals opening around June and closing in October/November.
Can a student avail of this scholarship if they are already receiving another scholarship?
No, a student receiving benefits from the Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities cannot hold any other scholarship or stipend from any other government scheme simultaneously. If a candidate furnishes false information or documents, action will be initiated for recovery of the amount with 15% compound interest, and the candidate may be blacklisted.
How will the scholarship amount be disbursed to the students?
The scholarship amount is disbursed directly into the beneficiary's Aadhaar-seeded bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Students are advised to ensure their bank accounts are active and operational to avoid transaction failures. It's crucial that names match across all documents, especially between the Aadhaar record and the Class 10 marksheet, to prevent application returns.
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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 Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Government of India website before final submission.