Student scholarships in India are provided to families to cope with the rising expenses of quality education. Scholarships are available for both government and private schools, and they can be a great relief to help ease the financial burden and recognize academic or extracurricular achievement. There are hundreds of scholarships available at the central, state, and institutional levels, and it can seem overwhelming to select the right one. This guide explains the different types of scholarships available for school students, who or what they are for, what they provide, and how to apply for them.
Government Scholarships for School Students
School student government scholarships are offered by the central or state education department and are generally the most available to all families, regardless of income.
Common examples include:
- National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship for Class 9th to 12th students from economically weaker sections.
- Pre-Matric and Post-Matric scholarships for SC, ST, OBC, and minority students.
- Special education board scholarships that are provided by different states, like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh education boards.
The applications are generally processed on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), and the students submit their income certificate, caste certificate (if applicable), academic records and bank details associated with Aadhaar.
Merit Scholarships
Merit scholarships are awarded to students which is based on their academic achievement and are not based on family income. There are merit-based programs at various institutes like schools, coaching institutes, and private trusts that are based on board exam results, entrance test scores, or Olympiad rankings.
Key features:
- Based on the marks obtained in the last class or on a qualifying test (if applicable).
- Many schools will offer a 10% to 100% tuition exemption
- Must be renewed on an annual basis with a minimum percentage requirement.
There are a multitude of private school scholarships in this category, where a school gives a fee reduction to a student who earns a high score as a means to keep that talent on its faculty and improve its academic reputation.
Need-Based Scholarships
Need-based scholarships are intended for those students from low-income families who have academic promise but don’t have the financial resources to attend school. The major criterion for this scholarship is family income, not marks, like merit scholarships.
Typically, these scholarships would have the following requirements:
- Income certificate from a competent authority
- A letter from the school indicating the student’s enrollment.
- A personal statement or recommendation from the school may be required in some instances.
There are also a few NGOs and corporate CSR initiatives that offer girl students, first-generation learners, or children of daily wage workers scholarships for need-based cases.
Scholarship for CBSE Students
There are two types of scholarships for CBSE students available, one from the CBSE and the other from external organizations that acknowledge the CBSE-affiliated school students.
Notable options:
- To help girls who are the only girl child in their family and have secured 60% and above in Class 10, they are eligible for the CBSE Single Girl Child Scholarship.
- For the CBSE-affiliated schools, the CBSE Merit Scholarship Scheme has been introduced for students of classes 11 and 12 who are continuing in the same school.
- Sports/ cultural quota scholarships provided by individual CBSE schools.
To apply, students must have their CBSE Registration No., their Mark sheet, and a bona fide certificate from the existing school.
Private School Scholarships
Private school scholarships are available and will differ from school to school. Many private schools have their own scholarship programs to assist those who are deserving, as private schools cost more.
Types commonly seen:
- Discounts on admissions when families bring two or more children to the centre. Admission discounts for families with more than one child.
- Staff-ward concessions
- Waiver for sports, arts, or debate accomplishments based on talent.
- Alumni-funded scholarship funds
These scholarships are not commonly posted on public scholarship websites, and parents should directly contact the school administration to find out about any available scholarships.
Education Scholarships in India by Sector.
In addition to government and private schemes, Indian education scholarships are also available from:
- Corporate foundations (Tata Trusts, Reliance Foundation, Aditya Birla Scholarships)
- Religious and community trusts that help students of a particular community
- Organizations from around the world that provide scholarships for specific disciplines such as STEM or the arts.
These will be of benefit to families that don’t meet income eligibility criteria for government schemes.
Before applying, there are certain eligibility criteria to consider. Prior to applying, it is important to verify certain eligibility criteria.
Most scholarships are awarded according to eligibility, which may include:
- Achievement in the previous class
- Family income (for need-based schemes)
- Category of Student (SC/ST/OBC/minority if applicable)
- Board affiliation (CBSE/ ICSE/ State board)
- Applies to a person who lives in the state or the state of origin.
One must read the official notification carefully, as there can be minute errors in the documentation, which can result in the rejection of the application.
School Scholarships are a great way to do this, for the following reasons:
- Tuition fees are lowered and/or waived.
- The following are some of the clauses covered in various book plans for students: Insurance coverage for hostel costs, uniform, and books in some book plans.
- Students will earn a grade that will help their college applications. Students will receive a grade that will bolster their college applications later!
- Glut in dropouts, especially for girls and for less privileged students
- The opportunity to gain mentorship, or access to skill-development courses, as part of certain scholarships.
Application Process: Step-by-Step
- Recognize the appropriate scheme for the class, board, category, and income
- Sign up with the appropriate portal, e.g., NSP or state portal
- Collect documents: mark sheets, income certificate, caste certificate (if applicable), Aadhaar-linked bank account, bonafide certificate
- Complete the form accurately and upload the scanned documents in the required format
- Submit on time – most portals will close applications on the last date.
- Check application status via the portal or through school administration.
- Verification – the schools or district authority verifies submitted information prior to disbursement
FAQs
Q1. Is it possible for a student to apply for more than one scholarship at the same time?
Yes, provided that the scheme does not make it clear that dual benefits are prohibited. When submitting more than one scholarship, it is best to read the conditions of every scholarship.
Q2. Do all scholarships require proof of income?
No. It is not necessary to provide income proof for most scholarships that are automatically determined by need or by government funding. Merit scholarships based purely on academic performance may not require income documents.
Q3. Are scholarships available for students from other schools at private schools?
Generally no. The majority of the private school scholarships will be offered to students currently enrolled in or seeking admission to a specific school.
Q4. If you are not accepted into a program, what are your options?
Depending on the policy of the scheme, students can typically reapply in the next cycle or appeal in case of a documentation error, and they can also appeal if the rejection occurred due to a documentation error.
Q5. In India, are scholarships taxable?
Scholarships granted to meet the cost of education are generally exempt from tax under Section 10(16) of the Income Tax Act.
