NSP Scholarships 2026: Agriculture, UGC, and How to Apply on the National Scholarship Portal
The National Scholarship Portal (NSP) at scholarships.gov.in is the Government of India's single-window platform hosting over 100 central ministry and state government scholarships — from pre-matric to postgraduate and research levels — covering students from SC, ST, OBC, minority communities, differently-abled persons, and agriculture students. For the 2026 academic cycle, NSP scholarships are typically open for fresh applications between July and October, and for renewal between October and November. This page covers which scholarships are on NSP, the agriculture students scholarship, UGC scholarships, how to apply and renew, and how to check your payment status.
What is the National Scholarship Portal (NSP)?
The National Scholarship Portal (NSP) is a digital platform launched by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in collaboration with multiple central ministries, to consolidate all central government scholarship applications and disbursements on a single platform. Before NSP, students had to apply to each scholarship separately through different portals and offices — NSP eliminates that fragmentation.
NSP hosts scholarships from several ministries including Education, Tribal Affairs, Social Justice and Empowerment, Minority Affairs, Labour and Employment, and Agriculture. State government scholarships are also listed on NSP in participating states. All NSP scholarship payments are disbursed through the PFMS (Public Financial Management System) directly to students' Aadhaar-linked bank accounts. The portal went live in 2013 and is maintained by the National Informatics Centre (NIC). For 2025–26, fresh applications and renewal applications are typically open between August and November — check scholarships.gov.in for the exact deadline each year.
NSP Scholarships — Complete Ministry-Wise List
Ministry of Education
| Scholarship | Level | Annual Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMSS) | Class 9–12 | ₹12,000/year |
| Central Sector Scheme for Scholarships for College & University Students | UG/PG | ₹12,000–₹20,000/year |
| National Fellowship for SC Students (UGC) | PhD | Full fellowship |
| National Fellowship for OBC Students (UGC) | PhD | Full fellowship |
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
| Scholarship | Level | Annual Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Fellowship for ST Students (UGC) | PhD | Full fellowship |
| Top Class Education for ST Students | UG/PG | Up to ₹1.68 lakh/year |
| National Overseas Scholarship for ST | Masters/PhD abroad | Full funding (tuition, maintenance, airfare) |
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
| Scholarship | Level | Annual Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC Students | Class 9–10 | ₹3,500–₹7,000/year |
| Post-Matric Scholarship for SC Students | Class 11 and above | ₹550–₹1,200/month + maintenance |
| Merit-cum-Means Scholarship for Professional/Technical Courses (SC) | UG/PG professional | Up to ₹30,000/year |
| Top Class Education for SC Students | UG/PG at notified premier institutions | Full tuition + maintenance |
| National Overseas Scholarship for SC | Masters/PhD abroad | Full funding |
Ministry of Minority Affairs
| Scholarship | Level | Annual Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Matric Scholarship for Minorities | Class 1–10 | ₹1,000–₹10,700/year |
| Post-Matric Scholarship for Minorities | Class 11 and above | ₹3,000–₹7,000/year |
| Merit-cum-Means Scholarship for Technical/Professional Courses | UG/PG professional | ₹20,000–₹30,000/year |
| Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) | PhD (6 years) | ₹31,000–₹35,000/month (as per UGC JRF/SRF rates) |
Ministry of Labour and Employment
| Scholarship | Level | Annual Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Assistance for Education of Wards of Beedi/Cine/IOMC/LSDM Workers (Pre-Matric) | Class 1–10 | ₹1,200–₹6,000/year |
| Financial Assistance for Education of Wards of Beedi/Cine/IOMC/LSDM Workers (Post-Matric) | Class 11 and above | ₹3,000–₹15,000/year |
NSP Agriculture Students Scholarships
The primary agriculture-specific scholarship on NSP is the Scholarship for Students of Agriculture and Allied Subjects from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
ICAR Scholarship (NSP Agriculture)
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | ICAR PG Scholarship for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Allied Sciences |
| Level | Postgraduate (Master's and PhD) |
| Institution | At ICAR-accredited state agricultural universities and ICAR institutes |
| Annual amount | ₹8,640/month for Master's students; ₹12,960/month for PhD students (approximately — verify current rate) |
| Eligibility | Students admitted to PG programmes in agriculture and allied subjects at accredited institutions |
| Application | Through the institution's admission process; listed on NSP under Ministry of Agriculture |
| Selection | Merit-based through institution; ICAR-funded seats specifically |
RKVY / Other Agriculture Support
- Students in RKVY (Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana) skill programmes may receive stipends as part of training — check with your state agriculture university or institute for RKVY-linked NSP scholarships
- SC/ST agriculture students may additionally apply for Post-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST under their respective ministry scholarships on NSP
Verify the current list of agriculture-specific scholarships at scholarships.gov.in → Select Ministry → Agriculture.
NSP UGC Scholarships
University Grants Commission (UGC) scholarships on NSP cover PhD-level fellowships for students from reserved categories.
| UGC Scholarship | Category | Monthly Fellowship |
|---|---|---|
| UGC National Fellowship for SC Students | SC students for full-time PhD | ₹31,000/month (JRF level) rising to ₹35,000/month (SRF level after 2 years) |
| UGC National Fellowship for OBC Students | OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) students for full-time PhD | Same as SC — ₹31,000–₹35,000/month |
| UGC National Fellowship for ST Students (Ministry of Tribal Affairs) | ST students for full-time PhD | Same rates |
| Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) | Minority students for full-time PhD | ₹31,000–₹35,000/month |
| UGC PG Merit Scholarship for University Rank Holders | University rank holders at PG level | ₹3,100/month for 2 years |
Eligibility — UGC Fellowships on NSP
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Admission | Must be admitted to a full-time PhD programme at a UGC-recognised university |
| Category | SC / ST / OBC (NCL) / Minority as applicable |
| NET / SET | Must have qualified UGC-NET / CSIR-NET or be directly admitted to PhD through institutional process |
| Age | Typically below 30 years for JRF level |
| Simultaneously held fellowship | Cannot hold another fellowship simultaneously |
How to Apply on NSP (scholarships.gov.in) — Step by Step
New / Fresh Application
- Visit scholarships.gov.in
- Click New Registration — register with your mobile number, email, and state
- Complete OTP verification; set a password
- Log in and click Apply for Scholarship
- Select the academic year (e.g., 2025–26) and select the appropriate scholarship from the list
- Fill in academic details, bank account information, category, and family income
- Upload required documents — marksheets, income certificate, category certificate, Aadhaar, bank passbook
- Submit before the notified deadline; note your application ID
Renewal Application (for Continuing Scholars)
- Log in to scholarships.gov.in with your existing credentials
- Click Renewal for your existing scholarship
- Upload updated marksheet, current enrolment certificate, and bank details (if changed)
- Submit before the renewal deadline
PaisaOne does not process NSP scholarship applications. Apply directly at scholarships.gov.in.
How to Check NSP Scholarship Payment Status
On NSP Portal
- Log in to scholarships.gov.in
- Click Check Your Status — view application status (submitted, verified, payment processed)
On PFMS Portal (for Payment Tracking)
- Visit pfms.nic.in → Know Your Payment
- Enter your bank account number and registered mobile number
- View DBT payment status for NSP scholarships
Via Aadhaar Payment Status
- Visit scholarships.gov.in → Track NSP Payment
- Enter Aadhaar number for payment tracking
NSP Helpline: 0120-6619540 (Monday–Friday, 10 AM–6 PM) | Email: helpdesk@nsp.gov.in
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NSP Scholarships 2026 — Important Dates (Indicative)
| Activity | Typical Timeline |
|---|---|
| Fresh application window opens | August–September 2025 (for 2025–26 AY) |
| Fresh application deadline | October–November 2025 |
| Renewal application window | October–November 2025 |
| Institute verification deadline | November–December 2025 |
| State / district verification | December 2025 – January 2026 |
| Payment disbursement | February–March 2026 (varies by scholarship and state) |
Exact dates for the 2026 cycle will be notified at scholarships.gov.in. Check the portal regularly from August onwards.
Key NSP Rules and Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Common Issue | What to Do |
|---|---|
| Aadhaar not linked to bank account | Link Aadhaar to your bank account before applying — payments will fail otherwise |
| Duplicate application | Do not apply for the same scholarship twice — the second application is rejected |
| Institute not verified on time | Follow up with your institution's NSP nodal officer to ensure verification is completed before the deadline |
| Incorrect IFSC / account number | Double-check bank details; a wrong account number results in payment failure and requires correction request |
| Missing documents | Upload clear scans of all required documents; blurry or incomplete uploads cause rejection |
| Applying for multiple NSP scholarships | Read each scholarship's rules — some allow holding both a central and state scholarship; others prohibit dual benefit |
State-Wise NSP Scholarship Participation
All states participate in NSP for central scholarship disbursement. Many states additionally list their own state scholarships on NSP:
| State | Notable State Scholarships on NSP |
|---|---|
| Maharashtra | Maharashtra State Scholarship (Post-Matric for SC/NT/OBC/SBC) |
| Uttar Pradesh | UP Post-Matric Scholarship for OBC, SC, ST, Minority |
| Bihar | Bihar Post-Matric Scholarship — listed on NSP |
| Rajasthan | Rajasthan Scholarship Portal scholarships — some listed on NSP |
| Karnataka | Karnataka State Scholarship for SC/ST/OBC |
| West Bengal | West Bengal Bigyan Sastha scholarship through NSP |
| Andhra Pradesh | AP Jagananna Vidya Deevena — separately listed; some components on NSP |
| Telangana | TS ePass scholarships on NSP |
| Tamil Nadu | Tamil Nadu state scholarships partially on NSP |
| Assam | Assam state scholarships on NSP for tribal and minority students |
What is the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) and what scholarships does it list? The National Scholarship Portal (NSP) at scholarships.gov.in is the Government of India's single-window platform for over 100 central and state government scholarships, from pre-matric to PhD level. Scholarships from the Ministry of Education, Social Justice, Tribal Affairs, Minority Affairs, Labour and Employment, and Agriculture are listed. All payments are disbursed via PFMS directly to students' Aadhaar-linked bank accounts. Applications for the 2025–26 cycle typically open in August–September and close in October–November.
What NSP scholarships are available for agriculture students? The primary agriculture scholarship on NSP is the ICAR PG Scholarship for students in Master's and PhD programmes at ICAR-accredited state agricultural universities and ICAR institutes. Monthly amounts are approximately ₹8,640 (Master's) and ₹12,960 (PhD). Additionally, SC, ST, OBC, and minority category agriculture students can apply for post-matric scholarships from their respective ministry scholarships on NSP — these apply regardless of subject area.
What UGC scholarships are available on NSP? NSP lists several UGC-administered PhD fellowships: the UGC National Fellowship for SC Students, UGC National Fellowship for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) Students, and the UGC National Fellowship for ST Students (administered by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs). Each provides ₹31,000/month (JRF level) rising to ₹35,000/month (SRF level). The Maulana Azad National Fellowship for minority students follows the same rate structure. All require full-time PhD admission at a UGC-recognised university.
How do I apply for NSP scholarships in 2026? Register at scholarships.gov.in with your mobile number and state, complete OTP verification, and log in to apply. Select the appropriate scholarship from the ministry-wise list for your academic level and category. Upload Aadhaar, marksheets, income certificate, category certificate, and bank passbook. Submit before the notified deadline — typically October–November for the 2025–26 cycle. Track application and payment status at scholarships.gov.in or on pfms.nic.in. Call 0120-6619540 for helpline support.
