NEC Merit Scholarship for Students of NER 2025-26

The Financial Support to Students of North Eastern Region for Higher Professional Courses (NEC Merit Scholarship) 2025 is a flagship initiative by the North Eastern Council (NEC), under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER). The scheme offers financial assistance to meritorious students belonging to the eight northeastern states, promoting access to diploma, degree, postgraduate, M.Phil., and Ph.D. studies across India.

The scholarship is intended to nurture and empower students from the North East by encouraging higher education in recognized professional disciplines within the country.

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Scheme Key Highlights (Short Summary)

• Launched by: North Eastern Council (NEC), Ministry of DoNER
• Target Group: Students from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim
• Scholarship Amount:

• Diploma: ₹20,000 per annum

• Degree: ₹22,000 per annum

• Postgraduate: ₹25,000 per annum

• M.Phil./Ph.D.: ₹30,000 per annum
  • Mode of Application: Online through National Scholarship Portal (NSP)

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Benefits

• Annual financial assistance depending on the level of the course
• Direct disbursement to students’ bank accounts via DBT mode
• Covers students studying inside or outside North East, but within India
• Encourages specialization and research aligned to the developmental needs of the NER

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State-wise Scholarship Distribution

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Eligibility Criteria

• Must be a permanent resident of one of the North Eastern States
• Must be enrolled in Diploma, Degree, PG, M.Phil. or Ph.D. courses recognized by the Government
• Annual family income must not exceed ₹8,00,000
• Minimum academic qualifications:

• Diploma: 60% marks in HSLC/HSSLC/Equivalent

• Degree: 60% marks in Senior Secondary (HSSLC)

• Postgraduate: 60% marks in Bachelor’s Degree

• M.Phil./Ph.D.: 60% marks in Postgraduate Degree

Note: Preference in case of tie will be given to candidates with lower family income.

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Exclusions

• Students under full-time employment or sponsored candidates
• Students already availing other scholarships or financial aids
• Students changing subject/course or institution during the scholarship period
• Students pursuing internships, distance education, or practical training only programs

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Selection and Disbursal Process

• Merit-based selection through NSP verified applications
• Merit list will be prepared based on aggregate marks of qualifying exams
• No reservation based on category, gender, or religion
• Relevance to North Eastern Region is mandatory for M.Phil. and Ph.D. research topics
• Scholarships will be disbursed directly into verified student bank accounts via DBT mode

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Renewal of Scholarship

• Renewal required every academic year via NSP
• Students must pass or get promoted to the next academic year to renew
• Must submit previous year’s marksheet or progress report (for M.Phil/Ph.D.)
• No renewal allowed if there is a year gap, course change, or institution change
• In case of backlogs pending for more than one year, renewal will be denied

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Application Process (Online)

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Visit National Scholarship Portal (NSP)

2. Click “New Registration” and complete the undertaking

3. Fill in the required information and complete registration

4. Login with the newly generated credentials

5. Complete the application form under the NEC Merit Scholarship Scheme

6. Upload all the mandatory documents

7. Submit the application and download the acknowledgment receipt

Applicants can also apply via the NSP Mobile App or UMANG App.

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Documents Required

• Permanent Residential Certificate (PRC) from competent authority
• Income Certificate issued by the competent authority
• Qualifying examination mark sheet/certificate
• Bank account passbook (preferably Aadhaar-linked and in applicant’s name)
• Synopsis of Research Topic (for M.Phil/Ph.D. students)
• Any other document as prescribed under NSP guidelines

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Is There Is Any Reservation / Quota Under The Scheme?
  There will not be any reservation/quota on the basis of category/religion/gender.
• Is There Any Income Criteria Under The Scheme?
  Yes, the scholarship shall be admissible to the students whose parent / guardian’s annual income from all sources shall not exceed ₹8,00,000.
• What Is The Criterion For Selection Of Students For Scholarships?
  The scholarship is purely on merit basis. The merit list will be prepared exclusively on
  the basis of marks obtained by the candidate in the qualifying exams and complying with the
  level-of-course-wise slots allotted to the states. Selection of students for M. Phil and Ph. D. will
  be done on the basis of topic of research/Synopsis which has relevance to the problems/issues
  related to NE Region. For further details, please see the “Rules for Award for NEC Merit
  Scholarship” on NSP.
• I Have Enrolled In M/Phil / PhD, But My Topic Is Not Finalized, Can I Apply For Scholarships?
  No, only students whose MPhil / Ph.D. topic is submitted and are registered with that topic can apply for the scholarship.
• I Have Got Scholarship For The 1st Year, Will I Automatically Be Provided Scholarships In The Subsequent Years Of My Study?
  No, all existing and eligible beneficiaries of the scholarship are required to fill up the
  renewal form on NSP every year during their entire course period. Every renewal of the scholarship
  is for a period of one academic year only, if not otherwise specified.
• Am I Eligible To Get Scholarship For The Entire Period Of My Study?
  Once selected, the scholarship shall be available to a selected student for the prescribed
  duration of a course subject to fulfillment of renewal conditions. The scholarship for M.Phil. will
  be available for 2 years and for Ph.D scholarship shall be for 3 years. For further details, please
  see the “Rules for Award for NEC Merit Scholarship” on NSP.
• How Can I Apply Online For A Scholarship?
  In order to apply online, please visit the website through the URL www.scholarships.gov.in
  or through the mobile app of NSP or UMANG. You may click on a particular Scheme displayed
  in the on-Boarded schemes section on the Home page to apply
• Can I Edit The Information Already Saved And Up-To What Time?
  All the information can be edited till the closure of the application form. After final submission, your application will be forwarded to the next level and the application hereby cannot be edited.
• Which Fields Institute/State Can Edit?
  The Fields which can be edited are Gender, Religion, Category, Profession, Annual Income, Aadhar Number, Disability, Day Scholar/Hostlar, Mode of Study, IFSC Code, Account No.,Admission Fees and Tuition Fees. However, corrections made by the Institute/State, if any, would be conveyed instantly to the student through SMS/email.
• What Is UID Number/Aadhaar Number?
  UID number otherwise known as ‘Aadhaar’ number is a Unique Identification Number
  given by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). Aadhaar is a unique 12-digit number
  assigned to residents of India after the de-duplication of biometrics. For further details, please visit
  the website https://uidai.gov.in/.
  The Aadhaar Number is required to be seeded (linked) with the bank account in which
  The scholarship amount is desired to be transferred. Banks provide multiple ways of linking Aadhaar
  with the bank account and applicants can obtain the details from the website of the concerned
  bank or contact the concerned bank with a copy of the Aadhaar card. You can check which bank
  is linked to your Aadhaar number on NPCI mapper here https://resident.uidai.gov.in/bankmapper.
• How To Check The Status Of My Application?
  Students can check the status of their Online Application by logging in using his/her Permanent id and Date Of Birth and opening the link “Check your Status”
• If I Know The UDISE Code Of My Institute But Address And Location Is Not Known Or Vice Versa. How To Resolve This Problem?
  The institute location and UDISE code and vice versa can be known from the below
  link http://www.mdm-mis.nic.in/MDM/school_dise_code_scholarship.aspx

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Sources and References

• National Scholarship Portal (NSP)
•  Guidelines
• Scholarship FAQs