The Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students 2025 is an initiative of the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India. This scheme aims to support meritorious students from economically weaker sections to continue their higher education by providing direct financial assistance. Annually, 82,000 fresh scholarships are offered to students pursuing Graduate, Postgraduate, and Professional courses like Engineering and Medical across India.
Scheme Key Highlights (Short Summary)
• Launched by: Ministry of Education, Department of Higher Education
• Scholarship Amount: ₹12,000 per annum (Graduation), ₹20,000 per annum (Post-Graduation)
• Total Scholarships Available: 82,000 fresh scholarships every year
• Mode of Application: Online via National Scholarship Portal (NSP)
• Disbursal: Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to student’s Aadhaar-linked bank account
Benefits
• Graduation Level: ₹12,000 per annum for the first three years
• Post-Graduation Level: ₹20,000 per annum
• Professional Courses (5-year duration like Integrated Programs): ₹20,000 per annum during the 4th and 5th years
• Students pursuing technical courses like B.Tech/B.E. will receive ₹12,000 annually for three years and ₹20,000 in the 4th year
Mode of Scholarship Disbursal
• Scholarships are disbursed directly into the student’s Aadhaar-linked savings bank account through DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) under PFMS (Public Financial Management System).
Eligibility Criteria
• Must be above the 80th percentile of successful candidates in Class 12 board examinations of respective boards
• Must be enrolled in a regular degree course (not distance or diploma courses)
• Courses must be pursued at colleges/institutions approved by AICTE or other regulatory bodies
• Gross parental/family income should not exceed ₹4.5 lakh per annum
• For renewal:
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Minimum 50% marks in the annual examination
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Minimum 75% attendance each academic year
• Must have a personal bank account for scholarship credit
Exclusions
• Students pursuing correspondence/distance education or Diploma courses
• Students already availing any other scholarship/funding from Central/State Government or private organizations
• Students who miss the renewal deadline cannot renew for that academic year
Application Process (Online)
Step-by-Step Guide:
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Visit the Registration Page: National Scholarship Portal (NSP)
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New Registration:
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Accept the terms and register with valid mobile number and email ID.
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Generate your Application ID and Password.
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Login:
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Login using your Application ID and password.
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Update the password if prompted after OTP verification.
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Fill Application Form:
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Complete personal, academic, and bank details.
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Upload necessary documents.
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Save or Submit:
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You may “Save as Draft” or “Final Submit” after reviewing.
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Track Application:
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Students can track application status under “Track Application” on NSP dashboard.
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Important Note:
• Online verification is mandatory at two levels:
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Institute Level Verification
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State Nodal Officer Level Verification
Grievance Redressal Mechanism
For complaints or queries:
• Register your grievance at CPGRAMS Portal
• Contact details:
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Section Officer, National Scholarship Division,
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Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education,
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Email: [email protected]
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Phone: 011-20862360
Documents Required
• Aadhaar Card
• Bank Account Passbook (student’s name)
• Family Income Certificate
• Caste Certificate (if applicable)
• Disability Certificate (if applicable)
• Recent Passport-size Photograph
• Valid Email ID and Mobile Number
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the methodology adopted for generating merit list for selecting the beneficiaries under the scheme?
From the eligible applicants, a merit list is drawn based on gender (50 boys: 50 girls), stream (3-Science: 2-Commerce: 1-Humanities), Category (SC-15 % / ST-7.5 % and OBC-27 % ), and 3 % horizontal Reservation is provided for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) from individual State Education Boards. The total scholarship slots are restricted to the allocated quota earmarked for individual Boards as per the scheme guidelines. - What is the rate of scholarship under the scheme?
The rate of scholarship is Rs. 10000/- per annum at the Graduation level for the first three years
of College and University courses and Rs. 20000/- per annum at the Post-Graduation level. Students pursuing professional courses are paid Rs. 20,000/- per annum in the 4th and 5th years. - What is the duration of scholarships and criteria for renewal under the scheme?
The scholarship is renewed from year to year up to Post Graduate level in the same stream. For
all professional courses, and scholarships will be renewed till the Graduation level. For all the
courses the scholarship would be renewed up to a maximum of five (5) years. The renewal
of scholarship is further subject to the student meeting the following criteria:- (i) Secured
60 % or more marks for the two preceding semesters or annual examination which
determines his/her promotion to the next class, (ii) maintenance of attendance of at least
75 % by the scholars and (iii) maintenance of discipline i.e. the scholars should not have
been involved in any ragging activities. - What is the methodology for disbursement of scholarship under the scheme?
The scholarship is disbursed through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode i.e. directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiary. To have seamless disbursal of scholarships, students are required to seed the Aadhaar with the bank account as mentioned in the application form. - What precautions are to be exercised while selecting the institution from the drop down menu?
Data of only those institutions which have the AISHE (All India Survey of Higher Education) Code is available on the National Scholarship Portal. The student is required to select the correct institution because once the application is submitted, the institution’s name cannot be changed on the NSP.
Institutions which does not have the AISHE code can also have to obtain the AISHE Code.
Institutions are required to visit the website: http://aishe.nic.in to apply for AISHE. User
ID and Password is required by the institutions for verifying the applications on NSP. - What are the documents that are required to be uploaded for applying and verification?
No documents are required to be uploaded at the time of online application, on the National Scholarship Portal. However, it must be kept ready which would be required at the time of verification by the institutions. - What instructions should be followed by students while filling up bank account details?
(i) The bank account should be in the student’s name.
(ii) Students must select their bank/branch name carefully from the drop-down list.
(iii) Thereafter the complete account number must be entered correctly. (Any variation
in the bank account number will be subject to rejection).
(iv) Bank Account holders must check their ‘Know your Customer’ (KYC) status from bank and if required the KYC must be done for successful transaction of scholarship amount.
(v) Bank Account must be operational /active.
(vi) Bank Account must be preferably in any Nationalized Bank with core banking facility. - What is the UID number/ Aadhaar number?
UID number otherwise known as ‘Aadhaar’ number is Unique Identification Number given by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). The Aadhaar Number should be seeded with the Bank Account in which Scholarship Amount is desired to be transferred. For this the concerned Bank may be contacted with a copy of the Aadhaar card. - What is a Temporary ID?
Temporary ID (TID) is only a reference number provided to the applicants as a token of
their registration in the online database. - Is there any Permanent ID?
Yes. A Permanent ID (PID) will be provided to the candidate once his/her application is submitted online. It will be conveyed to candidates through SMS and e-mail. Students should remember their PID as it will be required at the time of renewal application. Receipt of PID does not guarantee award of scholarship. - What should I do if I forget my Temporary ID/ Permanent ID?
The process of re-collection of the Temporary/Permanent id is given as below:
“Student login>Forgot Registration Details” then enter the basic fields accordingly and click on the button “Get Registration details”. - How should I check the status of my application online?
You have to login under the option ‘Student Login’ by entering your Permanent ID and Date of Birth. After login, you will be able to view the option ‘Check Your Status’. Under this option you can check your online application status. - How do I know the name and address of nodal officers at my State Education Board/CBSE/ CISCE?
The name and contact details of the Nodal Officer of the State Education Boards/ CBSE/ CISCE are available under the link of Department of Higher Education (Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students), “Services” on the home page of National Scholarship Portal (NSP). - Where to lodge complaints/ queries/ grievances regarding scholarship application?
Technical complaints regarding working of the portal/ processing of online application/verification status, etc. may be addressed to the Helpdesk of National Scholarship Portal at (e-mail: [email protected] or Tel: 0120-6619540).
Queries/requests regarding scheme guidelines, eligibility, etc. may be addressed to the concerned State Education Board as well as this Ministry (e-mail: [email protected] or Tel: 011-26172491 & 26165238).
Grievances regarding non-receipt of fresh/ renewal scholarship under Ministry of HRD’s “Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students” may be registered on the following link http://pgportal.gov.in/grievancenew.aspx - Can students who missed the renewal application deadline on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) still apply for renewal in subsequent years if they meet the eligibility conditions?
Students who missed to apply for renewal of application online on NSP will be allowed to apply for renewal of scholarship for subsequent year on NSP, if he/she fulfils eligibility condition for renewal. - How are the total number of scholarships distributed among the State Education Boards?
The total number of scholarships are divided amongst the State Education Boards based on the State’s population in the age group of 18-25 years, after segregating share of CBSE and ICSE on the basis of number of students passing out from various Boards in the country. - How are students from reserved categories, weaker sections, and minorities eligible for reservation benefits in the context of the Central Reservation Policy
Students belonging to reserved categories/weaker sections /minorities etc. are eligible to get benefit of reservation on the basis of merit, subject to Central Reservation Policy [i.e. 15% seats are earmarked for SCs, 7.5% for STs and 27 % for OBCs and 5% horizontal reservation for students with Benchmark Disabilities (Disability of 40% or more) in all the categories].
Sources and References
• Guidelines
• FAQs
• User Manual