Merit Cum Means Based Scholarship for Minority Students

The Merit Cum Means Based Scholarship Scheme is an initiative of the Ministry of Minority Affairs to promote professional and technical education among students from minority communities. By providing financial assistance, the government aims to reduce the dropout rate and empower students to achieve higher education and greater career opportunities.

For the academic year 2025-26, this scholarship targets students pursuing professional or technical undergraduate and postgraduate courses across India.

Scheme Key Highlights (Short Summary)

• Launched By: Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India
• Beneficiaries: Minority community students (Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis)
• Level of Study: Undergraduate and Postgraduate (Technical/Professional Courses)
• Annual Income Limit: ₹2.5 lakh
• Scholarship Type: Fresh and Renewal
• Application Mode: Online via National Scholarship Portal (NSP)

Benefits

• Course Fee: ₹20,000 per annum (or actuals, whichever is lower) for both Hostellers and Day Scholars.
• Monthly Maintenance Allowance (for 10 months):

• Hostellers: ₹1,000/- per month

• Day Scholars: ₹500/- per month
  • Full Reimbursement: Full course fee for students enrolled in notified top-listed institutions.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicant must be a citizen of India.
• Applicant must belong to a Minority Community (Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, or Parsi).
• Must have secured at least 50% marks or equivalent grade in the previous final examination.
• Must be pursuing technical or professional courses at undergraduate/postgraduate level.
• Annual family income from all sources must not exceed ₹2.5 lakh.
• Only two children from the same family are eligible.
• Students availing other Central Government scholarships are not eligible under this scheme.

Exclusions

• Students violating school/institution discipline or misusing scholarship funds will have their scholarship canceled.
• Students receiving financial assistance from any other government scholarship for the same course cannot apply.
• Students found submitting false information will face scholarship cancellation and recovery of funds.

Application Process

New Registration & OTR Generation

1. Visit National Scholarship Portal (NSP).

2. Click on New Registration and accept the declaration.

3. Verify mobile number with OTP and proceed with e-KYC.

4. A reference number will be generated and sent to your mobile number.

5. Complete Aadhaar-based Face Authentication via the NSP OTR App.

Fresh Application

1. Log in with your OTR number and password.

2. Fill in the application form carefully.

3. Upload all required documents in the specified format.

4. Save as Draft if incomplete or click Final Submit after completing.

5. Note the application ID for tracking purposes.

Track Payment Status

Students can track their payment status at the PFMS Portal under the “Know Your Payment” option using their Aadhaar Number, Bank Account Number, or NSP Application ID.

Documents Required

• Passport-size Photograph
• Aadhaar Card (or alternative ID proof)
• Community Certificate (Self-certified if above 18 years; else by parents/guardians)
• Income Certificate (Issued by Competent Authority)
• Previous Year’s Mark Sheet
• Bonafide Certificate from Institution (especially if studying outside domicile State/UT)
• Fee Receipt of Current Course Year
• Bank Account Details (student’s or guardian’s if minor)
• Residential/Domicile Certificate

Note: If Aadhaar is not available, alternate documents like Passport, Ration Card, PAN, or certificates issued by Headmaster/Principal can be submitted.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• What if there are more than one student with equal marks for the last available slot?
  In such cases, preference will be given to the student with lower family income.
• Will I be eligible for the scholarship if I fail to get promoted to the next semester?
  No. The scholarship will be terminated in that case.
• Is there a percentage of slots reserved for girl students?
  Yes, 30% of the total slots are reserved for girl students.
• Can I apply offline for the scholarship?
  No. You need to visit https://scholarships.gov.in/ to apply.
• Is there any application fee?
  No. The entire application process is completely free of cost.
• Will the scholarship also be paid for the period of internship / housemanship in the M.B.B.S. course?
  No. The scholarship won’t be provided for that period.
• By when shall the scholarship become payable?
  The scholarship will become payable after the student has secured admission and has started attending the classes.
• Is there a validity to the scholarship?
  The scholarship will be provided till the complete duration of the course.
• What would be the mode of payment of the scholarship?
  The payment of the scholarship will be through DBT.
• Do I need to complete the application in one sitting?
  No. You can save the application as draft and continue at a later time before the deadline.
• How do I track the status of my application?
  You can check the same anytime by visiting the Applicant Dashboard and clicking “Track Status” in the left pane.
• What should be the type and size of the documents to be uploaded?
  The format should be.pdf or .jpeg. The size of each document should not be greater than 200 kb.
• In what cases a Bonafide Certificate from the institute is needed?
  It is needed if the institute is located in a State/UT different from domicile State/UT of the applicant.
• How do I know if a field in the application form is mandatory?
  The mandatory fields have a red asterisk (*) mark at the end.