PG Scholarship for SC/ST Students 2025 for Professional Courses

The Post-Graduate Scholarships for Professional Courses for SC/ST Candidates is a prestigious initiative by the Ministry of Education and implemented by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to support students from Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) communities. This scheme empowers 1,000 meritorious students annually to pursue professional postgraduate education such as Engineering, Technology, Management, and Pharmacy in recognized Indian universities/institutions.

Short Summary

• Scheme Name: Post-Graduate Scholarships for Professional Courses for SC/ST Candidates
• Launched By: Ministry of Education, Implemented by UGC
• Beneficiaries: SC/ST students pursuing professional PG courses
• No. of Scholarships: 1,000 per year
• Scholarship Amount:

• ₹7,800/month for ME/M.Tech

• ₹4,500/month for other professional courses
  • Mode of Disbursement: Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) via PFMS
  • Application Mode: Online through NSP (National Scholarship Portal)

Benefits

• ₹7,800/month for M.E./M.Tech programs
• ₹4,500/month for other approved professional PG courses
• Scholarship valid for 2-3 years depending on the course duration
• No additional contingency allowance applicable (since 2017-18)
• Scholarship starts from date of joining the course

Eligibility Criteria

• Must belong to Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) category
• Must have completed undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline
• Must be enrolled in the first year of a regular full-time PG professional course
• Admitted to an institution recognized under:

• Section 2(f) and 12(B) of UGC Act

• Deemed Universities (UGC-recognized)

• Central/State Government-funded institutions

• Institutes of National Importance

Accepted Professional Courses:

Courses approved by regulatory bodies like AICTE, MCI, PCI, BCI, RCI, ICAR, INC, etc.

Non-Eligible Courses:

• M.A., M.Sc., M.Com., MSW, Mass Communication & Journalism
• Correspondence/Distance education-based PG courses

Renewal Policy

• Renewal is subject to good conduct and required attendance
• Promotion to the next year is mandatory for continued scholarship
• Renewal needs an annual progress report certified by college authorities
• Change in course is not allowed
• Scholarship is terminated if the student fails the first year or discontinues studies

Exclusions

• General/OBC category students
• SC/ST students enrolled in distance learning/correspondence courses
• Students in second year or later are not eligible to apply
• No HRA or contingency grant is included under this scheme

Application Process

Online via NSP (National Scholarship Portal)

1. Go to https://scholarships.gov.in

2. Click “New Registration” under Applicant Corner

3. Fill in personal, academic, and bank details

4. Verify mobile number via OTP

5. After registration, login using credentials and complete the application form

6. Upload the required documents

7. Submit application; keep Application ID and password for future reference

8. The host institution will verify the application online

Scholarship Disbursement Procedure

• Scholarship will be disbursed through PFMS under the DBT mode
• UGC will send the list of awardees to PFMS for generating payment files
• Payments will be made for the entire duration of the postgraduate course

Documents Required

1. Aadhaar Card (copy)

2. Passport-size photograph

3. Proof of Age (DOB certificate or 10th Marksheet)

4. Graduate Degree and Marksheets

5. Caste Certificate (SC/ST)

6. Disability Certificate (if applicable)

7. Admission Proof & Fee Receipt

8. Bank Account details (linked to Aadhaar)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• What is the objective of the scheme?
  The objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to 1000 SC/ST candidates to pursue postgraduate level studies in Professional courses.
• Which is the implementing agency of this scheme?
  University Grants Commission, Government of India
• Are all candidates pursuing post graduate courses in Indian Universities/ Colleges/ Institutes eligible for this award?
  This scheme is meant only for SC/ST students. General category/ OBC candidates
  are not eligible to apply under the scheme.
• Are students belonging to SC/ST category who are pursuing post-graduation through correspondence/ distance mode eligible for the award?
  No. Candidates pursuing post-graduate courses in professional subjects through
  correspondence or in Distance Education mode are not eligible to receive financial
  assistance under this scheme.
• Are awardees selected under this scheme eligible to draw contingency and HRA?
  No. The awardees are only eligible to receive scholarship amount.
• Are students of eligible category who are pursuing post graduation and are in the second year of study eligible to apply under the scheme?
  No. Only students pursuing the first year of a post-graduate course during the current academic
  year are eligible to apply.
• Will the change in course of study be permitted?
  No, the change in the course of study will not be permitted.
• Which are the courses accepted as “Non-professional courses”?
  M.A., M.Sc., M.Com., MSW and Mass Communication and Journalism degrees are
  accepted as “Non-professional courses”.
• How many numbers of scholarship will be awarded per year under the Scheme?
  The scholarship will be provided to 1000 SC/ST candidates per year.
• How can an student apply for the scheme?
  The candidates fulfilling the eligibility conditions are required to apply online on National
  Scholarship Portal after issue of advertisement to be published by the UGC once in a year through leading newspaper and Employment News and also on UGC website.

Sources and References

• NSP Portal 
• Guidelines