The Pre-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities 2025 is a vital welfare initiative by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. This scheme provides financial assistance to students with 40% or more disability, studying in Classes 9 and 10, to ensure inclusive education and reduce dropout rates due to financial or accessibility issues.
The scholarship aims to support these students by covering day-to-day education expenses, including maintenance allowance, book grants, and disability-specific allowances. Applications are accepted online through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
Scheme Key Highlights (Short Summary)
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Name: Pre-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities
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Launched by: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India
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Applicable Classes: Class 9 and Class 10
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Application Mode: Online (NSP Portal)
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Disability Criteria: Minimum 40% disability as perthe RPwD Act, 2016
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Income Limit: ₹2,00,000 per annum
Benefits
Maintenance Allowance (per month for 12 months):
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Day Scholars: ₹500
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Hostellers: ₹800
Book Grant:
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₹1,000 per annum (All students)
Disability Allowance (per annum):
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Visually Impaired: ₹4,000
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Hearing Impaired: ₹2,000
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Orthopedically Handicapped (OH): ₹2,000
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Intellectual Disabilities: ₹4,000
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Other Disabilities: ₹2,000
Note: The Amount is credited via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the applicant’s or guardian’s bank account.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the Pre-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities, the applicant must:
• Be studying in Class 9 or 10 in a government or recognized private school
• Have a disability of 40% or more, as per the RPwD Act, 2016
• Belong to a family with an annual income of less than ₹2,00,000 from all sources
• Not be availing of any other government scholarship
• Be one of the two eligible siblings from the same family (exception in case of twins)
Exclusions
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More than two beneficiaries per family (except for twins)
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Students repeating a class are not eligible for benefits for the repeated year
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Students receiving other scholarships/stipends will be disqualified
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False information or document submissions will result in cancellation, recovery with 15% interest, blacklisting, and legal action
Application Process
Online via National Scholarship Portal (NSP)
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Visit scholarships.gov.in
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Click on New Registration
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Accept the Terms & Conditions and click Continue
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Fill in your basic details and register
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Note down your Application ID and password
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Log in using your credentials and update your dashboard
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Fill in the Application Form, uploadthe required documents, and click Final Submit
Documents Required
• Passport-size Photograph
• Aadhaar Card
• Proof of Age (Birth Certificate or School ID)
• Disability Certificate (issued by a competent medical authority)
• Income Certificate (issued by a competent authority)
• Tuition Fee Receipt
• Last Academic Qualification Certificate
• Bank Passbook (in the name of the applicant or parent/guardian)
• Bonafide Certificate from School (if required)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Am I eligible for this scholarship if two of my siblings are availing the benefits of this scheme?
No. You won’t be eligible in this case. - By when shall the scholarship become payable?
The scholarship will become payable after the student has secured admission and has started attending classes. - Is there validity to the scheme’s benefits?
The benefits are provided for 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. - What if there is more than one student with equal marks for the last available slot?
In such cases, the percentage of disability will be considered. The candidate with a higher percentage of disability will get preference. In case there is still a tie, the age will be considered, and the older candidate will get preference. - 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 girls?
Yes, 50% 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. - Do I need to complete the application in one sitting?
No. You can save the application as a 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 is a Bonafide Certificate from the institute 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.