Pre Matric Scholarship for Minorities 2025: Financial Support for School Students from Minority Communities

The Pre-Matric Scholarship for Minorities 2025, introduced by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, is a central government-funded initiative aimed at promoting school education among students belonging to minority communities. The scheme provides financial assistance to students studying in classes 1 to 10 in government, government-aided, or private schools across India. Its objective is to ease the financial burden on families, reduce dropout rates, and encourage educational continuity from a young age.

Key Highlights

• Launched By: Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India
• Target Group: Minority community students (Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi)
• Class Coverage: Class 1 to 10
• Annual Income Limit: ₹1,00,000 from all sources
• Minimum Academic Performance: 50% marks in the previous final exam
• Scholarship Type: Tuition fee, admission fee, and maintenance allowance
• Application Mode: Online via National Scholarship Portal (NSP)

Benefits

 Financial Assistance

Maintenance allowance is provided for 10 months in an academic year.

Eligibility Criteria

• Must belong to a recognized minority community (Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi)
• Studying in Class 1 to Class 10
• Family income should not exceed ₹1 lakh per annum
• Must have secured at least 50% marks in the previous final examination
• The student must not be availing of any other scholarship from the central/state government
• Only two children per family are eligible under this scheme

Exclusions

• Students who fail to pass or get promoted to the next class are not eligible
• If a student violates school discipline or submits false documentation, their scholarship will be cancelled
• Students already receiving other central/state scholarships cannot avail this one
• Third siblings in a family are excluded from this scheme

Application Process (Online)

New Registration on NSP

1. Visit scholarships.gov.in → New Registration

2. Read the guidelines and accept the undertaking

3. Enter your mobile number, and verify via OTP

4. Complete the e-KYC process via Aadhaar and generate your Reference Number

OTR (One-Time Registration) Number Generation

1. Install AadhaarFaceRD services and NSP OTR App from the Play Store

2. Use the “eKYC with FaceAuth” feature in the NSP OTR App

3. Enter reference number, receive OTP, and complete Face Authentication

4. On success, the OTR number will be generated and sent via SMS

 Fresh Application Process

1. Log in with OTR Number and Password

2. Complete OTP verification and reset your password

3. Access Applicant Dashboard

4. Fill out the Scholarship Application Form

5. Upload the required documents and click the “Final Submit” button.

6. Save the acknowledgment or reference number for tracking

Documents Required

• Passport-size Photograph
• Income Certificate from a competent authority
• Community Certificate (Self-certified if ≥18 years, else certified by parent/guardian)
• Marksheet of the last exam
• Fee Receipt of the current academic year
• Bank Account Details (student or parent/guardian)
• Bonafide Certificate (if studying outside the domicile state)
• Aadhaar Number or alternate ID
• Residential Certificate

Track Payment Status

Students can track their payment using the PFMS Portal:

• Go to www.pfms.nic.in

• Use Aadhaar number, Bank Account, or NSP Application ID to check status

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.
• 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.
• 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.