The Top Class Education for Students with Disabilities Scheme 2025 is a flagship initiative by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DoEPwDs), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. This scheme is designed to empower students with disabilities by providing comprehensive financial support for pursuing graduate and postgraduate education at premier institutions. By removing financial barriers, it enables students to harness their potential, gain valuable skills, and secure a dignified place in society.
Scheme Key Highlights (Short Summary)
• Launched by: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
• Target group: Students with 40% or more disability (as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016)
• Courses covered: Graduate and Postgraduate Degree/Diploma in notified institutions
• Annual family income limit: ₹6 lakh or less
• Maximum students per family: 2 (except twins)
• Application mode: Online via National Scholarship Portal
Benefits
• Full tuition fee and non-refundable charges (up to ₹2 lakh per annum in private institutions)
• Living expenses: ₹3,000 per month
• Books and stationery: ₹5,000 per year
• One-time grant for computer/laptop with accessories: up to ₹30,000
• One-time grant for aids and assistive devices/software: up to ₹30,000
• Special allowance (Reader/Escort/Helper etc.): ₹2,000 per month
Eligibility Criteria
• Must be a student with at least 40% disability (visual, hearing, speech, loco-motor, mental, etc.)
• Admitted in a full-time Graduate or Postgraduate course/Diploma in a notified institution
• Annual family income must be ≤ ₹6 lakh
• Only two children per family are eligible (except twins)
Exclusions
• More than two children (except twins) from the same family
• False declarations or fraudulent applications
• Unapproved course/institution change
• Repeated class failures (no scholarship for repeating a year)
Application Process
Online Steps
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Register at National Scholarship Portal
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Create an application ID and password
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Login and reset password using OTP
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Fill the application form and upload documents
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Save as draft or submit the final application
Documents Required
• Income certificate
• Domicile certificate
• Disability certificate (from competent authority)
• Latest degree/mark sheet
• Bonafide student certificate
• Fee receipt of the current year
• Bank account details
• Aadhaar card
• Recent passport-size photo
• Declaration certificate (from institute authority)
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. - How will my tuition fee and non-refundable charges be paid?
The payment will be made directly to the institution. - Is there a validity to the scheme benefits?
The benefits are 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 Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). - What if there are more than one student with equal marks for the last available slot in an institution?
In such cases, preference will be given to the student with lower Parent / Guardian 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. - 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.