Government Schemes for Students 2025

Central and state scholarships, education loans, and skill development programmes for students at every level — school, college, and professional.

150+
Student Schemes
50+
Scholarships
2.5 Cr+
Annual Beneficiaries

Overview

India's central and state governments operate over 150 schemes specifically for students — covering pre-matric and post-matric scholarships, merit scholarships, education loans at subsidised rates, hostel facilities, free coaching, digital access, and skill training. Whether you are studying in Class 9 or pursuing a postgraduate degree, there is likely a scheme you are eligible for. This page consolidates all major student welfare schemes to help you find and apply with confidence.

Available Schemes (10+)

National Scholarship Portal – Central Schemes

The National Scholarship Portal is a single online platform run by the Ministry of Education where students across India can apply for various Central Government scholarships. It offers scholarships at different education levels — from school (Pre-Matric) to college (Post-Matric) — as well as merit-based awards. The portal helps deserving students from SC, ST, OBC, and minority communities access financial support to continue their studies.

Ministry of EducationEducation

Junior/Senior Fellowship in the Field of Fine Arts

The scheme "Junior/Senior Fellowship in the Field of Fine Arts" by the Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities Department, Government of Gujarat, aims to support artistic innovation and research by offering fellowships to young and senior artists in Gujarat.

Education

State Art Exhibition Competition

The scheme "State Art Exhibition Competition" by the Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities Department, Government of Gujarat aims to promote fine arts and recognize artistic talents by providing awards and scholarships to artists, art students, and school children across Gujarat.

Education

Pradhan Mantri Vidyalaxmi (PM-Vidyalaxmi) Scheme

The "Pradhan Mantri Vidyalaxmi (Pm-vidyalaxmi) Scheme" aims to provide financial support for higher education through education loans. Under this scheme, financial assistance of up to ₹10,00,000/- is provided to meritorious students seeking admission to domestic institutions.

Ministry of EducationEducation

Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Yojana: Central Sector Interest Subsidy Scheme

The scheme provides full interest subsidy during the moratorium period on loan availed under Model Education Loan Scheme of Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) to students belonging to economically weaker sections whose annual parental income is up to ₹4.5 Lakhs from all sources.

Ministry of EducationEducation

Financial Incentive to SC Meritorious Girls Students

The scheme provides financial incentives worth ₹5,000/- to the meritorious girls from Scheduled Castes who have secured 80% or above marks in the HSLC examination. To objective is to motivate and encourage SC students to pursue higher studies and bring them at par with the rest.

Education

Financial Assistance to SC Students Appearing in the Mains Examination of UPSC

The scheme provides financial grants to the SC students for appearing in the UPSC Mains Exam. An amount upto ₹50,000/- is provided to each beneficiary, subject to budget provision. The assistance is extended depending on the applicant satisfying the eligibility criteria and the documents submitted.

Education

National Centre For Communication Security (NCCS) Internship Scheme

The National Centre for Communication Security (NCCS) Internship Scheme allows young talent to be associated with the NCCS work for mutual benefit. It will enable NCCS to interact with young scholars and to get fresh ideas and study/ research support from the field of academics.

Ministry Of CommunicationEducation

Sanskrit Research Scholarship Scheme

The scheme provides an annual scholarship of ₹40,000/- for up to three years to selected students pursuing Ph.D. research in Sanskrit.

Education

Mukhyamantri Chhatravritti Yojana

The "Mukhyamantri Chhatravritti Yojana" is a scholarship scheme for NCC cadets who have cleared 10th or 12th standard, completed two years of NCC training with 80% attendance, and are pursuing higher education.

Education

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the National Scholarship Portal and how do I apply?
The National Scholarship Portal (NSP) at scholarships.gov.in is the single platform for central government scholarships including pre-matric, post-matric, merit-cum-means, and minority scholarships. Register on the NSP, fill the application form, upload documents, and submit before the deadline — usually September to November each year.
Which government schemes help SC/ST students for higher education?
SC students can apply for the Post-Matric Scholarship for SC Students (Ministry of Social Justice), Top Class Education Scheme for SC Students, and Dr. Ambedkar Post-Matric Scholarship. ST students can access Post-Matric Scholarship for ST Students (Ministry of Tribal Affairs) and National Fellowship for ST Students.
Is there a government education loan scheme with subsidised interest?
Yes — the Central Sector Interest Subsidy (CSIS) Scheme provides full interest subsidy during moratorium period on education loans up to ₹7.5 lakh for students from EWS families (annual income below ₹4.5 lakh). The Padho Pardesh scheme provides interest subsidy for minority students studying abroad.
What documents are generally required for student scholarship schemes?
Typically: Aadhaar card, income certificate from tehsildar/SDO, previous year mark sheets, caste certificate (if applicable), bank account details, enrolment/bonafide certificate from institution, and a passport-size photograph. Specific schemes may require additional documents.
Can a student from a minority community apply for multiple scholarships?
No — you can typically avail only one central government scholarship at a time through the NSP. However, some state government scholarships and institutional scholarships can be combined. Always check the terms of each scholarship before applying.
What is PM YASASVI and who is eligible?
PM YASASVI (PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India) is a central scholarship for OBC, EBC, and DNT students in Classes 9 and 11. Students whose family income does not exceed ₹2.5 lakh per annum can apply. Selection is through the YASASVI Entrance Test (YET) conducted by NTA.