Top 5 Scholarships Offered by the Government of India

Some of the notable scholarships provided by the GOI are:

1. Central Sector Scholarship Scheme (CSSS):

This scheme is for financially disadvantaged students who want to study further after class VIII either in a govt. or private schools. The scholarship makes sure that the entire tuition fee, hostel expenses and yearly maintenance are paid. 

Eligibility: Students who are in a financially disadvantaged position but have excellent academic performance can apply for this scholarship. But one thing has to be kept in mind: only students whose family income is less than 8 Lakhs are eligible for the scholarship. 

Benefits: The scholarship amount ranges from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 20,000 annually. 

2. National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS):

This scholarship targets students from class IX to XII depending on their previous year’s performance. It is granted to students whose family income is less than Rs. 1.5 lakh annually. 

Eligibility: The selection criteria give importance to both academic merit and financial merit. 

Benefits: An amount of Rs 12,000 is given annually. 

3. AICTE Saksham Scholarship:

This scholarship focuses on students with physical disabilities who are pursuing their education in the technical field. The tuition fees and other related expenses are taken care of by this scholarship. 

Eligibility: Concentrates on students who are pursuing undergraduate technical or diploma courses. 

Benefits: Aid and assistance to the specially-abled. 

4. Prime Minister's Research Fellowship (PMRF):

The scholarship is for a PhD in the field of science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics (STEM), social science, humanities or law. It offers a generous fellowship and a contingency grant. 

Eligibility: All PhD. Scholars are eligible for this scholarship who have enrolled themselves in the institutes approved by PMRF. 

Benefits: A total of 10.92 lakh is given annually for four years. 50% of the funding is given by the government of India and rest by the industry partner. 

5. AICTE Pragati Scholarship:

This scholarship focuses on students who are studying technical subjects. It’s mainly for the undergraduate and diploma courses for the economically disadvantaged. 

Eligibility: The scholarship mainly centres on SC, STs and OBSs who are pursuing their higher education in technical programs like M-Tech, M. Arch, and MBA. 

Benefits: Offers scholarships to various students from socially and economically disadvantaged communities.