NSP Scholarship

The National Scholarship Portal (NSP) 2024-25 stands as a digital gateway to the scholarship programs and schemes offered by the government. With the support from both Central Government and State Governments, as well as other government agencies like UGC and AICTE, this innovative platform paves the way for students seeking financial aid for their educational pursuits.

Designed as a Mission Mode Project under the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP), the National Scholarships Portal embodies a commitment to Simplified, Mission-oriented, Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent processes, creating a 'SMART' system for faster and more effective scholarship application processing and fund distribution. Its primary objective is to eradicate inefficiencies, minimize leakages, and expedite the delivery of scholarship funds directly into beneficiaries' accounts.

As a common electronic portal, the Mission Mode Project of the National Scholarships Portal under the National e-Governance Plan strives to streamline and unify various scholarship schemes launched by the Union Government, State Government, and Union Territories, ultimately empowering students to seize educational opportunities that may have previously seemed out of reach. 
In this article, we delve deeper into the NSP Scholarship 2024-25, exploring its significance and the opportunities it brings to deserving candidates.

The core objectives of the NSP encompass:

• Ensuring the prompt disbursement of scholarships to eligible students.
• Establishing a unified portal to encompass a wide array of scholarship schemes offered by both Central and State Governments.
• Building a transparent and accessible database of scholars to enhance visibility and accountability.
• Eliminating redundancy in the processing of scholarship applications, streamlining the system for greater efficiency.
• Harmonizing the diverse scholarship schemes and their associated norms to simplify the application and allocation processes.
• Implementing Direct Benefit Transfer for a more direct and efficient disbursement of funds to deserving recipients.

Aspiring Candidates looking to apply for a scholarship in the National Scholarship Portal Scheme 2024-25 can view the table below for the main highlights:

The National Scholarship Portal hosts 118 distinct scholarship programs with substantial financial value, catering to individuals seeking scholarships. This platform operates as a vital component of the government's comprehensive plan known as the 'Mission Mode Project' under the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP). 

Central Schemes 

The tables below provide a comprehensive overview of the central government scholarships available through the National Scholarship Portal in 2024, along with their respective application deadlines. 

Ministry of Minority Affairs

Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities

Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment

Ministry of Labour and Employment

Ministry of Tribal Affairs

Department of School Education & Literacy

North Eastern Council (NEC), DoNER

Department of Higher Education

WARB, Ministry of Home Affairs

Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme for Wards of States/UTS Police Personnel Martyred During Terror/Naxal Attacks

RPF/RPSF, Ministry of Railway

Schemes under University Grants Commission - MHRD

The University Grants Commission (UGC) is a significant statutory body within the Indian government that plays a pivotal role in accrediting universities across the country and allocating financial support to them. Furthermore, UGC administers various scholarship programs aimed at assisting college-level students.

AICTE Scholarship Schemes

With a history dating back to 1945, AICTE plays a pivotal role in the coordinated development and strategic planning of technical and management education systems in India. In addition to its role in approving postgraduate and undergraduate programs in specific categories, AICTE also extends several scholarships to students, ensuring that financial constraints do not impede their professional aspirations. Below is a list of scholarships offered by AICTE through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) for the year 2024:

State-Level NSP Scholarships

Currently, the NSP encompasses state-level schemes from six different states: Bihar, Uttarakhand, Tripura, Karnataka, Meghalaya, and Arunachal Pradesh. The table below provides detailed information about these state-level NSP scholarships for the year 2024.

 In the academic year of 2024, it facilitated the implementation and distribution of scholarships exceeding the sum of INR 2,800 crores (precisely INR 2,875.50). Notably, the portal has garnered over 127 lakh scholarship applications, with more than INR 84 lakh of these applications having undergone a thorough verification process.

The eligibility criteria are subjective to the schemes available in the NSP. While many scholarships ask for a minimum score of 50%, candidates need to check the eligibility requirements stated for various schemes under the NSP before applying. Below mentioned are some of the eligibility criteria under different schemes:

NSP Pre-Matric Scholarship

• This scholarship is granted to students who have scored more than 50% marks in their previous final examination 
• The total annual income of Parents or Guardians from all sources does not exceed Rs. 1.00 lakh.
• The scholarship supports students studying in government or private schools in India, spanning from Class I to Class X. 
• It is specifically available to students from minority communities enrolled in Classes I to X.

NSP Post Matric Scholarship

• This scholarship is offered to students who have achieved over 50% marks or an equivalent grade in their previous final examination. 
• The annual income of parents or guardians should not surpass Rs. 2.00 lakh.
• The scholarship is intended for students studying in government or private higher secondary schools, colleges, and universities in India. 
• It also covers technical and vocational courses offered in Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and Industrial Training Centres affiliated with the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT). 
• These courses are at the level of Classes XI and XII, including Polytechnics and other related programs.

Merit Cum Means Scholarship for Professional & Technical Courses CS

• This scholarship is open to students who have secured more than 50% marks or an equivalent grade in their previous final examination. 
• The annual income of parents or guardians should not exceed Rs. 2.50 lakh.
• The scholarship applies to studies in government or private institutions in India, which are selected and publicly announced by the State Government or Union Territory Administration. 
• It covers technical and professional undergraduate and postgraduate courses. 
• Students who gain admission to a college for technical or professional courses based on a competitive examination are eligible for this scholarship.

Award Amount under the NSP Scheme

• Suitable Candidates from the General Category can receive up to INR 50,000 per year under the NSP Scheme
• Eligible SC students can avail up to INR 1,00,000 per year under the NSP Scheme
• Eligible ST students can receive a scholarship of up to INR 2,00,000 per year under the NSP Scholarship Scheme
• OBC category candidates can receive up to INR 50,000 per year under the NSP Scholarship scheme

The primary responsibility of students or applicants is to register and submit their scholarship applications through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). There are two categories of students: "Fresh Students," who are applying to NSP for the first time, and "Renewal students," who have previously received a scholarship through NSP. To ensure a smooth application process, all students using NSP are expected to adhere to the following steps:

• Fresh students applying for a scholarship must start by clicking "New Registration" on the NSP Portal at scholarships.gov.in.
• Before registering, read the "Guidelines for Registration on the National Scholarship Portal" and have important documents like Aadhaar, enrollment number, and bank passbook ready.
• Complete all mandatory fields marked with an asterisk (*).
• If you have an Aadhaar, you must include it in your application.
• If you don't have an Aadhaar, provide your enrollment ID (if available) and upload a bank passbook copy with a photo in PDF or JPEG format (max 200 KB). Include a bonafide student certificate from your school.
• After registration, you'll receive a unique application ID and password via SMS on your registered mobile number.
• Log in to NSP using this ID and password. Change the password on your first login, and keep it secure.
• Apply for any available scholarship scheme by providing accurate information based on your documents.
• Submit the required documents to your Institute after the final application submission on the NSP portal.
• Detailed instructions for completing the application can be found in the User Manual for Applicants for a smooth process.

Candidates should keep the following documents handy for NSP Registration:

• Last Educational Qualification Certificate
• Bank Account Details
• Aadhaar Card
• Caste Certificate
• Scanned Copy of Bank Passbook
• Mobile Number
• Email ID
• Bonafide Student Certificate

Renewal Students are individuals who were recipients of a scholarship through NSP in the previous Academic Year. To understand the scheme renewal process, candidates can refer to the following steps:

• They can only apply to renew the same scholarship from the previous year.
• To renew, they must update their marks from the previous year and submit the application on NSP.
• The bank account used to receive the previous year's scholarship must remain active and functional to get the scholarship funds.

If a Renewal Student wants to apply for a different scholarship, they should follow these steps:

• Log in with the previous year's application ID and password.
• Choose to withdraw the renewal application.
• Register as a Fresh Student for the current Academic Year.
• Then, follow the application process for Fresh Students.

The NSP Help Desk is managed by NIC, with assistance from an external call center agency. The primary function of the helpdesk is to offer initial support to NSP users. Candidates facing any technical inquiries can reach out to the Help Desk at helpdesk@nsp.gov.in or call 0120-6619540.

The National Scholarship Portal (NSP) Scheme 2024-25 represents a pivotal step towards a more accessible, transparent, and efficient scholarship system in India. With its mission-oriented approach and commitment to simplification and accountability, NSP has become a vital resource for students seeking financial support for their educational endeavours.

This innovative platform connects students with a diverse range of scholarship schemes offered by both the Central and State Governments, as well as other government agencies. It eliminates redundancy and streamlines the application process, all while promoting the Direct Benefit Transfer method for efficient fund disbursement. The NSP Scheme 2024-25 stands as a source of inspiration for many students, making education more accessible than ever.