UPSC Scholarships 2023-24: List of Scholarships, Rewards, Application Last Date

UPSC scholarships play a crucial role in assisting candidates from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to help them fund their coaching for UPSC preparations. The UPSC exam is widely regarded as one of the most challenging examinations, with a pass rate as low as 0.1% to 0.2%. Therefore, effective guidance is essential for success in the UPSC IAS Exam. To make quality coaching and guidance accessible to all, various scholarship programs for UPSC coaching are available, catering to students who may not afford private coaching and guidance.

These scholarships are made available through collaborations between the central government, state governments, and some non-governmental organizations (NGOs), specifically designed to support underprivileged aspirants. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) stands as the premier central recruitment agency in India, responsible for recruiting all Group 'A' officers under the Government of India.

Here, we will delve into the numerous scholarships available to UPSC aspirants, generously provided by both central and state governments. Additionally, it offers guidance on how to check the status of scholarship applications and access the necessary forms for UPSC scholarships, exams, interviews, and more.

What is the UPSC?

The Union Public Service Commission or the UPSC is India's primary regulatory authority and administers one of the nation's most fiercely competitive examinations, the Civil Services Exam. This examination, popularly recognized as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) exam, is organized by UPSC in two distinct phases: UPSC Prelims and UPSC Mains. The preliminary examination features objective-type questions, whereas the mains require candidates to provide descriptive and essay-style responses. UPSC plays a pivotal role in conducting various examinations to fill numerous civil service positions within the government of India, including IAS, IPS, IFS, and others.

Furthermore, the UPSC Commission holds the responsibility for conducting recruitment and examinations for all Group 'A' posts across various Central Government entities, including Central Public Sector Undertakings and Central Autonomous Bodies.

UPSC Scholarships 2024: Highlights

The provision of scholarships for UPSC aspirants is a transformative initiative that opens doors for numerous individuals striving to realize their dreams of becoming IAS, IPS, and other esteemed government officer. These scholarships serve as a lifeline for those who faced obstacles in pursuing their UPSC goals due to limited resources and challenging financial circumstances. To make this support system a reality, the Union government, state governments, and numerous dedicated NGOs have joined hands with charitable organizations, collectively championing the cause of nurturing future civil servants.

UPSC Scholarships by Government

The government has introduced a range of scholarship programs aimed at providing financial support to UPSC aspirants. Listed below is an overview of several government-backed UPSC scholarship schemes, along with essential details pertaining to eligibility criteria:

These scholarships aim to support and empower UPSC aspirants, especially those from marginalized backgrounds, in their pursuit of a civil services career. The table above provides a clear overview of the various UPSC scholarships, their eligibility criteria, and the application process for each scholarship program.

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Scholarship

About the Scholarship: The Indian Government has established the Social Justice and Empowerment Department with the primary goal of assisting candidates in need. Students seeking scholarships can access these opportunities through the official National Scholarship Portal by selecting the relevant department.

The Social Justice Department offers a diverse range of scholarship programs aimed at supporting economically disadvantaged individuals. Specifically, those belonging to scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and other backward classes are encouraged to apply for the NSP Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Scholarship administered by this ministry. Students can also track their application status by visiting the official website. The following are the scholarship programmes that fall under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment schemes.

Top Class Education Scheme for SC Students

• Scheme Closing Date: January 2024 (Expected)
• Defective Application Verification Date: Closed on January 2024 (Expected)
• Institute Verification Date: Closed on January 2024 (Expected)
• DNO/SNO/MNO Verification Date: Closed on March 2024 (Expected)
• Awards: Full tuition fees and non-refundable charges, up to INR 2.00 lakh annually for private sector institutions 
   

PM Yasasvi Central Sector Scheme of Top Class Education in Schools for OBC, EBC, and DNT Students:

• Scheme Closing Date: Expected to close in Feb 2024
• Defective Application Verification Date: Expected to close in Feb 2024
• Institute Verification Date: Expected to close in Feb 2024
• DNO/SNO/MNO Verification Date: Expected to close in Feb 2024
• Awards: Upto INR 75,000 p.a. for Class 9/10; INR 1,25,000 p.a. for Class 11/12 

Eligibility: SC/OBC students/aspirants with a family income of INR 8.00 Lakh or less per annum.

Application: Online registration on the official website i.e., socialjustice.gov.in

IGNOU UPSC Coaching Scholarship

About the Scholarship: The IGNOU UPSC Free Coaching initiative is administered by the Dr. Ambedkar Centre of Excellence. IGNOU extends an invitation for applications from Scheduled Caste candidates seeking Free Coaching for both the UPSC IAS Prelims and Mains examinations. This program, known as IGNOU Free UPSC Coaching, offers comprehensive UPSC CSE coaching to Scheduled Caste candidates completely free of charge. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment of the Government of India will establish the Dr. Ambedkar Centre of Excellence (DACE) at the university. To access guidance and support from the ministry's finest educators, interested individuals must successfully complete the entrance examination.

Eligibility: Following are the eligibility criteria for the scholarships,

• Seats for IGNOU UPSC Free Coaching are exclusively reserved for SC candidates.
• To be eligible for admission, candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree in any field. Those currently in their final year of graduation must provide a pass certificate at the commencement of the Coaching Program.
• Each candidate can avail of the free coaching facility only once, irrespective of their available opportunities.

Date of Application: August 2024 (Expected)

Application: Online registration at IGNOU's official website at ignou.ac.in

Uttar Pradesh Scholarship Scheme (Dashmottar Scholarship)

About the Scholarship: The Uttar Pradesh scholarship Scheme (Dashmottar Scholarship) is designed to benefit students who are part of the state's extensive educational network, encompassing over 2 lakh schools and more than 60 institutions. For the academic years 2024-2025, the Social Welfare Department (SWD) of Uttar Pradesh is currently open to online applications for both Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarships.

Award: General category students in urban areas are eligible for a grant of INR 25,546, while those in rural areas can receive up to INR 19,884. Minority category students are eligible for INR 1,00,000, while ST/SC category students and OBC category students can receive INR 30,000 each.

Eligibility: Candidates must be a:

• Domicile of Uttar Pradesh.
• Currently enrolled in a school, college, or institute for grades nine and ten. For Pre-Matric Scholarship applications, students may apply during grades 11 or 12. Post Matric Scholarship Form submissions can be made online.
• The UP Dashmottar Scholarship is open to all students, except those in classes 9, 10, and 12.
• The annual income for OBC, Minority, and General categories should not exceed INR 2,00,000 per annum while for SC/ST categories, it should not exceed INR 2,50,000 per annum.

Date of Application: August to October 2024

Application: Online registration at the Social Welfare Department, Uttar Pradesh website i.e., samajkalyan.up.gov.in

Delhi Scholarship Scheme (Bhim Mukhyamantri Pratibha Vikas Yojana)

About the Scholarship: The objective of the Scheme is to provide quality coaching to economically disadvantaged Scheduled Castes (SCs) candidates, enabling them to compete successfully in various competitive examinations and secure suitable positions in both the public and private sectoINR The coaching will cover a wide range of examinations, including Group A and B exams conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), various Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), and the Judicial Services Examination. 

This scheme also encompasses exams held by State Public Service Commissions, Officers' Grade exams conducted by Banks, Insurance Companies, and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), as well as premier entrance examinations for fields such as Engineering (e.g., IIT-JEE & AIEEE), Medical (e.g., AIPMT), professional courses like Management (e.g., CAT), Law (e.g., CLAT), and other disciplines as determined by the government from time to time.

Awards: INR 50000 to 1 Lakh

Eligibility: This scholarship is available for candidates who:

• belong to the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) categories.
• are from Delhi and can benefit from Chief Minister Jai Bhim Pratibha Vikas Yojana 2022 on a maximum of two occasions.
• have an annual family income not above INR 6 lakhs.

Date of Application: To be announced soon

Application: Can be applied both online and offline at scstwelfare.delhigovt.nic.in for the scholarship test for UPSC coaching, with 15,000 seats available.

All India Coaching for Civil Services, Chennai

About the Scholarship: All India Civil Services Coaching Centre, a division of the Anna Institute of Management, primarily aims to support young individuals from Tamil Nadu in pursuing careers in prestigious services such as IAS, IPS, and IFS. Initially, it comprised the Pre-Examination Training Centre, founded in 1966 to provide training for SC/ST candidates, and the Special Training Institute, established in 1971 to assist Backward Class and Most Backward Class candidates. In the year 2000, these two entities were amalgamated and rebranded as the All India Civil Services Coaching Centre.

Eligibility: Candidates can apply for this scholarship if

• Tamil Nadu candidates of SC/ST/OBC and EWS categories.
• Should hold a degree from any recognized university
• Should be a minimum of 21 years of age and a maximum of 32 years of age

Date of Application: September 2024

Application: Online application at www.civilservicecoaching.com for the UPSC scholarship test, offering 325 seats.

Rajasthan UPSC Scholarship Scheme (Mukhyamantri Anuprati Coaching Yojana)

About the Scholarship: The Rajasthan government has announced a new free coaching program called "Mukhyamantri Anuprati Coaching Yojana 2024," where the state will provide free coaching to students for the preparation of exams like Indian Civil Services, Rajasthan Civil Services, IIT, IIM, CPMT, NIT, and Rajasthan Engineering and Medical, and some seats are reserved for students under this scheme, and if girls do not apply online, these seats will be allocated to male students in the general category.

Eligibility: Candidates can apply if they

• Belong to the SC/ST/OBC and EWS categories of Rajasthan.
• Annual Income should not exceed up to INR 2.5 Lakhs per annum

Date of Application: The application period is from April to July 2024, with the selection process based solely on merit.

Application: Apply online at sjms.rajasthan.gov.in UPSC scholarship test, with 10,000 seats available.

Bihar Free Coaching Yojana (Bihar Government UPSC Scholarship)

About the Scholarship: The Bihar government initiated the Bihar Free Coaching Yojana to provide free coaching facilities to students for competitive exams, benefiting students across all 36 districts of the state. Through this scheme, the state government aims to offer free training to students to help them excel in competitive exams and build their careeINR In this article, we will provide you with information about what the Bihar Free Coaching Yojana is, its objectives, benefits, features, eligibility criteria, necessary documents, and the application process, enabling you to avail the benefits of this scheme and achieve success in competitive exams to fulfill your aspirations.

Eligibility: Candidates are eligible to apply for this scholarship if they are

• SC/ST/OBC and EWS categories of Bihar
• Annual income should be less than INR 1 lakh per annum
• Should hold a 10^th passing certificate from the BSEB Board 

Application Dates: August to Septembetr 2024 (Expected)

Application: Students need to register online through the official website, iharboardonline.com or bcebconline.bih.nic.in, to participate in the UPSC government scholarship test scheduled for September 2024

Madhya Pradesh Civil Services Coaching Scheme

About the Scholarship: The Madhya Pradesh government has introduced a highly beneficial welfare scheme specifically aimed at scheduled caste students in the state, both boys and girls. This initiative, known as the Madhya Pradesh Free Civil Services Coaching Scheme, is designed to assist scheduled caste students who aspire to prepare for civil service exams but lack access to proper coaching facilities.

Eligibility: Candidates can apply if they are

• SC/Women of Madhya Pradesh.
• The annual income does not exceed INR 6 lakhs per annum
• Who has cleared the MPPSC mains exam

Application: Online registration for the UPSC government scholarship test at ribal.mp.gov.in/ 

UPSC Scholarship by Maharashtra Government

About the Scholarship: The Maharashtra government has introduced a scholarship program aimed at aiding UPSC aspirants who are preparing for the UPSC IAS exam. Under this initiative, selected candidates, who must be residents of Maharashtra, receive a monthly stipend of Rs 10,000 to cover their coaching fees and living expenses during their coaching period.

Awards: A monthly stipend of INR 10,000

Eligibility: Candidates can apply if they are,

• A domicile of Maharashtra domicile
• Should hold a minimum annual household income of INR 10 lakhs
• Have cleared the previous UPSC mains exam

Application: Online registration on the Maharashtra government's official website at govinfo.me offering financial assistance and coaching fee coverage.

UPSC Scholarships for Minorities 

The Ministry of Minority Affairs has introduced the Nai Udaan Scheme, offering scholarships to minority candidates, including Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis who have successfully passed the UPSC, SPSC, or SSC preliminary exams. Eligible candidates will receive financial assistance as follows:

• INR 1,00,000 for candidates clearing the UPSC Preliminary Examination.
• INR 50,000 for candidates who have cleared the State PCS (Gazetted) Preliminary Examination.
• INR 25,000 for candidates clearing the SSC CGL & CAPF Group-B Preliminary Examination.
• INR 25,000 for candidates clearing the State PCS (Graduate Level Non-Gazetted) Preliminary Examination.

Eligibility Criteria: Applicants must belong to a minority category and have an annual family income of less than INR 8 Lakh.

Application Process: Apply online through the official portal of the Ministry of Minority Affairs at www.minorityaffaiINRgov.in.

UPSC Scholarships by Universities and NGOs

The scholarships for UPSC, extended by respected educational institutions and non-governmental organizations, have a primary goal of removing financial obstacles for UPSC aspirants. In the following table, you'll find a selection of UPSC scholarships provided by universities and NGOs, along with details regarding eligibility criteria, benefits, and application procedures.

MANUU Free Coaching for UPSC Prelims

Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), a Central University, offers scholarships to UPSC aspirants from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. There is a UPSC scholarship test, and selected candidates are invited for an interview. The final selection is based on combined scores from the Entrance Test and Interview. 

Eligibility: Graduates

How to Apply: Download the application form from the MANUU website at www.manuu.ac.in

UPSC Scholarship by Vikash Deep Foundation

Vikash Deep Foundation, a non-government organization (NGO), provides scholarships to UPSC aspirants. Many sponsored students have secured employment in various corporate and public sectoINR With support from Google India and other corporations, the foundation has developed a program to assist deserving and disadvantaged UPSC Civil Services aspirants in contributing to their country's development.

Eligibility: Graduates or those pursuing graduation

How to Apply: Fill out an online form at vikashdeepfoundation.org. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Women candidates receive an additional 5% discount.

SAMBHAVAM: Scholarship Program for UPSC Coaching

SAMBHAVAM, an initiative of the Sood Charity Foundation and Divine India Youth Association (DIYA), offers scholarships for UPSC aspirants. Launched in September 2022, these scholarship schemes include mentorship and personality development training.

Eligibility: Intermediate-qualified candidates

How to Apply: Register online through the official website of the Sonu Sood Foundation at www.sambhavamias.com

Hailing as one of the toughest and most prestigious exams in India, the UPSC examination underscores the importance of effective guidance and support. The UPSC scholarships 2024 offered by central and state governments, along with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are meticulously designed to empower candidates hailing from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Aspiring civil servants should remain vigilant and proactive in seeking out these opportunities. It is important to remember that scholarship availability and details may change over time, so it's essential to verify the most recent information when applying for UPSC scholarships.

By actively pursuing and benefiting from the scholarships mentioned in the article above, individuals can not only overcome financial barriers but also realize their ambitions to qualify for the UPSC examination.