Scholarships › All India

Merit-cum-Means Scholarship for Minorities (Central)

Ministry of Minority Affairs scheme for minority students in professional and technical courses (UG and PG). At least 50% marks in the last qualifying exam and family income up to ₹2.5 lakh. 30% of awards are for girls. Check the exact 2026-27 last date on NSP.

Amount / benefit: Course fee + maintenance allowance (capped)

Source: Ministry of Minority Affairs

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What you get

Admission + course fee and maintenance allowance, subject to ceilings in the official guidelines.

Who is eligible

Open to students from any state in India
Category: Minority community
Family income up to ₹2.5 lakh per year
At least 50% marks in the previous exam

Final eligibility is decided by the official authority. Read the official notification before you apply.

Documents required

Aadhaar card
Income certificate (issued by competent State/UT authority)
Minority community certificate (self-declaration if 18+, parent/guardian certified if minor)
Previous year marksheet (at least 50% marks)
Fee receipt of current course year
Aadhaar-linked bank account details
Domicile certificate
Admission proof in a professional/technical course

How to apply, step by step

Go to scholarships.gov.in and open the Students section. Keep your Aadhaar and mobile number ready.
Do One Time Registration (OTR) first — it uses Aadhaar and face authentication through the NSP OTR app. You get a 14-digit OTR number that works for your whole academic career. Note it down.
Log in with your OTR number and password, then choose 'Apply for Scholarship'.
From the list of schemes, select 'Merit-cum-Means Scholarship for Minorities (Central)'. Choose the scheme that matches your category.
Fill in personal, course, institute and bank details. The bank account must be your own and Aadhaar-linked.
Upload scanned copies of the documents listed on this card.
Submit the form and save your Application ID. Your application then goes to your school/college for verification.
Track the status by logging in on NSP. If it is marked 'defective', correct it with 'Fill/Edit Application Form' before the deadline.

हिंदी में आवेदन कैसे करें

scholarships.gov.in पर जाकर Students सेक्शन खोलें। अपना आधार और मोबाइल नंबर पास रखें।
सबसे पहले One Time Registration (OTR) करें — इसमें आधार और NSP OTR ऐप से चेहरे की पहचान (face authentication) होती है। आपको 14 अंकों का OTR नंबर मिलेगा जो पूरी पढ़ाई में काम आएगा। इसे लिखकर रख लें।
OTR नंबर और पासवर्ड से लॉगिन करें, फिर 'Apply for Scholarship' चुनें।
योजनाओं की सूची में से 'Merit-cum-Means Scholarship for Minorities (Central)' चुनें। अपनी कैटेगरी वाली योजना ही चुनें।
व्यक्तिगत, कोर्स, संस्थान और बैंक की जानकारी भरें। बैंक खाता आपका अपना और आधार से लिंक होना चाहिए।
इस कार्ड में दी गई दस्तावेज़ों की सूची के अनुसार उनकी स्कैन कॉपी अपलोड करें।
फॉर्म सबमिट करें और Application ID सेव कर लें। इसके बाद आपका आवेदन आपके स्कूल/कॉलेज के पास सत्यापन के लिए जाता है।
NSP पर लॉगिन करके स्थिति (status) देखते रहें। अगर 'defective' दिखे, तो अंतिम तारीख से पहले 'Fill/Edit Application Form' से सुधार करें।

Last date

The last date is announced on the official website and can change each year. Please check the official portal before you apply.

Official website

https://scholarships.gov.in (Ministry of Minority Affairs)

Details are compiled from official sources. Always confirm on the official website before applying. Found a mistake? Tell us.

Frequently asked questions

Who is eligible for Merit-cum-Means Scholarship for Minorities (Central)?

Open to students from any state in India; Category: Minority community; Family income up to ₹2.5 lakh per year; At least 50% marks in the previous exam. Final eligibility is decided by the official authority.

What does Merit-cum-Means Scholarship for Minorities (Central) give?

Admission + course fee and maintenance allowance, subject to ceilings in the official guidelines. Amount: Course fee + maintenance allowance (capped).

Which documents are needed for Merit-cum-Means Scholarship for Minorities (Central)?

Aadhaar card, Income certificate (issued by competent State/UT authority), Minority community certificate (self-declaration if 18+, parent/guardian certified if minor), Previous year marksheet (at least 50% marks), Fee receipt of current course year, Aadhaar-linked bank account details, Domicile certificate, Admission proof in a professional/technical course.

What is the official website for Merit-cum-Means Scholarship for Minorities (Central)?

The official website is https://scholarships.gov.in (source: Ministry of Minority Affairs).