Top 50 Scholarships for Indian Students in 2026

By EduWealth India

Education costs are rising every year, but thousands of scholarships are available for Indian students from Class 1 to PhD level. Government, private companies, foundations, and universities collectively offer scholarships worth thousands of crores every year. The National Scholarship Portal (NSP) remains the largest gateway for government scholarships.

Government Scholarships

1. Central Sector Scholarship Scheme (CSSS)

• For meritorious Class 12 students
• ₹12,000–₹20,000 per year
• Apply through NSP

2. INSPIRE Scholarship

• Science students
• ₹80,000 per year
• For top-performing students in Class 12 science streams

3. PM YASASVI Scholarship

• OBC, EBC and DNT students
• Up to ₹1.25 lakh assistance

4. National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS)

• For economically weaker students
• ₹12,000 per year

5. AICTE Pragati Scholarship

• For girl students in technical education
• ₹50,000 per year

6. AICTE Saksham Scholarship

• For students with disabilities
• Technical education support

7. AICTE Swanath Scholarship

• For orphans and special categories
• Financial support for higher education

8. Post-Matric Scholarship for SC Students

9. Post-Matric Scholarship for ST Students

10. Merit-cum-Means Scholarship

11. Top Class Education Scheme for SC Students

12. Top Class Education Scheme for OBC Students

13. Minority Scholarship Scheme

14. Ishan Uday Scholarship

15. UGC PG Scholarship for Rank Holders

16. National Overseas Scholarship

17. PM Scholarship Scheme (Defence Wards)

18. ISI Scholarship

19. Beedi/Cine Worker Scholarship

20. Railway Ministry Scholarship Schemes

Private & Corporate Scholarships

21. Reliance Foundation Scholarship

22. SBI Asha Scholarship

23. HDFC Parivartan ECSS

24. Tata Capital Pankh Scholarship

25. LIC Golden Jubilee Scholarship

26. Aditya Birla Scholarship

27. Foundation for Excellence (FFE)

28. KC Mahindra Scholarship

29. JN Tata Endowment

30. Kotak Shiksha Nidhi

31. ONGC Scholarship

32. NTPC Scholarship

33. IOCL Scholarship

34. Siemens Scholarship

35. L&T Build India Scholarship

36. IET India Scholarship Award

37. IDFC FIRST Scholarship

38. Google APAC Scholarship Programs

39. Cisco Scholarship Programs

40. Mahindra Finance Scholarships

Scholarships for Higher Studies Abroad

41. National Overseas Scholarship

42. Fulbright-Nehru Scholarship

43. Chevening Scholarship

44. Commonwealth Scholarship

45. Erasmus Mundus Scholarship

46. DAAD Scholarship

47. Inlaks Scholarship

48. Rhodes Scholarship

49. Gates Cambridge Scholarship

50. Oxford-Weidenfeld Scholarship

Documents Usually Required

• Aadhaar Card
• Income Certificate
• Community Certificate (if applicable)
• Bank Passbook
• Previous Mark Sheets
• Admission Proof
• Passport-size Photograph
• Mobile Number and Email ID

Pro Tips Most Students Don't Know

✅ Apply to multiple scholarships instead of relying on one.

✅ Check your college's own scholarship and fee-waiver programs.

✅ Monitor NSP regularly because deadlines and verification stages change.

✅ Keep scanned documents ready before application windows open. Community discussions show that scholarship disbursement timelines can vary, so applying early helps avoid last-minute issues.

Final Thoughts

Many students miss scholarships simply because they do not apply. Even if you are from a middle-class family, there are merit-based, need-based, category-based, and private scholarships available. A combination of government, corporate, and institute scholarships can significantly reduce or even cover your education expenses.