Scholarship
Your overall expenses for international education can be greatly decreased by applying for scholarships, grants, and bursaries. The idea that there are no scholarships available for international students is a widespread one among students. That’s not true, though. High-achieving students are valued by governments and universities all over the world, and there are numerous scholarship programmes created to draw in the best and brightest minds in their nation. The Indian government provides a wide range of scholarships to deserving students. The education industry benefits greatly from these scholarships. Many students face financial difficulties that prevent them from continuing their education. By offering financial support, these scholarships enable students to continue their higher education. In India, there are scholarships that relieve parents and students of financial burdens while giving their aspirations wings. By charging a fee, these scholarships will aid in lowering mental stress. This is a big help for students who deserve it. A scholarship may be exam- or merit-based. The right preparation and direction are necessary for students to succeed in these scholarship exams.
Types of Scholarship
One widespread misconception about scholarships is that they are only available to school students. But the truth is very different from these false notions. The scholarship’s scope extends beyond just school-level studies; it is also open to 12th-graders who wish to pursue higher education at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels.
Central Government-Aided Scholarships
In the below table, students will find out the most popular central government scholarships offered to class 12 pass-out students.
| Central Government Scholarships | Offered By Government of India | Application Period |
| Post Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities | Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India | July to October |
| Post Matric Scholarships Scheme for Minorities | Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India | July to October |
| Merit Cum Means Scholarship for Professional and Technical Courses CS (Minorities) | Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India | July to October |
| Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students | Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India | July to October |
| Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme for Central Armed Police Forces and Assam Rifles | Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India | July to October |
| National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students | Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India | July to October |
| Scholarships for Top-Class Education for Students with Disabilities | Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India | July to October |
| Financial Assistance for Education of the Wards of Beedi/Cine/IOMC/LSDM Workers – Post-Matric | Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India | July to October |
| Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY) | Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India | June to September |
| NEC Merit Scholarship | NEC Merit Scholarship North Eastern Council (NEC) | October to January |
Private-Funded Scholarships after 12th
Many private institutions and organizations provide scholarships for students to pursue their desired academic careers after class twelve in addition to government-sponsored scholarships. Some reputable non-profit organizations and profitable businesses provide scholarships for students in an effort to make education more affordable for them (under their CSR initiative). The table highlighted below contains information about these scholarships.
List of Scholarships after 12th – Private Funded
| Scholarship | Who is offering | Application Period |
| Reliance Foundation Scholarships | Reliance Foundation | January to February |
| JN Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship | Tata | January to February |
| Kotak Shiksha Nidhi | Kotak Group Companies | September to March |
| L’Oréal India For Young Women in Science Scholarship | L’Oréal India | August to October |
| BYPL SASHAKT Scholarship | BSES Yamuna Power Limited | September to December |
| DBS Business for Good Internship | DBS Foundation | November to December |
| HDFC Ltd’s Badhte Kadam Scholarship for General Undergraduate Courses | HDFC | December to February |
| Auxilo’s Edevate Scholarship Program | Auxilo Finserve Pvt. Ltd | November to December |
| SBI General Suraksha Support Scholarship Program | SBI General Insurance Company Limited | October to November |
| Dr. Reddy’s Foundation Sashakt Scholarship | Dr. Reddy’s Foundation | May to November |
| Kotak Kanya Scholarship | Kotak Education Foundation | August to March |
| JM Sethia Merit Scholarship Scheme | JM Sethia Charitable Trust | June to July |
| Santoor Women’s Scholarship | Wipro Consumer Care and Wipro Cares | June to August |
| Siemens Scholarship Program | Siemens India | July to August |
List of Scholarships after 12th – State Funded
West Bengal scholarships are available for both high school and college students who are residents of the state. The West Bengal scholarships are designed to aid deserving, underprivileged, and meritorious students in the state. They are managed by the West Bengali government and its supporting agencies. In addition, the state is home to numerous reputable institutions of higher learning, including the National Institute of Technology (Durgapur), Indian Institute of Management (Kolkata), Indian Institute of Technology (Kharagpur), and Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (Kolkata). This eases the process of education for West Bengal students.
| S.No | Scholarship name | Eligibility |
| 1. | Swami Vivekananda Merit Cum Means Scholarship for Minorities, West Bengal | ● One needs to reside in West Bengal. ● A student must have received at least 75% of the possible points in Class 10 to enroll in higher secondary school or pursue a diploma. ● If enrolling in undergraduate coursework, a student’s Class 12 grade point average must have been at least 75%. ● One must have received at least 53% (for general education) or 55% in order to enroll in a PG programme (in case of engineering) ● The family’s combined annual income should not be higher than INR 2.5 lakh. |
| 2. | West Bengal Post-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST/OBC | ● One must be from the SC, ST, or OBC category and reside in West Bengal. ● Class 11, Class 12, Graduation, or Postgraduate studies are required. ● For SC/ST students, the family income should not be more than INR 25,000 to INR 25,000 annually. ● For OBC students, the family income should not be more than INR 1.0 lakh annually. |
| 3. | West Bengal Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC ST Students | ● be a resident of West Bengal. ● One must fall under the SC or ST category. ● One needs to be enrolled in Class 9 or 10. ● The family’s combined annual income should not be more than INR 2 lakh. |
| 4. | Hindi Scholarship Scheme, West Bengal | ● One should be from a country that does not speak Hindi. ● One needs to live in West Bengal. ● One must have completed a degree programme that is equivalent to the Madhyamika, higher secondary, graduation, or postgraduate level. ● Hindi must have received at least 60% of the possible points in the previous qualifying examination on the first try. |
| 5. | Bigyani Kanya Medha Britti Scholarship | ● The candidate must be from West Bengal and fall under the SC, ST, or OBC classification. ● Only students studying at the graduation, postgraduate, or class 12 levels are eligible for this scholarship programme. ● The family’s annual income shouldn’t be more than 2.5 lacs (for SC and ST) ● OBC families should not earn more than $1 lac annually. |
| 6. | West Bengal Talent Support Stipend Programme | ● The students must be West Bengal residents and have received less than 50% of the possible points. ● They must have scored well on the prior test. ● Only students who identify as minorities may use this application (Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, Jain, Parsee) |
| 7. | West Bengal Merit Cum Means Scholarship | ● The students must be West Bengal residents. ● A technical or professional course, such as one in medicine, engineering, management, law, or accounting, must be being studied by the applicants. ● The annual family income should be no more than INR 2.5 lakh. ● The students must be a part of West Bengal’s minority community. ● They must have received a minimum grade of 50% on their Higher Secondary or Graduation exam. |
| 8. | JBNSTS Scholarship Program (senior and junior) | ● A candidate must reside in India permanently. ● The applicant must have passed this Higher Secondary exam or a test of comparability. ● An applicant must be enrolled in an undergraduate programme leading to a BSc in engineering for medical. ● The applicant must be enrolled in an undergraduate programme at a school with a West Bengal registration. |
How to apply for Scholarship in India?
The majority of the scholarship program’s application process is now done online. Students must submit their applications through the National Scholarship Portal for all national-level scholarships. In addition, some of the scholarships may have their own websites. Through the official websites of the relevant authorities, such as the SCERTs of the states, application forms for national-level scholarships like NMMS can be filled out. Students may submit an offline or online application for state-level scholarships. The majority of scholarship applications must be submitted online through the relevant websites. Similar to high school scholarships, college scholarships require eligible students to apply through the appropriate education portals.
Documents Required for scholarship in India
Before submitting an application for a scholarship, every student should first and foremost review the eligibility requirements. After that, they need to have the necessary paperwork to demonstrate their eligibility. Depending on the type of scholarship they wish to apply for, certain documents are required. For instance, if a scholarship is only available to students who live below the poverty line, applicants must present a BPL certificate, ration card, income certificate, or any other required supporting documentation. As a result, we advise all of our readers to carefully read the official notification before applying.
Here, we have shared a list of some of the documents which are commonly required for all scholarships
- Identity Proof
- Educational certificates
- Birth certificate
- Residential proof (generally in state-level scholarships)
- Income Certificate (As applicable)
- Physical Disability certificate (as applicable)
- Bank Details
- Passport sized photograph
- For detailed information, students should visit the official portal of the scholarship concerned.
