Top 15 Scholarships for School Students in India 2027 - Eligibility and How to Apply

Why Every Student Should Know About Scholarships

Scholarships in India are not just for students who cannot afford education. They are recognition of merit, talent, and potential. Thousands of scholarships go unclaimed every year simply because students and parents do not know they exist or miss the application deadlines.

A single scholarship can cover tuition fees, buy textbooks, fund coaching classes, or even provide a monthly stipend. For many families, especially in smaller towns and rural areas, a scholarship is the difference between continuing education and dropping out.

The Indian government, state governments, private foundations, and corporations collectively offer hundreds of scholarship programs for school students from Class 1 through Class 12. This guide covers 15 of the most valuable and widely accessible ones for 2027.

National-Level Scholarships

1. National Talent Search Examination (NTSE)

Conducted by: NCERT For: Class 10 students Amount: Rs 1,250 per month for Class 11-12, Rs 2,000 per month for undergraduate, Rs 4,000 per month for PhD Selection: Two-stage exam (State level + National level) Exam pattern: Mental Ability Test (MAT) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)

NTSE is one of the most prestigious scholarships in India. About 1,000 scholarships are awarded annually from approximately 3 to 4 lakh applicants. The Stage 1 exam is conducted by respective states in November. Stage 2 (national level) is held by NCERT in February.

How to apply: Through your school or the State Education Department. Registration typically opens in August-September.

2. KVPY (Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana)

Conducted by: Department of Science and Technology (previously IISc Bangalore) For: Class 11 (SA Stream), Class 12 and 1st year UG (SX Stream) Amount: Rs 5,000 per month during Class 11-12, Rs 7,000 per month during graduation Selection: Written exam + Interview

KVPY identifies students with research aptitude in basic sciences. The exam tests Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology. About 1,500 to 2,000 fellowships are awarded annually. Note: Check the latest status of KVPY as the program has undergone restructuring in recent years. It may be merged with INSPIRE.

3. INSPIRE Awards (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research)

Conducted by: Department of Science and Technology, Government of India For: Two schemes relevant to school students: INSPIRE Award MANAK: For Class 6 to 10 students INSPIRE Scholarship SHE: For Class 12 students entering BSc/Integrated MSc

INSPIRE Award MANAK: Rs 10,000 one-time for developing a science project/model. About 1 lakh awards given annually.

INSPIRE Scholarship SHE: Rs 80,000 per year for 5 years (total Rs 4 lakh) for students in the top 1 percent of Class 12 board results who pursue basic sciences.

How to apply: MANAK through school nomination. SHE through the online portal (online-inspire.gov.in) after Class 12 results.

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

Conducted by: MHRD, Government of India For: Class 8 students (scholarship for Class 9 to 12) Amount: Rs 12,000 per year (Rs 1,000 per month) Eligibility: Family income below Rs 3.5 lakh per annum, minimum 55 percent in Class 7 Selection: Written exam at state level

About 1 lakh scholarships are awarded across India. The exam has two parts: Mental Ability Test (MAT) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). Apply through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in).

5. Pre-Matric Scholarship for Minorities

Conducted by: Ministry of Minority Affairs For: Class 1 to 10 students from minority communities (Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi) Amount: Rs 1,000 per year (Class 1-5), Rs 5,700 per year (Class 6-10) including maintenance allowance Eligibility: Family income below Rs 1 lakh per annum, minimum 50 percent in previous class

Apply through the National Scholarship Portal. The application window typically opens in August-September.

6. Post-Matric Scholarship for Minorities

Conducted by: Ministry of Minority Affairs For: Class 11 to 12 and higher education students from minority communities Amount: Up to Rs 10,000 per year (varies by course level) Eligibility: Family income below Rs 2 lakh per annum

This is a continuation of the Pre-Matric scholarship for students who have passed Class 10.

7. Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarships for SC/ST/OBC Students

Conducted by: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (SC), Ministry of Tribal Affairs (ST), Ministry of Social Justice (OBC) For: SC/ST/OBC students from Class 1 to postgraduate level Amount: Varies by category and class level, ranging from Rs 2,500 to Rs 15,000 per year Eligibility: Income criteria vary by category

These are among the largest scholarship programs in India by number of beneficiaries. Apply through the National Scholarship Portal.

State-Level Scholarships

8. Pratibha Kiran Scholarship (Madhya Pradesh)

Conducted by: MP Government For: Girls from BPL families in MP who scored 60+ percent in Class 12 Amount: Rs 5,000 per year for graduation Application: Through the MP Scholarship Portal

9. Vidyasiri Scholarship (Karnataka)

Conducted by: Karnataka Government For: Post-matric students from Karnataka (SC/ST/OBC/Minority) Amount: Covers tuition fees and maintenance allowance Application: Through the SSP Karnataka portal

10. Oasis Scholarship (West Bengal)

Conducted by: West Bengal Government For: Pre-matric and post-matric students from SC/ST/OBC communities in West Bengal Amount: Varies by class and category Application: Through the Oasis portal (oasis.gov.in)

11. E-Grantz (Kerala)

Conducted by: Kerala Government For: SC/ST students in Kerala from school to postgraduate level Amount: Covers fees and provides monthly stipend Application: Through the E-Grantz portal

Private and Corporate Scholarships

12. Reliance Foundation Scholarships

Conducted by: Reliance Foundation For: Undergraduate students, but some programs start at Class 12 level Amount: Up to Rs 2 lakh per year Selection: Academic merit, financial need, and extracurricular achievements Application: Through reliancefoundation.org

13. SBI Foundation Asha Scholarship

Conducted by: SBI Foundation For: Class 6 to 12 students from low-income families Amount: Rs 15,000 per year Eligibility: Family income below Rs 3 lakh, minimum 60 percent in previous class Application: Through Buddy4Study portal

14. HDFC Educational Crisis Scholarship

Conducted by: HDFC Bank For: Students facing financial crisis due to family emergencies Amount: Up to Rs 75,000 (one-time) Eligibility: Students who dropped out or are at risk of dropping out due to financial hardship Application: Through Buddy4Study

15. Tata Trusts Scholarships

Conducted by: Tata Trusts For: Various programs for school and college students Amount: Varies by program Eligibility: Merit and means-based Application: Through tatatrusts.org

How to Find and Apply for Scholarships

The National Scholarship Portal (NSP)

The National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) is a one-stop platform for government scholarships. Create an account, fill in your details, and apply for multiple scholarships through a single portal.

Registration opens annually between July and October for most scholarships. The portal lists eligibility criteria, required documents, and application deadlines for each scheme.

Required Documents

Keep these documents ready in digital format (scanned copies):

Aadhaar card Income certificate (from Tehsildar or SDM office) Caste certificate (for category-based scholarships) Previous year marksheet Bank account details (preferably in student's name) Passport-size photographs Domicile certificate School bonafide certificate

Application Tips

Apply early. Many scholarships are first-come-first-served or have limited slots.

Double-check all details before submitting. A wrong bank account number or missing document can delay or disqualify your application.

Save the application number and take a screenshot of the confirmation page.

Follow up with your school if the scholarship requires school verification.

Apply to multiple scholarships. There is no rule against holding multiple scholarship applications simultaneously, though some may restrict concurrent awards.

Scholarships and Academic Preparation Go Together

Scholarships reward academic performance, which means your board exam scores directly impact your eligibility. A student scoring 90+ in Class 10 qualifies for significantly more scholarships than a student scoring 70.

This creates a positive feedback loop. Better preparation leads to better scores, which leads to more scholarship opportunities, which funds better education.

For students aiming to improve their academic performance to qualify for scholarships, consistent daily study is essential. Tools like Padhaao can help students practice and prepare for board exams at no cost, removing the financial barrier that sometimes prevents access to quality study material.

Common Mistakes Students Make

Not knowing about scholarships until it is too late. Start researching in Class 8 or 9, not after Class 12.

Missing deadlines. Set reminders for scholarship application windows. Most open between July and October.

Not keeping documents ready. Income certificates and caste certificates take time to process. Start the paperwork 2 to 3 months before the application period.

Applying to only one scholarship. Apply to every scholarship you are eligible for. The more applications you submit, the higher your chances.

Not preparing for scholarship exams. NTSE and NMMS require specific preparation. Treat them like any other competitive exam.

The Bottom Line

There is significant financial support available for Indian school students through scholarships. Government schemes alone distribute thousands of crores annually to eligible students. The key is awareness, timely application, and academic performance. Start exploring scholarship options from Class 8 onwards, keep your documents updated, and let your academic preparation open doors that financial constraints might otherwise close.