Pre Matric Scholarship SC ST Students — Complete Guide 2026-27

If you are an SC or ST student studying in Class 9 or Class 10, the Government of India wants to pay you a scholarship every month.

You do not need to be a topper. You do not need to come from a rich school. You just need to be enrolled, belong to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, and have a family income below a certain limit.

That scholarship is called the Pre Matric Scholarship SC ST Students, and millions of eligible students miss it every year because they either do not know it exists or find the application process confusing.

This article fixes that. Here is everything you need to know — in simple, clear language — to apply before the deadline and get your money.

1. What Is the Pre Matric Scholarship for SC ST Students?

The Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Castes and Others is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented through State Governments and UT administrations.

The word “pre-matric” means before Class 10 board exams (Matriculation). So this scholarship covers students who are still in school — specifically Class 9 and Class 10 for the main component, and Class 1 to Class 10 for a special component.

The objectives of the scheme are to support parents of children belonging to the Scheduled Castes for the education of their wards at the Pre-Matric stage so that their participation improves, to minimise dropout rates, especially in the transition from primary to the next level, and to help students perform better and have a better chance of progressing to the Post-Matric stage.

In plain language: the government wants SC/ST children to stay in school. This scholarship removes the financial reason for dropping out.

The National Scholarship Portal (NSP) is an online platform created by the Government of India. It acts as a single online window for students across the country to apply for and receive government scholarships. It is a key part of the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP), aimed at making government services simple, clear, and fast.

Official portal to apply: scholarships.gov.in

2. The Two Components — Which One Applies to You?

The Pre Matric Scholarship for SC students has two separate components. Read both carefully.

Component I — Class 9 and Class 10:

This is the main component. It is for SC students currently studying in Class 9 or Class 10. Family income from all sources must not exceed Rs. 2.5 lakh per annum.

Component II — Class 1 to Class 10 (Unclean Occupation):

This component is specifically for SC children whose parents work in hazardous or socially stigmatised occupations. There is no income ceiling for students of parents or guardians are engaged in Unclean Occupation.

Eligible categories include persons who are Manual Scavengers as defined under section 2(l)(g) of the Manual Scavengers Act 2013, Tanners and Flayers, Waste Pickers, and Persons engaged in hazardous cleaning as defined in Section 2(l)(d) of the Manual Scavengers Act 2013.

If your parent works in any of these categories — even if family income is above ₹2.5 lakh — you qualify for Component II. Eligible candidates must submit a certificate from the District Social Welfare Officer or an identified officer of a Local Body, Civic Agency, or any such authority as designated by the State Government.

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3. Pre Matric Scholarship Eligibility — SC Students

Here is the complete eligibility checklist for Component I (the main component):

Condition	Requirement
Class	Must be studying in Class 9 or Class 10 full-time
Category	Scholarship is awarded by the Government of the State/Union Territory to which the applicant belongs, where he is domiciled
Family Income	Parent/Guardian’s income from all sources must not exceed ₹2.5 lakh per year
Nationality	Must be an Indian citizen
State/Domicile	Scholarship is awarded by the Government of the State/Union Territory to which the applicant belongs — where he is domiciled
School Type	Must be enrolled in a recognised school in India
Other Scholarship	Must not be availing any other scholarship for the same purpose

Academic Performance: While most pre-matric scholarships do not mandate minimum marks, some state-specific schemes may require a passing grade in the previous exam.

Aadhaar-Linked Bank Account — Mandatory for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of scholarship funds.

4. Pre Matric Scholarship Amount 2025-26

Here is exactly what you receive every month and year as a Pre Matric SC scholarship recipient:

Component I — Class 9 and Class 10:

Category	Day Scholar	Hosteller
Maintenance Allowance	₹225 per month	₹525 per month
Ad Hoc Grant (annual)	₹750 per year	₹1,000 per year

This means a Class 9 SC student living at home (day scholar) receives ₹225 × 10 months = ₹2,250 maintenance allowance plus ₹750 ad hoc grant — totalling ₹3,000 per year.

A hosteller receives ₹525 × 10 months = ₹5,250 plus ₹1,000 ad hoc — totalling ₹6,250 per year.

Component II — Class 1 to 10 (Unclean Occupation):

SC/ST students — up to ₹1,000–₹3,000 per annum for day scholars and higher for hostellers, plus additional allowances for books, uniforms, and other school essentials in some states.

Amounts vary by class level. Children in Classes 1–5 receive less than those in Classes 9–10. Check the official notification for the exact amount by class.

All amounts are transferred directly to your Aadhaar-linked bank account through DBT.

5. Pre Matric Scholarship Last Date 2025-26

The last date to apply for the Pre-Matric Scholarship for students with disabilities and other similar pre-matric schemes closed on October 31, 2025. The application window for the remaining schemes has been extended to December 15, 2025.

The Last Date for Defective Application Verification is November 15, 2025. Institute Verification is open till November 15, 2025.

Expected dates for 2025-26 Pre Matric SC/ST Scholarship:

Event	Expected Date
Portal Opens	June–July 2026
Fresh Application Deadline	October–November 2026
Defective Application Correction	November–December 2026
Institute Verification Deadline	November–December 2026
State/District Verification	December 2026

CRITICAL: Always verify the current date on scholarships.gov.in — deadlines change, and extensions are common. Do not wait for the last day. Apply as early as possible.

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6. Documents Required

Keep these ready before you open the application form. Having them ready saves time and prevents errors.

Document	Important Notes
Aadhaar Card	An income certificate should be obtained only from the Circle Officer of the respective Revenue Circle — current year only
Aadhaar-Linked Bank Account	Your name must match Aadhaar. Account must be active.
Caste Certificate (SC)	Issued by Tehsildar/SDM/Circle Officer
Income Certificate	Recently, passport-size
Previous Year Marksheet	Class 8 marksheet for Class 9 applicants
School Enrollment Proof	Current year ID card or enrollment letter
Domicile Certificate	Proof of state residency
Passport Photo	An income certificate should be obtained only from the Circle Officer of the respective Revenue Circle, for the current year only
Component II Only	Certificate from the District Social Welfare Officer confirming the parents’ occupation

File format: PDF or JPEG. File size below 200 KB per document.

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7. How to Apply on the NSP Portal — Step by Step

The NSP portal is now using the NSP 2.0 system, with an updated registration and application process for 2025-26. All students must complete OTR (using Aadhaar or Aadhaar-EID plus face authentication) before applying.

Follow these steps exactly:

Step 1 — Visit the Portal. Go to scholarships.gov.in on your phone or computer.

Step 2 — Complete OTR Registration. One Time Registration (OTR) is a unique 14-digit number issued based on the Aadhaar/Aadhaar Enrolment ID (EID) and is applicable for the entire academic career of the student.

Click “New Registration.” Enter your Aadhaar number. Verify by OTP. Your 14-digit OTR number is generated. Save it carefully — you will need it every year.

Step 3 — Login with OTR Enter your OTR ID and the password you set during registration.

Step 4 — Select Your Scheme. The portal will recommend eligible schemes based on your details. Select “Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC Students” (Component I or II — whichever applies to you).

Step 5 — Fill the Application Form. Enter your name, date of birth, mobile number, email ID, state of domicile, category, and bank details. Then upload a copy of the Bank Passbook in PDF or JPEG Format with a size of 200 KB. Fill in all academic details, school name, class, and family income information.

Step 6 — Upload Documents: Upload all required documents. Check that scans are clear and readable.

Step 7 — Submit and Save Application ID: Double-check all details and submit. Save your application ID for tracking purposes.

Step 8 — School Verification (CRITICAL) Your school must verify your application online. Go to your school’s scholarship coordinator immediately after submitting and tell them. If they do not verify before the deadline, your application fails even if everything else is perfect.

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8. SSP Pre Matric Scholarship — Karnataka Students

The SSP Pre-Matric Scholarship 2025 is a transformative initiative by the Government of Karnataka, designed to support economically disadvantaged students from minority communities pursuing education from Class 1 to 10. Administered through the State Scholarship Portal (SSP), this scholarship aims to reduce dropout rates and alleviate financial burdens for families.

Karnataka-specific details:

Domicile Requirement: Applicants must be permanent residents of Karnataka. Academic Performance: A minimum of 50% marks in the previous qualifying exam (except for Class 1 students). Students must possess a valid SATS ID (Student Achievement Track System ID).

For SC/ST students, the income limit is ₹2.5 lakh under centrally funded schemes and ₹6 lakh for state-funded schemes.

Where Karnataka students apply: ssp.postmatric.karnataka.gov.in — for state scholarships. The Central Pre Matric scholarship is still applied through scholarships.gov.in.

Amount for Karnataka SSP: Classes 1 to 8 receive ₹1,000 per year. Class 9-10 amounts vary by school type. Check the SSP portal for updated amounts.

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9. How to Check Pre Matric Scholarship Status

After submitting, check your application status here:

NSP Application Status:

1. Go to scholarships.gov.in
2. Log in with OTR ID and password
3. Click “Track Application Status”

Payment Status:

1. Go to pfms. nic.in
2. Click “Know Your Payment”
3. Enter your bank account number or Aadhaar number

Common Status Messages:

Status	What It Means
Submitted	Error found — log in to NSP and correct the issue
Application received — waiting for the school to verify	Application sent to school — follow up with school now
Approved	Application accepted — payment being processed
Defective	Error found — login to NSP and correct the issue
Rejected	Application rejected — see reason and re-apply or appeal

If status shows “Forwarded to Institute” for more than 2 weeks, visit your school’s scholarship coordinator in person.

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10. Renewal vs Fresh Application — What Is the Difference?

If you applied last year and received the scholarship, you do not apply from scratch. You submit a Renewal Application.

The scholarship is renewable annually, provided the student continues to meet eligibility criteria and submits renewal applications on time.

For renewal, you must:

• Log in with your existing OTR ID
• Select “Renewal Application” instead of “Fresh Application.”
• Update your current class details and upload new documents
• Submit before the renewal deadline

If you fail to renew on time, your scholarship stops. The government does not chase you. You must act for yourself.

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11. Frequently Asked Questions

What is the SC ST OBC scholarship 2026?

The meritorious students of SC, ST, OBC, and other reserved categories can apply for NSP 2025-26 pre-matric and post-matric scholarships through the National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in. The Pre-Matric Scholarship supports SC/ST/OBC students from Class 1 to Class 10, while the Post-Matric Scholarship supports students from Class 11 to the PhD level. For 2026-27, applications are expected to open in June-July 2026 on the same portal.

What scholarships are available for Matric students?

For students in Class 9 and 10 (Pre-Matric level), the main scholarships available through NSP are: Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC Students (Component I), Pre-Matric Scholarship for Children in Unclean Occupation (Component II), Pre-Matric Scholarship for ST Students, PM YASASVI Pre-Matric for OBC students, Pre-Matric Scholarship for Minority Students, and the National Means Cum Merit Scholarship (NMMS) for all categories based on merit-cum-means. Apply for all you are eligible for.

How do I apply for a scholarship in E-district Delhi?

Delhi SC/ST students can apply for state-level scholarships through the E-District Delhi portal at edistrict.delhigovt.nic.in. For central government Pre-Matric SC scholarships, Delhi students must apply through scholarships.gov.in (NSP). The Delhi state scholarship for SC/OBC students has a last date of March 31, 2026, for the 2025-26 academic year. Create an account on the E-District portal using your Aadhaar and apply for the Pre Matric scholarship under the Social Welfare Department section.

Where should students apply for SC scholarships?

The applications will be invited on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) at scholarships.gov.in in the month of April every year, where the initial registration of the application shall be done. Details of registered candidates will be shared with the States to allow the applicant to fill out applications on the State portal. So, for SC Pre Matric scholarship — start at scholarships.gov.in. Your state portal link will be provided from there.

What is the pre matric scholarship income limit?

For SC/ST students, the income limit is ₹2.5 lakh per annum under centrally funded schemes and ₹6 lakh for state-funded schemes. For Component II (children of parents in unclean occupations), there is no income limit at all — even families earning above ₹2.5 lakh qualify. The income certificate must be from the current academic year and issued by the Circle Officer or Tehsildar of your area.

Conclusion

The Pre Matric Scholarship exists because Dr. B.R. Ambedkar built Article 46 into the Constitution — directing the State to promote the educational interests of SC/ST communities with special care.

That constitutional promise becomes real money in your bank account every year — if you apply.

The process is not complicated. You need your Aadhaar, your caste certificate, your income certificate, and 30 minutes on scholarships.gov.in. That is all.

Do it today. Not tomorrow. Not next week. The deadline is fixed, and it does not wait.

Apply. Study. Rise. Jai Bhim. 🙏