Post Matric Scholarship for SC ST Students — How to Apply, Amount, Last Date.

After Class 10, many SC and ST students face a silent crisis.

Their marks are good. Their dream is clear. But money runs out.

College fees, hostel rent, books, bus passes — the costs pile up. And without financial support, thousands of bright students either drop out or never apply to college at all.

The Post Matric Scholarship for SC ST students was built specifically to solve this problem. It pays your maintenance allowance every month. It reimburses your full tuition fee if you are in a professional course. It covers your books, study tours, and even thesis typing charges if you are doing a PhD.

The objective of the scheme is to appreciably increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio of SC students in higher education with a focus on those from the poorest households, by providing financial assistance at post-matriculation or post-secondary stage to enable them to complete their education.

This is your complete guide — no fluff, no confusion. Just the exact information you need to apply and get paid.

1. What Is the Post Matric Scholarship?

The Post Matric Scholarship for SC/ST Students — officially called PMS-SC (Post Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Castes) and PMS-ST (Post Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Tribes) — is a central government scholarship scheme that provides financial support to SC and ST students studying beyond Class 10.

Post-Matric Scholarships are government-backed initiatives to empower students from SC, ST, OBC, EBC, and minority communities by offering financial assistance to students studying in Class 11, 12, and higher education, including diploma, undergraduate, and professional courses.

It is funded by the central government but implemented by state governments. These scholarships are available for studies in India only, and the awardees are selected by the State Government/Union Territory to which the applicant actually belongs — the State/UT in which the applicant is permanently settled or domiciled.

The scheme works with two separate ministries:

• PMS-SC — managed by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE)
• PMS-ST — managed by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA)

Both are applied through the National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in.

2. For Which Class Is the Post Matric Scholarship?

This is one of the most searched questions, so here is the clearest possible answer.

The Post Matric Scholarship covers students from Class 11 all the way up to the PhD level.

Level	Covered?
Class 11 & 12	✅ Yes
ITI / Vocational Diploma	✅ Yes
Polytechnic Diploma	✅ Yes
BA / BCom / BSc (UG)	✅ Yes
B.Tech / MBBS / LLB / B.Sc Nursing (Professional UG)	✅ Yes
MA / MCom / MSc (PG)	✅ Yes
M.Tech / MD / LLM (Professional PG)	✅ Yes
MPhil	✅ Yes
PhD	✅ Yes
Class 1 to 10	❌ No — this is Pre Matric

If you have passed Class 10 and are currently studying in any of the above courses, you qualify for the Post Matric Scholarship.

3. Eligibility — SC Students

Annual family income from all sources should generally not exceed ₹2.5 lakh for SC/ST, though specific limits may vary by scheme and state.

Here is the complete eligibility checklist for SC students:

Condition	Requirement
Category	Must not be availing of any other central scholarship for the same benefit
Course Level	Must be studying Class 11 or above in India
Family Income	All sources combined must not exceed ₹2.5 lakh per year
Domicile	Must apply through the state where you are permanently settled
Institution	Must be enrolled in a recognised school, college, or university
Attendance	Must maintain required attendance as per institution rules
Not Repeating	Students who fail the same class more than once become ineligible for benefits during that academic year or until they are promoted
One Scholarship Rule	Must not be availing any other central scholarship for the same benefit

Minimum Marks: Many schemes require a minimum of 50% marks in the previous final examination for both fresh applications and renewals. Check your state’s specific rule.

Family Limit: Some state-specific schemes restrict scholarship to a maximum of two children per family. Check your state guidelines.

4. Eligibility — ST Students

ST students follow the same basic eligibility as SC students but apply under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) scheme.

Key difference: As per the guidelines of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), OTR (One-Time Registration) is mandatory for ST students applying for both Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarships.

ST students must:

• Complete OTR on NSP first
• Then, apply through their state portal or directly on NSP
• Family income must not exceed ₹2.5 lakh/year
• Must belong to a Scheduled Tribe with a valid ST certificate

5. Post Matric Scholarship Amount 2025-26 — Complete Breakdown

This is the section most students come looking for. Here are the exact amounts you receive — by course type and whether you live at home or in a hostel.

Maintenance Allowance (paid monthly, for 10 months per year):

Course Type	Day Scholar	Hosteller
Class 11 & 12	₹230 / month	₹380 / month
UG / PG — Non-Professional (BA, BCom, BSc, MA, etc.)	₹300 / month	₹570 / month
UG / PG — Professional (B.Tech, MBBS, LLB, MBA, B.Sc Nursing, etc.)	₹550 / month	₹1,000 / month
MPhil	₹820 / month	₹1,200 / month
PhD	₹820 / month	₹1,200 / month

Annual calculation for a B.Tech SC student (hosteller): ₹1,000 × 10 months = ₹10,000 in maintenance alone — plus full tuition fee reimbursement on top.

For Odisha students: Every year, lakhs of students from Odisha receive anything between ₹15,000 to ₹1,20,000+ directly in their bank accounts through this scheme.

6. Post Matric Scholarship Benefits — What Else Do You Get?

The scholarship is not just a monthly payment. It covers a wide range of academic costs:

Tuition Fee: For professional courses (engineering, medical, law, nursing, management) — the full tuition fee is reimbursed directly to your institution. For non-professional courses, a book grant is provided instead.

Book Grant:

Level	Book Grant Per Year
Class 11 & 12	₹750
UG (Non-Professional)	₹1,000
PG (Non-Professional)	₹1,500
Professional Courses	₹2,000
MPhil & PhD	₹2,000 + thesis typing charges

Additional Allowances:

• Reader Allowance for blind students — ₹1,200 to ₹2,400/year
• Study Tour Charges — up to ₹1,600/year for applicable courses
• Thesis Typing Charges for MPhil and PhD students
• Hostel Charges — for recognised government hostels

Payment Method: Track your scholarship disbursement status on the PFMS portal. All money goes directly to your Aadhaar-linked bank account via Direct Benefit Transfer.

West Bengal Note: As per new guidelines by the Government of India, 40% of the total eligible amount will be disbursed for the first Phase. The remaining 60% of the total eligible amount will be disbursed in due course, for Pre Matric and Post Matric SC Students.

7. Post Matric Scholarship Last Date 2025-26

Deadlines vary by state. Here are the confirmed and expected dates:

State / Portal	Last Date for 2025-26
NSP Central (scholarships.gov.in)	Expected November 30, 2025 (check portal)
Delhi (e-district portal)	31 January 2026 (NSP) and 31 March 2026 (e-district Delhi portal)
Bihar (pmsonline.bihar.gov.in)	15 September 2025 to 25 December 2025 for 2025-26
Odisha (scholarship.odisha.gov.in)	Check oasis.gov.in for the current deadline
West Bengal (oasis.gov.in)	Check the SSP portal
Karnataka (ssp.postmatric.karnataka.gov.in)	Check the MahaDBT portal
Maharashtra (mahadbt.gov.in)	Check MahaDBT portal

Do not wait for the last day. Server crashes happen on deadline dates. Apply in the first week the portal opens.

8. Documents Required

Have every document below ready before opening the application form:

Document	Important Details
Aadhaar Card	Must be linked to your mobile number for OTP verification
Aadhaar-Linked Bank Account	If applying as a hosteller, a written certificate from the hostel warden
SC / ST Caste Certificate	Valid certificate from Tehsildar, SDM, or equivalent authority
Income Certificate	Current year only. Issued by Circle Officer / Tehsildar. Must show total family income from all sources.
Previous Year Marksheet	For fresh applicants — marksheet of the last qualifying exam
Domicile Certificate	Proof of residence in the state where you are applying
Admission / Enrollment Proof	Recently, passport-size, white background
Hostel Certificate	Fee receipt or enrollment letter from your college for the current year
Passport Photo	Recent, passport-size, white background
Bank Passbook (first page)	Upload in PDF or JPEG, under 200 KB
Disability Certificate	Only if applicable — for reader allowance

File format: PDF or JPEG. Keep each file under 200 KB unless specified otherwise. Scan documents clearly — blurry uploads are rejected.

9. How to Apply Online — Step by Step (NSP Portal)

Follow these 9 steps exactly:

Step 1 — Generate Your OTR. Go to scholarships.gov.in. Click “New Registration.” Enter your Aadhaar number. Verify with the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile. 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. Save this number.

Step 2 — Login. Go back to the portal. Click “Login.” Enter your 14-digit OTR ID and password.

Step 3 — Select Your Scheme The portal shows all schemes you are eligible for. Select “Post Matric Scholarship for SC Students” (or ST, as applicable).

Step 4 — Fill Personal Details. Enter name (exactly as on Aadhaar), date of birth, gender, mobile number, email ID, state of domicile, category (SC or ST), and parents’ name.

Step 5 — Fill Academic Details. Enter your current course name, institution name, district, year of study, and roll number.

Step 6 — Fill Bank Details: Enter your bank account number, IFSC code, and bank name. The account must be in your name and Aadhaar-seeded.

Step 7 — Upload Documents: Upload all documents listed above. Check that each scan is clear, complete, and under the size limit.

Step 8 — Submit. Double-check every field. Submit the application. Note your Application ID — you need it for tracking.

Step 9 — Institute Verification (MOST IMPORTANT) If status remains “Forwarded to Institute” for more than 30 days, contact your college scholarship section. Your college must verify your application before the deadline. Walk to your scholarship coordinator the same day you submit and tell them. This step is where most applications die — not because students did anything wrong, but because the college never verified.

10. Post Matric Scholarship Bihar SC ST 2025 — Special Guide

Bihar has its own dedicated portal for post matric scholarships — separate from the NSP.

Portal: pmsonline.bihar.gov.in

Online applications for the 2025-26 academic session are open from 15 September 2025 to 25 December 2025.

Bihar’s Post Matric Scholarship covers:

• SC students — Scheduled Caste Post Matric Scholarship Scheme
• ST students — Scheduled Tribe Post Matric Scholarship Scheme
• Chief Minister SC/ST Post Matric Scholarship Scheme (state-funded, additional)
• OBC/EBC — Mukhyamantri Pichhda Varg Post Matric Scholarship

Bihar-specific rules:

• Students must submit a hard copy of the application to their institution after online submission.
• All students must seed their Aadhaar with their bank account for DBT. Verify seeding status on UIDAI’s website.
• Biometric KYC is mandatory for Bihar SC/ST students for the 2024-25 session

Bihar income limit: ₹2.5 lakh for SC/ST. Check the portal for OBC/EBC limits.

11. SSP Post Matric Scholarship Karnataka

Karnataka uses the State Scholarship Portal (SSP) at ssp.postmatric.karnataka.gov.in for post-matric scholarships.

The Karnataka Government runs the State Scholarship Portal (SSP). This portal handles both pre-matric and post-matric scholarship applications. It supports students from SC, ST, OBC, minority, and other eligible groups. The full process happens online. Eligible students can apply on the SSP portal and check their application status there. The scholarship money is sent directly to the student’s bank account.

Karnataka SSP Post Matric — Key Points:

• Income limits: SC/ST ≤ ₹2.5 lakh. Others ₹1–2 lakh.
• Must be enrolled in a recognised institution in Karnataka.
• Students need a SATS ID (Student Achievement Tracking System ID) — this links your school records to your scholarship.
• Enter your Aadhaar number. The name on the Aadhaar must match your school records exactly.

How to log in on SSP: Go to ssp.postmatric.karnataka.gov.in. Click “Create Account” if new, or log in with existing credentials. Select the “Post Matric” scholarship category and complete the form.

12. State-Wise Application Portals

State	Portal	Notes
Central / NSP	scholarships.gov.in	All states use NSP for central government scholarships
Bihar	pmsonline.bihar.gov.in	Separate state portal for Bihar PMS
Karnataka	ssp.postmatric.karnataka.gov.in	SSP Portal
Maharashtra	mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in	MahaDBT — covers 30+ schemes
West Bengal	oasis.gov.in	Online Application for Scholarship to SC, ST and OBC Students in West Bengal is open for 2025-26 session
Odisha	scholarship.odisha.gov.in	PRERANA Portal
Delhi	edistrict.delhigovt.nic.in	Last date 31 March 2026 for e-District Delhi portal
Andhra Pradesh	Last date 31 March 2026 for the e-District Delhi portal	AP EPASS Portal
Telangana	telanganaepass.cgg.gov.in	TS EPASS Portal
UP	scholarship.up.gov.in	UP Scholarship Portal
MP	scholarshipportal.mp.nic.in	MP Scholarship Portal
Tamil Nadu	tnscholarships.gov.in	TN Scholarship Portal

13. How to Check Post Matric Scholarship Status 2025-26

After applying, check your status regularly using these methods:

Method 1 — NSP Portal: Go to scholarships.gov.in → Login with OTR ID → Click “Track Application Status.”

Method 2 — PFMS Payment Check: Go to pfms.nic.in → Click “Know Your Payment” → Enter bank account number or Aadhaar number.

Method 3 — State Portal: Log in to your state’s portal (Bihar: pmsonline.bihar.gov.in, Karnataka: SSP portal, etc.) and check application status there.

Understanding your status:

Status	Meaning	Action
Submitted	Received — waiting for college verification	Follow up with the college immediately
Visit the college scholarship coordinator	Sent to college	Error in the application
Institute Verified	College confirmed your details	No action needed — wait for district approval
Approved by SNO/DNO	District/State approved	Payment being processed
Payment Initiated	Money on the way	Check PFMS in 3-5 working days
Defective	Read the reason, re-apply or appeal	Log in to NSP, correct the issue within the deadline
Rejected	Application rejected	Read the reason, re-apply, or appeal

14. GOI Post Matric Scholarship — What Does It Mean?

When you see “GOI Post Matric Scholarship” on your marksheet, fee receipt, or college notice, it stands for “Government of India Post Matric Scholarship.”

This is the official name colleges use for the PMS-SC and PMS-ST scheme on official documents. When your institution receives your tuition fee reimbursement from the government, it is recorded as “GOI PMS” in college accounts.

If your institution asks whether you have a GOI scholarship, you say yes if you have applied and been approved under the Post Matric Scholarship for SC/ST on NSP.

15. PM YASASVI Post Matric Scholarship for OBC

OBC students do not apply for PMS-SC or PMS-ST. They have their own scheme called PM YASASVI (PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India).

Eligibility:

• Must belong to OBC, EBC (Economically Backward Classes), or DNT (De-Notified Tribes)
• Family income must not exceed ₹2.5 lakh/year
• Studying Class 11 or above

Amount:

• Class 11-12: ₹6,000 to ₹7,000/year
• UG and above: ₹10,000 to ₹15,000/year

Apply: scholarships.gov.in (NSP) — same portal as SC/ST scholarships.

16. Frequently Asked Questions

What is post matric scholarship?

The Post Matric Scholarship is a central government scheme that provides financial assistance to SC, ST, and OBC students studying beyond Class 10 — from Class 11 all the way to PhD. It pays a monthly maintenance allowance, reimburses full tuition fees for professional courses, and provides book grants. It is funded by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (for SC) and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (for ST). Applications are submitted through the National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in.

What is the post matric scholarship amount for SC students?

The amount depends on your course type and whether you are a day scholar or a hosteller. For Class 11-12: ₹230/month (day scholar) or ₹380/month (hosteller). For non-professional UG/PG: ₹300 or ₹570/month. For professional courses like MBBS, B.Tech, LLB: ₹550 or ₹1,000/month. For MPhil/PhD: ₹820 or ₹1,200/month — plus full tuition fee reimbursement for professional courses and book grants.

How much scholarship can I get from post matric scholarship?

A professional course hosteller (e.g., B.Tech or MBBS) can receive ₹1,000/month × 10 months = ₹10,000 in maintenance allowance, plus full tuition fee reimbursement (which can be ₹50,000 to ₹1,00,000+ per year depending on the institution), plus ₹2,000 book grant. The total can exceed ₹1 lakh per year for professional courses. Odisha students specifically receive between ₹15,000 to ₹1,20,000+ per year in their bank accounts through this scheme.

What is the post matric scholarship last date for 2025-26?

The last date varies by state. For the central NSP portal (scholarships.gov.in), the expected last date is November 30, 2025. Bihar’s portal (pmsonline.bihar.gov.in) is open until 25 December 2025. Delhi’s e-district portal’s last date is 31 March 2026. Karnataka’s SSP portal has its own deadline — check ssp.postmatric.karnataka.gov.in. Always verify the current deadline on your state’s portal or NSP, as extensions are sometimes granted.

How to login to post matric scholarship SC ST portal?

For NSP: Go to scholarships.gov.in and log in using your OTR ID (14-digit number generated during registration) and your password. For Bihar: Go to pmsonline.bihar.gov.in and log in with your registered mobile number and password. For Karnataka: Go to ssp.postmatric.karnataka.gov.in and log in with your SATS ID or Aadhaar-based credentials. If you forget your password, use the “Forgot Password” option on the respective portal.

What is GOI post matric scholarship?

GOI Post Matric Scholarship stands for the Government of India Post Matric Scholarship. It is the official term used by colleges and institutions for the PMS-SC (Post Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Castes) and PMS-ST schemes. When your tuition fee is reimbursed to your college by the central government, it is recorded as “GOI PMS” in their accounts. If your institution asks whether you have a GOI scholarship, you say yes if you have applied under and been approved for the central Post Matric Scholarship on NSP.

Conclusion

The Post Matric Scholarship for SC/ST students is one of the most powerful pieces of the system Dr. B.R. Ambedkar built — money directly from the Government of India to ensure that no SC/ST student has to choose between food and education.

But it only reaches you if you apply.

Your three-step action plan — do it today:

1. Go to scholarships.gov.in and generate your OTR number. Takes 10 minutes.

2. Gather your Aadhaar, caste certificate, income certificate, and marksheet. Get your bank account Aadhaar-seeded.

3. Apply before the deadline. Then walk to your college scholarship coordinator and make sure they verify your application.

That is all it takes. Your education should not stop because of money — and with this scholarship, it does not have to.

Jai Bhim. 🙏