Girls from SC, ST, and OBC communities face a double barrier in education.
First, they face economic hardship that makes fees and books impossible. Second, they often face family pressure to leave school early for marriage or household responsibilities.
The Government of India has responded with a system of dedicated girl-only scholarships — separate from, and on top of, general SC/ST/OBC schemes. These scholarships exist specifically because female students need extra support to stay in school and complete their degrees.
This article gives you every major scholarship for SC ST OBC girls 2026 — verified amounts, correct eligibility, how to apply, and what makes each one special.
1. Why Girl Students Get Special Scholarships
For some schemes, such as the OBC Scholarship in Assam, only two male children from the same parents/guardian can receive scholarships. However, this restriction does not apply to female students, allowing all eligible girls from a family to apply.
This is one of the most important — and least known — facts about SC/ST/OBC scholarships. Most schemes restrict the number of sons in a family who can receive scholarship money. But girls face no such restriction. Every eligible girl in a family can apply and receive a scholarship simultaneously.
The government builds in this extra support because female students drop out at higher rates, often for financial and social reasons. The scholarships on this list exist to remove that barrier permanently.
2. AICTE Pragati Scholarship — Best for Engineering Girls
This is the most generous scholarship available exclusively for female students in technical education.
Who can apply: Girl students admitted in the 1st year (or lateral entry 2nd year) of any AICTE-approved college studying Engineering, Technology, Pharmacy, Management, or Diploma. Girl students in AICTE-approved technical colleges — Engineering, Pharmacy, Management, and diploma — with family income below ₹8 lakh receive ₹50,000 per year. College fees, books, and a laptop are all covered.
Key details:
- Income limit: ₹8 lakh/year (very generous — most middle-income families qualify)
- Amount: ₹50,000 per year
- Covers: college fees, books, and a laptop
- Only one girl per family can receive this in the same academic year
- Apply at: aicte-india.org
3. Central Sector Scholarship — 50% Reserved for Girls
A maximum of 82,000 fresh scholarships per annum are provided for pursuing graduate/postgraduate degrees in colleges and universities, and for professional courses such as Medical and Engineering. 50% of the scholarships are earmarked for girls.
This means 41,000 scholarship slots every year are reserved exclusively for girl students — from all categories, including SC/ST/OBC.
Amount: ₹12,000/year (UG years 1–3), ₹20,000/year (PG and year 4–5 professional). Eligibility: Top 20 percentile of Class 12 board, family income ≤ ₹4.5 lakh. Apply at: scholarships.gov.in (NSP)
4. CBSE Single Girl Child Scholarship
If you are the only child of your parents and studied in a CBSE school, this scholarship is made for you.
Who can apply: Single girl child of parents who passed CBSE Class 10 with 60% or above marks, studying in Class 11 at a CBSE-affiliated school.
Amount: ₹500 per month for 2 years (Class 11 and 12) = ₹12,000 total
No income limit — purely based on being a single girl child with qualifying marks.
Apply at: cbse.gov.in — Applications open after Class 10 results
5. Post Matric Scholarship — Full Tuition for SC/ST Girls
Every SC and ST girl student from Class 11 to PhD must apply for this — it is the foundation scholarship for all higher education.
Professional course girls (MBBS, B.Tech, LLB, B.Sc Nursing):
- Day Scholar: ₹550/month
- Hosteller: ₹1,000/month
- Plus: 100% tuition fee reimbursement
Income limit: ₹2.5 lakh/year. Apply at: scholarships.gov.in (NSP) No family restriction for girls — even if brothers are also receiving scholarships
6. PM YASASVI — 50% for OBC/EBC/DNT Girls
OBC, EBC, and DNT girl students benefit from PM YASASVI, and 50% of the total scheme slots are reserved for girl students.
Amount: ₹6,000–₹7,000/year (Class 11-12), ₹10,000–₹15,000/year (UG and above) Income limit: ₹2.5 lakh/year Apply at: scholarships.gov.in (NSP)
7. Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship
This scholarship is specifically for minority girl students (Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, Zoroastrian, Jain). If you are from a minority community AND belong to SC/ST/OBC, you can apply for this in addition to general SC/ST/OBC schemes.
Who: Minority girl students in Classes 9 to 12. Amount: ₹10,000/year (Class 9-10), ₹12,000/year (Class 11-12). Income limit: Family income ≤ ₹2 lakh/year. Marks: Minimum 50% in the previous class. Apply at: maef.nic.in (Maulana Azad Education Foundation)
8. Savitribai Phule Scholarship — Maharashtra SC Girls
Named after the great educator Savitribai Phule — the first female teacher in India — this scheme from Maharashtra specifically supports girl students.
Girl Students in Classes 5th to 7th of SC and DNT communities and 8th to 10th. No income limit. Classes 5th to 7th: Scholarship of ₹60 per month for 10 months. Classes 8th to 10th: Scholarship of ₹100 per month for 10 months.
Key feature: No income limit — every SC girl student in Maharashtra in Classes 5 to 10 is eligible regardless of family income.
Apply through: Your school headmaster, who submits the list to the District Social Welfare Office — you do not apply directly.
9. Pre-Matric Scholarship (Unclean Occupation) — No Income Limit
If your parent or guardian works in a hazardous or unclean occupation (sanitation, waste picking, tanning, manual scavenging) — you qualify for this scholarship with no income ceiling at all.
This means even if your family earns above ₹2.5 lakh, girl students from these backgrounds can receive:
- Maintenance allowance for Class 1–10
- Annual grants for books, stationery, and uniforms
Apply at: scholarships.gov.in (NSP) — Component II under Pre-Matric SC Scholarship
This is one of the most underutilised schemes in India, especially for girl students in urban sanitation worker families.
10. ONGC Scholarship for SC/ST Girl Students
ONGC Scholarship: 2,000 students annually (1,000 SC/ST, 500 OBC, 500 General). 50% of scholarships are reserved for females.
ONGC provides 1,000 slots for SC/ST students annually — with 50% of that (500 slots) reserved specifically for SC/ST girls.
Amount: ₹48,000/year Income limit: ₹2 lakh/year Eligibility: Class 11-12 and UG professional courses (engineering, medical, MBA) Merit requirement: Top 10% of their board
Apply at: ongcscholar.ongc.co.in
11. State Scholarships for SC/ST/OBC Girls
Every state has its own girl-focused schemes on top of central government scholarships:
| State | Scheme | Who Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Maharashtra | Savitribai Phule Scholarship | SC/DNT girls Class 5-10, no income limit |
| Maharashtra | Dr. Punjabrao Deshmukh Hostel Allowance | ST/SC girls in professional colleges |
| West Bengal | Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means | OBC/SC/ST girl students, merit-based |
| Karnataka | SSP Scholarship — extended income window | SC/ST girls in medical/engineering, income up to ₹10 lakh |
| Delhi | Jai Bhim Mukhyamantri Pratibha Vikas Yojana | SC/ST girl students for competitive exam coaching |
| UP | Post Matric Scholarship | SC/ST/OBC girl students, ₹2.5 lakh limit |
| Rajasthan | Anuprati Coaching Scheme | SC/ST/OBC girls for UPSC, NEET, JEE coaching |
12. Documents Required
These documents are needed for almost all girl student scholarship applications:
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Aadhaar Card | In your own name — not your parents’ account |
| Aadhaar-Linked Bank Account | Recently, white background |
| SC/ST/OBC Caste Certificate | Valid, current — from Tehsildar/SDM |
| Income Certificate | Current year, all family income sources |
| Previous Year Marksheet | For eligibility confirmation |
| Domicile Certificate | For state-level scholarships |
| Admission/Enrollment Proof | Current year fee receipt or enrollment letter |
| Passport Photo | Only for the CBSE Single Girl Child scheme |
| Single Girl Child Certificate | Only for the Pragati scholarship |
| AICTE Admission Letter | Only for Pragati scholarship |
Bank account must be in YOUR name — not your parents’. Many female students use their father’s account, and their scholarship gets rejected or lost. Open your own zero-balance savings account at any bank using your Aadhaar and get it immediately.
13. Key Advantage: Family Restriction Does Not Apply to Girls
This deserves repeating because it changes everything for families with multiple children.
Only two male children from the same parents/guardians can receive scholarships in many schemes. However, this restriction does not apply to female students, allowing all eligible girls from a family to apply.
If you have two brothers who are already receiving SC/ST/OBC scholarships, your scholarship is not blocked. Apply separately. You are eligible regardless of how many male siblings are already receiving support.
14. Frequently Asked Questions
What scholarships are available for SC ST OBC girl students in 2026?
The main scholarships for SC/ST/OBC girl students in 2026 are: AICTE Pragati (₹50,000/year for technical college girls, income ≤ ₹8 lakh), Central Sector Scholarship (50% of 82,000 slots reserved for girls, ₹12,000–₹20,000/year), Post Matric Scholarship SC/ST (full tuition + ₹1,000/month hostellers), CBSE Single Girl Child Scholarship (₹500/month for 2 years), PM YASASVI for OBC/EBC/DNT girls (50% reservation), Savitribai Phule Scholarship in Maharashtra (no income limit, Class 5–10), ONGC Scholarship (500 slots reserved for SC/ST girls, ₹48,000/year), and state-specific schemes through MahaDBT, SSP Karnataka, and other portals.
Can SC OBC girls get scholarship even if brothers already receive it?
Yes — in most schemes, the restriction on the number of children from one family applies only to male children. Female students face no such family-level cap. All eligible girl students from the same family can independently apply and receive scholarship support. Always verify this rule in your specific scheme’s guidelines before applying.
How to apply for girl student SC ST OBC scholarship 2026?
Go to scholarships.gov.in and complete your OTR (One Time Registration) using Aadhaar. Log in and use the Scheme Eligibility filter to find every scheme you qualify for. Apply for all of them. Additionally, apply for AICTE Pragati at aicte-india.org if you are in a technical college. For the Savitribai Phule Scholarship in Maharashtra, inform your school headmaster — applications go through the school. For ONGC Scholarship, apply at ongcscholar.ongc.co.in. Open your own bank account in your name before applying.
What is the income limit for girl scholarships SC ST OBC?
Income limits vary by scheme: Post Matric SC/ST: ₹2.5 lakh/year. AICTE Pragati: ₹8 lakh/year. Central Sector Scholarship: ₹4.5 lakh/year. ONGC: ₹2 lakh/year. CBSE Single Girl Child: no income limit. Savitribai Phule (Maharashtra): no income limit. Pre-Matric Unclean Occupation: no income limit. The key point: different schemes have different income limits. Even if your family income is above ₹2.5 lakh, you still qualify for AICTE Pragati, Central Sector Scholarship, and other schemes with higher limits.
Conclusion
The Government of India has built a powerful system of girl-specific scholarships — because it knows that when a girl student drops out, it is not just her loss. It is the loss of a future doctor, teacher, engineer, judge, or IAS officer.
Savitribai Phule started teaching girls when the whole world told her to stop. The scholarships named after her — and the dozens of other girl-focused schemes — exist to make sure no girl student in 2026 has to stop because of money.
Your action plan today:
Step 1: Open your own bank account in your name. Not your parents’.
Step 2: Go to scholarships.gov.in — complete OTR. Apply for the Post Matric Scholarship and Central Sector Scholarship.
Step 3: If in a technical college, apply for AICTE Pragati at aicte-india.org.
Step 4: Apply for your state-specific girl scholarship on your state portal.
You deserve to study. Apply for every rupee the government has set aside for you.
Jai Bhim. Jai Savitribai. 🙏
