The Central Sector Scholarship has been introduced by the Union Government of India. This scholarship program aims to provide financial assistance to College and University students hailing from low-income families to encourage them to pursue higher studies. With the scholarship money, such students can meet their daily expenses until they complete the given graduation and post-graduation courses.
Central Sector Scholarship: Features
As part of the Central Sector Scholarship initiative, a total of 82000 students are awarded scholarships every year. The beneficiaries of this scholarship scheme include 50% boy candidates and 50% girl students, with a focus on gender equality. The various State Education Boards across India receive scholarship money for students between the ages of 18 years and 25 years within their respective states. The share of students in both the CBSE Board and ICSE Board is accounted for during the allotment process.
- Additionally, the scholarships are assigned to the different State Education Boards in a ratio of 3:2:1 among students who have completed their education in the streams of Science, Commerce, and Arts, respectively. This strategic distribution of the scholarship money ensures that students from varied educational backgrounds receive financial aid for their higher education pursuits.
- The shortlisted students receive the scholarship amount via transfers to their respective bank accounts through the Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT) mode.
| Central Sector Scholarship – An Overview | |
|---|---|
| Scholarship Name | Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (CSSS) |
| Awards | Up to INR 20,000 per annum |
| Eligibility | Class 12th Passed with 80th per cent Marks |
| Pursuing regular UG/PG course | |
| Parents’ income of less than INR 4.5 lakh Per year | |
| last date | 31 Dec 2023 |
| Official Website | scholarships.gov.in |
Central Sector Scholarship: Award Money
Graduation
- A yearly scholarship amount of INR 10000 for the first 3 years of graduation
- Students who have enrolled in a 5-year integrated course receive INR 20000 per year during the 4th and 5th years of study
- In cases of the student pursuing technical courses (including Bachelor of Engineering or Bachelor of Technology), he/she will receive a scholarship up to the graduation level
Post-graduation
- Students pursuing postgraduate-level courses are granted INR 20000
Central Sector Scholarship: Important Dates
The Central Sector Scholarship is a merit-cum-means scholarship awarded to students annually. The scholarship is announced in July and eligible candidates can apply until the last week of December. The application period is liable to change at the discretion of the scholarship provider.
Helpline
Email Helpline: helpdesk[at]nsp[dot]gov[dot]in
Toll-Free No: 0120 – 6619540
Central Sector Scholarship: Eligibility Norms
Refer to the below-mentioned details for information on the eligibility rules of the Central Sector Scholarship program:
- He/she has to be in the top 20th percentile merit list of Class 12 results of the relevant boards, including ICSE, CBSE, SEB
- The applicant has to be admitted to a regular course at the graduation or post-graduation level at a government-recognized college or university
- In cases where the candidate belongs to reserved categories of PWD, ST, SC, or OBC, they will get reservations of 5%, 27%, 15%, and 7.5% respectively
- The student’s yearly family income has to be equal to or less than INR 8 lakh
- The applicant cannot avail of the benefits of any other scholarship
- Students pursuing Diploma courses are not invited to apply
Central Sector Scholarship: Mandatory Documents
Candidates are required to submit the following list of documents:
- Student’s bank passbook copy
- Aadhaar Card / PAN Card / Voter ID Card / Driving License / Passport Copy
- Student’s Family Income Certificate
- Copy of Class 12 mark sheet
- Disability Certificate Copy (if any)
- Caste Certificate Copy (if any)
Central Sector Scholarship: Application Procedure
The application process for the Central Sector Scholarships is detailed herein:
- In the initial step, you are required to register on the National Scholarship Portal
- Provide all the required information in the Registration Form, after which the system generates your unique “Application ID” and “Password”
- Go to sign in to your account with your login credentials and you will then receive an OTP on your registered mobile number; you have to change your password as per the system prompts
- After you change your password, the system gets directed to the User’s Dashboard Page, at which point you have to access the Online Application Form
- Provide all compulsory details in the form, such as academic information, registration details, contact information, scheme details, and other basic info
- Subsequently, you have to submit the relevant documents on the system
- Always review your application for any errors; if you find any discrepancies, correct them
- Finally, tap the “Submit” tab to mark the completion of the application process