Best Scholarships in India for 2023, Types, Eligibility, Deadlines
A student is awarded a form of financial aid for completing his education, which is popularly known as scholarship.
Scholarships in India, are awarded on various criteria, such as academic merit, diversity and inclusion, athletic skill, and financial need.
Quality Education is the most significant for any individual to get success, as education is the key to human development. However, with the rise in the cost of education, it has become very difficult to afford for most of the students of India.
Scholarships have made education accessible to everyone, irrespective of their financial background.
Scholarships in India are available ranging from primary school education to post-graduation studies, and research studies as well. In India, scholarships are provided by various organizations like the Government State and Central, Private Organizations, Corporations, and Universities.
In this article, we will discuss the types of scholarships available in India, different scholarships, and their deadlines.
Scholarships in India
Merit-based Scholarships:
The Merit-based scholarships will be issued to students based on their academic performance. Mainly these scholarships are awarded by Universities, Government Organizations, and Private Foundations.
In order to qualify, and apply for these merit-based scholarships, generally the student needs to achieve a certain specified academic performance. The eligibility criteria for these scholarships may vary from one scholarship to another and depends on the particular scholarship that the student intended to get.
Need-based Scholarships:
Students from low-income families and students who face financial difficulties to pursue education can look for Need-based Scholarships. Mainly these scholarships are awarded by Universities, Government Organizations, and Private Foundations.
In order to be eligible to apply for the need-based scholarships, the student must have the income certificates issued by government authorities.
Talent-based Scholarships:
In order to be eligible for Talent-based scholarships, students are required to demonstrate their talent through auditions, performances, or other relevant activities.
The talent-based scholarships are issued to students who possess a unique talent, such as in sports, music, arts, or other areas. Mainly these scholarships are usually provided by private foundations, corporations, and universities.
Minority Scholarships:
Students belonging to the Minority community are eligible to apply for the Minority scholarships. Students from the Minority communities such as Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and others will be eligible to apply for these scholarships. Students need to meet the other essential criteria set by the respective scholarship governing organizations.
These scholarships are provided by the government, private foundations, and corporations.
Different Scholarships in India
India has a well-established education system beginning from primary education, to post graduate, research studies. In order to provide, and support the financial needs of eligible students to pursue education without any hindrance, the Government of India, and State Governments have established various Scholarships in India.
National Scholarship Portal (NSP):
The Government of India has set up National Scholarship Portal (NSP) to provide scholarships to students belonging to various categories, such as SC, ST, OBC, Minority, and General categories.
Under the National Scholarship Portal NSP, the Government of India will be providing various scholarships merit-based, need-based, and talent-based, and they cover various levels of education, from primary school to postgraduate studies.
Maulana Azad National Scholarship:
Students belonging to the Minority community in India, are eligible to apply for the Maulana Azad National Scholarship. This scholarship is provided by the Government of India, the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
Minority community students who are pursuing a professional course at the undergraduate or postgraduate level are eligible to apply for the Maulana Azad National Scholarship.
Under this scholarship, the student will get financial aid to support the course fee, maintenance allowance, and other related expenses.
Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY):
Students pursuing courses in basic sciences, such as Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology are eligible to apply for the Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY). This scholarship is provided by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.
Under this scholarship, the students can get a monthly stipend and an annual contingency grant to the selected students.
Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child:
To support the single-girl child system, the Government of India has initiated the Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child. This scholarship is administered by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to support single girl child education.
Girls who are pursuing Post Graduates studies, and who are the single girl child in their families are eligible to apply for this scholarship.
Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child will provide financial aid to the girls for their tuition fees, and other related expenses.
Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST
Students belonging to the Schedule Castes (SC), and Schedule Tribe (ST) communities are eligible for the Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST. The Government of India, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has been granting the Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST students.
Under Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST, the student can get tuition fees, maintenance allowance, and other related expenses.
Post-Matric Scholarship for OBC:
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, is providing the OBC students, the Post-Matric Scholarship for OBC.
The students belonging to the Other Backward Classes, who are studying post-matric courses can apply to the Post-Matric Scholarship for OBC.
Under this scholarship, the student can have the opportunity to get tuition fees, maintenance allowance, and other related expenses.
National Overseas Scholarship:
National Overseas Scholarship is a scholarship provided by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.
The students belonging to SC, ST, OBC, and Minority communities who are pursuing postgraduate or Ph.D. studies in foreign universities are eligible for the National Overseas Scholarship.
The student can get tuition fees, maintenance allowance, and other related expenses under the national overseas scholarship.
Deadlines for the Scholarships in India
To apply for the various scholarships in Inda, the student has to be vigilant and must follow the respective scholarship websites for notifications.
The deadlines for scholarships vary from one scholarship to another. But most of the scholarships in India are to be applied at a specified time period.
Here are some important scholarship deadlines to keep in mind:
National Scholarship Portal (NSP): The deadline for NSP varies from state to state. Generally, the deadline for NSP applications is around November-December.
Maulana Azad National Scholarship: The deadline for Maulana Azad National Scholarship is usually in the month of September.
Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY): The deadline for KVPY applications is usually in the month of August.
Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child: The deadline for Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child is usually in the month of October.
Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST: The deadline for Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST applications is usually in the month of September.
Post-Matric Scholarship for OBC: The deadline for Post-Matric Scholarship for OBC applications is usually in the month of September.
National Overseas Scholarship: The deadline for National Overseas Scholarship applications is usually in the month of December.
Conclusion
Scholarships in India have made education accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial background. There are different types of scholarships available in India, ranging from merit-based to need-based, talent-based, and minority scholarships.
These scholarships are provided by the government, private organizations, corporations, and universities. The deadlines for these scholarships vary from one scholarship to another, and it is important to keep track of them to ensure timely application submission.
Applying for scholarships in India can be a cumbersome process, and the student should be patient, as it will take a lot of time to get it by passing through various administrative procedures.
But it is definitely worth the effort, as it can help to reduce the financial burden of education and pave the way for a brighter future.