Several major scholarships closing October 31, 2026 are still open on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), and the cut-off is under two weeks away. This guide helps you work out which ones you can actually claim, so you spend your time on two or three good fits instead of thirteen.
Key Facts
- Deadline: October 31, 2026 for the central schemes covered below, according to the aggregator IndiaScholarships.in (updated September 28, 2026) and CareerIndia (October 1, 2026).
- Where to apply: the National Scholarship Portal, scholarships.gov.in.
- Verification windows after you apply: institute verification until November 15, 2026, and district, state or ministry verification until November 30, 2026 (CareerIndia).
- One-Time Registration (OTR) with Aadhaar face authentication is reported as mandatory for fresh and renewal applicants (IndiaScholarships.in).
- Most of the figures here come from aggregator sites. Confirm every amount and date on the official portal before you submit.
Which Scholarships Close on October 31?
The October 31 list covers schemes for Class 11 students, undergraduates, postgraduates, girls in technical courses, and minority students. Match yourself to the one that fits your level and category first.
- PM YASASVI (OBC, EBC, DNT students): the college cycle closes October 31, 2026. The school cycle for Classes 9 to 12 is reported as closed on August 31.
- Post-Matric Scholarship for Minorities: Class 11 to PhD, closing October 31, 2026.
- Central Sector Scheme for College and University Students (PM-USP CSSS): for students who scored in the top percentile in Class 12. Most sources give October 31, but one aggregator page also lists September 30, so check the portal.
- AICTE Pragati, Saksham and Swanath: for technical degree and diploma students in specific categories.
The same list names others, including the Top Class Education Scheme for SC students, the ONGC Scholarship, the Dr. Reddy’s Foundation Sashakt Scholarship and the FFE Scholarship. Check each sponsor’s own page for eligibility.
Who Qualifies for the Main Government Schemes?
Eligibility is mostly about category, income and marks. Here is how the four big schemes compare, as reported by the sources above.
PM YASASVI
You need to belong to the OBC, EBC or DNT category, have family income up to Rs 2.5 lakh a year, and have at least 60% marks. You must attend a notified top-class institution. Benefits include full tuition (capped at Rs 2 lakh a year at private institutions), Rs 36,000 a year for living costs, Rs 5,000 for books and a one-time laptop grant up to Rs 45,000. The NTA entrance test for school applicants is reported as discontinued, with merit based on the previous class’s marks.
Post-Matric Scholarship for Minorities
You must belong to a notified minority community (Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain or Parsi), have scored at least 50% in your last exam, and have family income up to Rs 2 lakh a year. At least 30% of awards are reserved for girls. Amounts differ by course and whether you live in a hostel, so read the scheme notice rather than relying on one headline figure.
PM-USP Central Sector Scheme (CSSS)
You need to be in the top percentile of Class 12 qualifiers in your board and stream, enrolled in a regular UG or PG course, with family income up to Rs 4.5 lakh. The reported award is Rs 12,000 a year for the first three undergraduate years and Rs 20,000 a year for postgraduate study. Sources disagree on the exact percentile cut-off, so confirm it on the portal.
AICTE Pragati, Saksham and Swanath
These schemes pay Rs 50,000 a year, per CareerIndia. Pragati is for girls in AICTE-approved courses (up to two per family, income below Rs 8 lakh). Saksham is for students with at least 40% disability. Swanath is for orphans, Covid-affected children and children of martyrs.
How to Apply Without Losing Your Application
Most rejected or stalled applications fail on paperwork, not eligibility. Work through these steps in order.
- Complete OTR on scholarships.gov.in. You will get a 14-digit OTR number after Aadhaar face authentication.
- Seed your Aadhaar with your bank account. Payments go by Direct Benefit Transfer, and a failed seeding can block them.
- Keep documents ready as PDFs: Aadhaar, income certificate, previous marksheet, current fee receipt, bonafide certificate, bank passbook and a category or community certificate if needed.
- Choose the right scheme under the academic year 2026-27, fill the form and use Final Submit. Edits are not allowed afterwards.
- Ask your institute’s nodal officer to verify it before the November 15 window closes.
If face authentication keeps failing, the sources suggest better front lighting, a clean camera lens and steady eyes. Some also mention completing it at a Common Service Centre.
How to Pick Your Top Two or Three
Start with schemes where your category is named outright, because those have the smallest applicant pool. Next, check your family income against each cap and your marks against each minimum. Then rank what is left by benefit size and by how quickly you can collect the documents.
You can often apply to more than one scheme, but some rules bar holding two scholarships at once. The CSSS sources say you should not be receiving another scholarship, so read the conditions before you apply to overlapping schemes.
FAQs
Q. What is the last date for scholarships on the NSP in October 2026?
Ans. October 31, 2026 for the central schemes covered here, including PM YASASVI (college), the minority post-matric scheme and the AICTE schemes. Confirm your specific scheme on scholarships.gov.in, because one aggregator page lists a different CSSS date.
Q. Do I need Aadhaar to apply?
Ans. Yes. The reported process requires OTR with Aadhaar face authentication and an Aadhaar-seeded bank account for payment.
Q. Can I apply for more than one scholarship?
Ans. Sometimes. Some schemes bar students who already receive another scholarship, so read each scheme’s conditions first.
Q. What if my institute does not verify my application in time?
Ans. Unverified applications can be invalidated. Submit early and ask your nodal officer about the November 15 institute deadline.
Q. Are these amounts final?
Ans. No. The figures come from news and aggregator pages, which can lag official notices. Treat them as a guide and check the NSP scheme page.
Next Steps
Pick your top two schemes today, finish OTR and gather your documents this week, then submit well before October 31. Scholarship notices change often, so check the NSP and this page again for updates before the window closes.