What is this Scheme?
The Directorate of Higher Education, Haryana runs a special scheme for meritorious students of government colleges — the Haryana State Meritorious Incentive Scheme. Under it, the students who secure the first, second and third positions in their stream in the annual university examination get a fixed annual cash incentive — ₹5,000 for the first position, ₹3,000 for the second and ₹2,000 for the third, per year.
The best thing about this scheme is that there is no income limit — rich or poor, the award is given purely on merit. Applications are made online through the Har-Chhatravratti portal (harchhatravratti.highereduhry.ac.in), and the amount is sent directly to the student’s bank account through DBT. Applications for the academic session 2026-27 are open, and the last date to apply is 31 December 2026.
Note — this scheme is only for students of government colleges pursuing general courses. Students of private colleges, correspondence courses or open universities are not eligible.
Scheme at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme name | Haryana State Meritorious Incentive Scheme |
| Department | Directorate of Higher Education, Haryana |
| For whom | Meritorious UG/PG students of government colleges in Haryana |
| Benefit | 1st position ₹5,000/year, 2nd position ₹3,000/year, 3rd position ₹2,000/year |
| Streams | Arts, Commerce, Science (Medical and Non-Medical), Education |
| Income limit | No income limit |
| Apply where | Online — Har-Chhatravratti portal (harchhatravratti.highereduhry.ac.in) |
| Last date (2026-27) | 31 December 2026 |
| Fee | No application fee |
| Payment | DBT — directly into the bank account |
How Much Incentive is Given
The incentive is given separately for each stream — Arts, Commerce, Science and Education — so the first, second and third position holders in all four streams get the award separately. The amount is annual (per year):
| Position | Amount (per year) |
|---|---|
| First position | ₹5,000 |
| Second position | ₹3,000 |
| Third position | ₹2,000 |
The incentive is given every year on the basis of that year’s annual university examination result — a fresh merit is prepared each year and that year’s top-3 students get the award. Payment is made through DBT — since the 2021-22 session, payment is made through DBT after approval from the Higher Authority.
Honest note — the ₹10,000 figure is wrong: Some websites (for example aimindia.in) show this scheme’s amount as “₹5,000–₹10,000 per year” — that is wrong. The official guidelines cap this version at ₹5,000 per year. The ₹1 lakh figure belongs to the CBSE version (fee reimbursement for CBSE toppers), which is a separate scheme — see the “How This Scheme Differs” section below.
Who is Eligible — Eligibility Conditions
As per the official guidelines (issued on the Har-Chhatravratti portal), the eligibility conditions are:
| Condition | Detail |
|---|---|
| College | Student must be studying in a government college of Haryana |
| Course | Only general courses — UG or PG; Arts, Commerce, Science (Medical/Non-Medical), Education streams |
| Merit | First, second or third position in the annual university examination in the relevant stream of the college |
| Category | General category boys, General category girls, and SC students (boys and girls both) — separate merit lists for each |
| Income limit | No income limit |
| Domicile | Resident of Haryana (portal’s eligibility list shows domicile: Haryana) |
Who is Not Eligible
- Students of private colleges — this scheme is only for government colleges.
- Students studying through correspondence courses or open universities.
- Students who did not secure one of the top three positions in their stream.
- Students of professional courses — the official guidelines mention only general courses (see the “confusion” note below).
How the Merit List is Prepared
- College-specific merit: This scheme is college-specific — the top three students of each stream in every college get the incentive. There is no single state-level merit list.
- Three separate lists: The merit list is prepared separately for (1) General category boys, (2) General category girls, and (3) SC students (combined list of boys and girls). So in one stream of one college, up to 9 students (3+3+3) can get the award.
- SC student rule: If an SC student also qualifies in the general list, his/her name is considered in the general list, and an extra award is given to the SC category on merit basis.
- Tie-break rule: If two or more students secure equal marks/percentage, the award is decided on the basis of marks obtained in the main subjects.
- No other scholarship: The award holder cannot hold any other scholarship/stipend from the State Government or any other source at the same time (see the note below).
Honest note — a word missing in the guidelines: Condition (v) in the main scheme’s official PDF reads — “The award holder under this scheme will hold any other scholarship/stipend from the State Govt. or any other source” — the word “not” appears to be missing. The guidelines of the parallel CBSE version on the same portal state the same condition clearly — “The award holder under this scheme will not be eligible for any other scholarship/stipend” — and the same rule applies in Haryana’s other scholarship schemes. So this guide follows the rule: this incentive cannot be taken together with any other state scholarship. If you already hold another scholarship, confirm with your college before applying.
How This Scheme Differs From Other Schemes
Several merit-based schemes run on the Har-Chhatravratti portal, so confusion is natural. This table clarifies which scheme this guide is about:
| Point | This scheme — State Meritorious Incentive | State Merit Scholarship (6170) | CBSE version (separate scheme) | Ambedkar Medhavi Chhatra (6037) | Lower Income Group (7324/7333) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For whom | Top-3 UG/PG students of government colleges | Merit-pass UG/PG students (open + rural merit) | CBSE Class 10/12 state toppers (1 boy + 1 girl) | SC students — meritorious students | Students of any category, income up to ₹12,000 |
| Benefit | ₹2,000–₹5,000/year (as per position) | ₹150–₹900/month; UG girls ₹3,000/year | Full fee reimbursement — up to ₹25,000 (Class 11-12) / ₹1,00,000 (graduation) per year | Separate rates (see guide 6037) | Maintenance allowance + full fees |
| Income limit | None | None (merit-based) | None | As per scheme | ₹12,000/year |
| Basis | Stream-wise top-3 in the college | Merit in the previous public examination | First position in CBSE at state level | SC merit | Income + merit |
| Apply where | Har-Chhatravratti portal | Har-Chhatravratti portal | Har-Chhatravratti portal | Har-Chhatravratti portal | Har-Chhatravratti portal |
About the CBSE version, in plain words: The “Haryana State Meritorious Incentive Scheme (CBSE)” is a separate scheme — the government pays the full school/college fee of one boy and one girl who top the state in the CBSE Class 10th and 12th annual examinations (up to ₹25,000 per year till Class 12, up to ₹1,00,000 per year at graduation level, till graduation). It needs 92%+ in Class 10 and 90%+ in Class 12, and applications come through the Head of the Institution. It is different from this guide’s scheme — its full guide will come separately.
Also read: Lower Income Group Scholarship — no caste condition, ₹12,000 income limit | PM-YASASVI Post-Matric Scholarship (OBC/EBC/DNT) — up to ₹20,000 per year | Minority Post-Matric Scholarship — up to ₹15,000 per year | Government ITI SC Scholarship — ₹215 per month | SC Tuition Fee & Transport Reimbursement — up to ₹40,000 | SC/BC Competitive Exam Coaching Assistance — Free UPSC/IAS Coaching
Documents Required
As per the Har-Chhatravratti portal’s “How to Apply” list and the scheme guidelines, these documents are needed:
| Document | Note |
|---|---|
| Aadhaar card | Identity proof |
| Passport-size photograph | Recent photo of the applicant |
| Applicant’s signature | Scanned copy |
| Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) | Mandatory for registration — the OTP comes on the linked mobile |
| Haryana domicile certificate | Proof of being a Haryana resident |
| Caste certificate (SC) | Only for SC category applicants |
| 10th class certificate | Proof of educational qualification |
| 12th class certificate | Proof of educational qualification |
| Last exam passed certificate / DMC | Most important document — the marksheet of the annual university examination, proving the first/second/third position |
| Fee receipt | Proof of college fee |
| Bank account details | For DBT — Aadhaar-linked bank account |
Note: The portal’s general document list also includes an income certificate, but this scheme has no income limit, so no income certificate is needed — that list is shared across all 14 schemes on the portal. If the application form asks for an income certificate, ask your college before uploading it.
How to Apply
Applications are online only — through the Har-Chhatravratti portal (harchhatravratti.highereduhry.ac.in). As per the portal’s “How to Apply” page, the steps are:
Steps for Online Application
- Open the portal: Go to harchhatravratti.highereduhry.ac.in. New users click “Registration”; existing users can log in directly.
- Enter PPP: Enter the Parivar Pehchaan Patra (Family ID) — a list of family members will appear; select your name and click “Generate OTP”.
- Verify OTP: Enter the OTP received on the registered mobile number and click “Verify OTP”.
- Check the details: After OTP verification, the registration form gets auto-filled — cross-check all the information carefully.
- Select Department and College: Select your Department and College, create a password and click “Register”.
- Log in: Log in with your User ID and password to apply for the scholarship.
- Fill the details: Provide all necessary details like Course, Roll No., Eligibility etc. and upload the documents.
- Submit the application: Click the “Apply” button to save your application — note down the Application/Reference ID, it is used to check the status.
Important: The merit list is prepared at the college level — so stay in touch with your college after applying, because the college is involved in the merit list and verification process. There is no application fee — if anyone asks for money in the name of this scheme, it may be fraud.
How the Amount is Received
After the application is submitted, it is verified at three levels — first the college/institute, then the district level, then the state level (Department of Higher Education). After approval, the amount is sent through DBT directly into the student’s bank account. Since the 2021-22 session, payment is made through DBT after approval from the Higher Authority.
This is an annual incentive — it is given every year on the basis of that year’s annual examination result. For the next session, a fresh application has to be made on the portal (the portal opens fresh applications every session — for 2026-27, the notice was issued on 17 September 2026).
Application Timeline
| Session / Event | Status |
|---|---|
| Applications opened (2026-27) | Notice dated 17 September 2026 — “Regarding open online submission of Scholarship Applications on Har-Chhatravratti Scholarship Portal only for State Schemes of Higher Education Department for the 2026-27” |
| Last date (2026-27) | 31 December 2026 — “Open till 31/12/2026” on the portal (verified on the portal on 8 November 2026) |
| Previous session (2025-26) | Last date was 30 November 2025 (confirmed from multiple sources) |
Honest note — do not go by old dates: Some websites still show “30 November 2025” or “15 February” as the last date — those are old/wrong dates. The last date for the 2026-27 session is 31 December 2026, verified directly on the Har-Chhatravratti portal homepage on 8 November 2026. Still, check the date on the portal once before applying, because the department may extend it.
How to Check Status
- From the portal: On harchhatravratti.highereduhry.ac.in, use “Track Application” and enter your Application/Reference ID to see the status.
- Register a grievance: A grievance can be registered from the “Grievance” section of the portal, and its status can be seen through “Track Grievance”.
- From the college: Ask your college’s scholarship in-charge/office about the merit list and verification status — the merit list is prepared at the college level itself.
- From the helpdesk: Contact the helpline email/phone given below.
Common Mistakes in the Application
- Applying from a private college — this scheme is only for government colleges; applications from private colleges will be rejected.
- Confusing it with the State Merit Scholarship — that is a different scheme (₹150–₹900 per month, merit-based) — separate applications are needed for each.
- Confusing it with the CBSE version — the CBSE toppers’ fee reimbursement scheme is separate; this scheme gives a cash incentive, not a fee refund.
- Worrying about the income certificate — there is no income limit in this scheme; no income certificate is needed.
- Not attaching the annual exam DMC — the marksheet of the annual university examination is the most important document to prove the first/second/third position.
- Applying together with another scholarship — this incentive cannot be taken together with any other state scholarship.
- Delaying till the last date — the portal stops accepting applications after 31 December 2026, and the server can also slow down in the last days.
- Paying an agent — the application is free; anyone asking for money may be a fraud.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Haryana State Meritorious Incentive Scheme?
It is a scheme of Haryana’s Department of Higher Education in which UG/PG students of government colleges studying general courses get an annual incentive for securing the first, second or third position in their stream in the annual university examination — ₹5,000 for the first position, ₹3,000 for the second and ₹2,000 for the third, per year. There is no income limit, and applications are made on the Har-Chhatravratti portal.
2. How much amount is given under this scheme?
First position — ₹5,000 per year; second position — ₹3,000 per year; third position — ₹2,000 per year. The amount is given separately for each stream (Arts, Commerce, Science, Education) and is sent to the bank account through DBT.
3. Is there any income limit in this scheme?
No — there is no income limit in this scheme. The official guidelines state clearly — “There is no income limit for these awards” — and the portal’s eligibility list also shows the income limit as “N/A”.
4. Can students of private colleges apply?
No — this scheme is only for students of government colleges in Haryana. Students of private colleges, correspondence courses or open universities are not eligible.
5. What is the last date for the Haryana State Meritorious Incentive Scheme 2026-27?
31 December 2026 — this date was verified directly on the Har-Chhatravratti portal homepage on 8 November 2026, where “Open till 31/12/2026” is written against this scheme. The last date for the 2025-26 session was 30 November 2025 — do not confuse it with the 2026-27 date.
6. Is this scheme the same as the State Merit Scholarship?
No — the State Merit Scholarship (₹150–₹900 per month, ₹3,000 per year for UG girls) is a different scheme, based on merit in the previous public examination with about 1,410 fixed seats. In this incentive scheme, the top-3 students stream-wise in the college get an annual cash award — separate applications are needed for each.
7. Do CBSE toppers also get the benefit of this scheme?
There is a separate scheme with the same name for CBSE Class 10/12 state toppers — the “Haryana State Meritorious Incentive Scheme (CBSE)” — in which the full fee is reimbursed (up to ₹25,000 per year till Class 12, up to ₹1,00,000 per year at graduation). That is different from this guide’s scheme; its full guide will come separately.
8. Can this incentive be taken together with another scholarship?
No — as per the official rules, the award holder of this scheme cannot hold any other scholarship/stipend from the State Government or any other source at the same time. (Note: the word “not” is missing in the main scheme’s PDF for this condition, but the CBSE version’s guidelines state the same rule clearly — see the details in the “Eligibility” section above.)
Helpline and Contacts
- Department: Directorate of Higher Education, Haryana — Shiksha Sadan, Ground & 1st Floor, Sector-5, Panchkula, Haryana (134105); Phone 0172-2565530
- Scholarship helpdesk: Email [email protected]
- Apply online & track status: Har-Chhatravratti portal — harchhatravratti.highereduhry.ac.in (Student Registration / Track Application / Grievance)
- Note: The website highereduhry.ac.in was not opening on 8 November 2026 (timing out) — but the Har-Chhatravratti portal (harchhatravratti.highereduhry.ac.in) is working fine, and all information and applications are available on it.
Official Sources
- Har-Chhatravratti portal (Department of Higher Education, Haryana) — https://harchhatravratti.highereduhry.ac.in/ (scheme list: “Open till 31/12/2026”; notice dated 17/09/2026; eligibility list)
- Official scheme guidelines (PDF) — https://harchhatravratti.highereduhry.ac.in/Notices/Haryana%20State%20Meritorious%20Incentive%20Scheme.pdf
- CBSE version official guidelines (PDF) — https://harchhatravratti.highereduhry.ac.in/Notices/Haryana%20State%20Meritorious%20Incentives%20Scheme%20(CBSE).pdf
- How to Apply — https://harchhatravratti.highereduhry.ac.in/HowToApply
- Contact Us — https://harchhatravratti.highereduhry.ac.in/ContactUs
- myScheme — Haryana State Meritorious Incentive Scheme — https://www.myscheme.gov.in/search/state/Haryana (list page; a separate detail page was not found in search — facts were verified from the official portal and PDFs)
- Department of Higher Education, Haryana — https://www.highereduhry.ac.in (timed out on 8 November 2026 — did not open)
Disclaimer: The information in this article was checked from public sources on 8 November 2026 — the scheme’s department, eligibility, benefit (₹5,000/₹3,000/₹2,000 per year), application process and last date (31 December 2026) from the Har-Chhatravratti portal homepage, eligibility list and official guideline PDFs. The scheme’s rules and dates may change — before applying, confirm the current rules and date from the portal and your college.
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