Central Government PM-USP Scholarship: Rs 12,000 to Rs 20,000 a Year for College Students

Central Government PM-USP Scholarship: Rs 12,000 to Rs 20,000 a Year for College Students — Who Is Eligible

8 November 2026, 5:46 PM • Harish Sharma • Category: All India Schemes

📌 Key information

News: Central Government PM-USP Scholarship: Rs 12,000 to Rs 20,000 a Year for College Students — Who Is Eligible
Date: 8 November 2026, 5:46 PM
Author: Harish Sharma
Category: All India Schemes
Source: See the official portal for details — the link is inside the story.

The Central Government’s PM-USP Scholarship is for meritorious students who join a regular degree course in a college or university after Class 12. Its full name is the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) — Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (CSSS). It is run by the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, and has been running since 2008. Every year a maximum of 82,000 fresh scholarships are awarded, of which 50% are earmarked for girls. Applications are made online only, on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).

How much scholarship is paid

At graduation level, students get Rs 12,000 per year for the first three years. At post-graduation level the amount rises to Rs 20,000 per year. In five-year professional or integrated courses (such as engineering or medicine), the fourth and fifth years also carry Rs 20,000 per year. B.Tech and B.E. students get the scholarship for four years in total — Rs 12,000 a year for the first three years and Rs 20,000 in the fourth year.

Who can apply

There are four main conditions. First, the student must be above the 80th percentile of successful candidates in the relevant stream of the Class 12 examination. Second, the student must be enrolled in a regular degree course at a recognised college or university — correspondence, distance-mode and diploma courses are not covered. Third, the family’s gross annual income must not exceed Rs 4.5 lakh. Fourth, the student must not be receiving any other Central or State scholarship or fee reimbursement. Students who took a drop year after Class 12 are also not eligible under the scheme.

How renewal works

The scholarship is renewed every year, for a total duration of up to five years. For renewal, the student must score at least 50% marks in the annual examination and maintain at least 75% attendance. The renewal application is also made on the NSP.

How to apply

Apply online on the NSP (scholarships.gov.in). First, complete the One Time Registration (OTR), which is mandatory and Aadhaar-based. Then select the PM-USP CSSS scheme, fill in the form and upload the required documents — the Class 12 marksheet, the income certificate and bank account details. The application is verified first by the institute and then by the State nodal department. Check the current session’s last date on the NSP itself — the 31 October 2026 date in our 22 October news post has now passed. Never pay anyone for this scholarship.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: How much money does the PM-USP Scholarship pay?
A: Rs 12,000 per year for the first three years of graduation, and Rs 20,000 per year at post-graduation level.

Q2: Who can apply for it?
A: A student above the 80th percentile in Class 12, enrolled in a regular degree course, with family income of not more than Rs 4.5 lakh a year.

Q3: Are diploma or distance-education students eligible?
A: No — diploma, correspondence and distance-mode courses are not covered under this scheme.

Q4: What is needed for renewal?
A: At least 50% marks in the annual examination and at least 75% attendance — and the renewal application must be filed on the NSP in time.