The Central Government’s Pre-Matric Scholarship is for Divyang students studying in Class 9 or Class 10. It is run by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Its purpose is that Divyang children should not drop out of school for lack of money and should complete their education up to Class 10. The selected student gets a monthly maintenance allowance, a yearly book grant and a yearly disability allowance.
How much money is given
The allowance depends on whether the student stays at home or in a hostel. A day scholar (a student who studies from home) gets ₹500 a month and a hosteller (a student living in a hostel) gets ₹800 a month. This allowance is paid for 12 months of the academic year. In addition, every student gets a book grant of ₹1,000 a year. The disability allowance is ₹4,000 a year for visual/intellectual disability and ₹2,000 a year for other disabilities; the money comes by DBT into the bank account.
Who can apply
The applicant must have a benchmark disability, which means a disability of 40% or more under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. The student must be a full-time student of Class 9 or Class 10 in a recognised school. The family’s annual income must not exceed ₹2.5 lakh — counting income from all sources. The student must attend school regularly.
How it differs from the Post-Matric scheme
This is a pre-matric scheme, meant for students up to Class 10. If the student is studying in Class 11, Class 12, ITI, diploma or degree courses, he or she should apply for the Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities, which also reimburses tuition fees. The two schemes are separate, and a separate application is needed for each. The same student cannot take both schemes at the same time.
How to apply
Applications are made online on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), scholarships.gov.in. The student must first complete the One-Time Registration (OTR) on the NSP — Aadhaar face authentication is required for this — then fill the scheme form and submit the disability certificate, income certificate, school proof and bank account details. The last date is announced every year on the NSP, so check your date only on the NSP. The application process is completely free — do not pay anyone for applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How much money does the Pre-Matric Scholarship for Divyang students give?
A: ₹500 a month for a day scholar and ₹800 a month for a hosteller, a ₹1,000 yearly book grant, and a ₹2,000–₹4,000 yearly disability allowance.
Q2: Who can apply?
A: A student of Class 9 or 10 with a disability of 40% or more, with family income up to ₹2.5 lakh a year.
Q3: Is this the same as the SC or OBC Pre-Matric Scholarship?
A: No — this one is only for Divyang students; the SC and OBC pre-matric scholarships are separate schemes.
Q4: Where do I apply?
A: On the National Scholarship Portal, scholarships.gov.in — complete the OTR, fill the form, and check your last date on the portal.
Useful links
- National Scholarship Portal (NSP): https://scholarships.gov.in/
- Pre-Matric Scholarship for Divyang Students on MyScheme: https://www.myscheme.gov.in/schemes/pre-dis
- Next Action: see all 726 Central Government schemes — /english/kendra-sarkar-ki-yojnayen-2/
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