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The Central Government’s National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies (NSPG) is for students doing a postgraduate degree for the first time. It is a scheme of the UGC, under the Ministry of Education. It pays ₹15,000 a month — for 10 months every year, which is ₹1.5 lakh a year. The scholarship lasts for 2 years, up to a total of ₹3 lakh. Every year, 10,000 scholarships are given — 30% reserved for women candidates. Selection is purely on UG merit — there is no entrance test. The 2026-27 application window closed on 31 October 2026.
How much money is given
Selected students get ₹15,000 a month — for 10 months in every academic year, which is ₹1,50,000 a year. The scholarship lasts for 2 years, the full duration of a standard PG degree — up to ₹3,00,000 in all. Of these, 30% of seats are reserved for women — and in the women’s slots, single, twin or fraternal girl children are filled first, regardless of their UG marks. The amount comes directly into the bank account (DBT). Note: this scholarship is only for the first PG degree — students who already hold a PG degree are not eligible. Also, no other scholarship or fellowship can be taken at the same time.
Who can apply
For NSPG, the applicant must be doing a PG degree for the first time — not a second PG degree. The applicant must be admitted to the first year of the PG degree in the current session — second or final year students cannot apply fresh. Study must be in regular, full-time mode — distance, open learning, part-time, private and correspondence modes are not valid. The applicant’s age must be below 30 years at admission. The institution must be recognised under Section 2(f) or 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, and must hold a valid NAAC accreditation and an AISHE code. The course must be a recognised PG degree as per the UGC Notification on Specification of Degrees, 2014. The applicant must be an Indian citizen.
How to apply
Applications are made online on the NSP, scholarships.gov.in. First, complete the one-time registration (OTR) on NSP and keep your Aadhaar, bank account and mobile number ready. Then fill the application for the NSPG scheme and upload the UG marksheet, admission proof and other documents. The 2026-27 application was open from 16 September to 31 October 2026 and is now closed — institute verification runs till 15 November and state nodal verification till 30 November 2026. Check the next cycle dates on the NSP portal. Never pay anyone for applying; selection is on UG merit — there is no written test.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How much money is given under the PG Scholarship? A: ₹15,000 a month for 10 months a year — ₹1.5 lakh a year, up to ₹3 lakh over 2 years.
Q2: How many scholarships are given every year? A: 10,000 scholarships — 30% of seats are reserved for women candidates.
Q3: Who can apply? A: First-time PG students in the first year of a full-time course, below 30, at a UGC-recognised institution.
Q4: Where do I apply? A: Online on scholarships.gov.in; the 2026-27 cycle closed on 31 October 2026.
Useful links
- National Scholarship Portal (NSP): https://scholarships.gov.in/
- UGC Official Website: https://www.ugc.gov.in/
- PG Scholarship on MyScheme: https://www.myscheme.gov.in/schemes/nsfpgs
- Also see the AICTE PG Scholarship: https://www.viksitharyana.com/english/central-government-pg-scholarship-gate-gpat-aicte-haryana/
- Next Action: see all 726 Central Government schemes — https://www.viksitharyana.com/english/kendra-sarkar-ki-yojnayen-2/
