The Central Government’s Pragati Scholarship is for girl students studying technical education. It is run by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) under the Ministry of Education. Its purpose is to increase the number of girls in technical colleges and to ensure that no girl student gives up an engineering or technical degree midway for lack of fees. The selected student gets ₹50,000 every year — a lump sum for college fees, computer, books, stationery, equipment and software.
What is given
Every selected student gets ₹50,000 a year. For degree courses, 5,000 scholarships are given every year; for diploma courses, there are 5,000 separate scholarships — that is, a total of 10,000 Pragati scholarships every year. The scholarship is given for a maximum of 4 years (first-year admission) or 3 years (lateral entry), provided the student progresses to the next class every year.
Who can apply
The applicant must be a girl student and an Indian citizen. She must have taken admission in the first year of a technical degree course, or in the second year through lateral entry, in an AICTE-approved institution. The family’s annual income must not exceed ₹8 lakh — counting income from all sources. A maximum of two girls per family can benefit from this scheme. Note that this scheme is only for technical degree courses; the diploma scheme is separate.
Rules on holding another scholarship
Pragati is a merit-based scholarship, so it cannot be held together with another merit-based Central, State or AICTE scholarship. However, under the AICTE corrigendum of 18 August 2026, welfare-based schemes — such as Saksham (for differently-abled students) and Swanath — can be held alongside Pragati. Giving wrong information can lead to cancellation of the scholarship.
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 income certificate, admission proof and bank account details. For 2026-27, applications opened on 1 June 2026; according to most listings, the last date was 31 October 2026, while one listing mentions an extension to 30 November 2026 — so check the current status only on the NSP.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How much money does the Pragati Scholarship give?
A: ₹50,000 a year as a lump sum — for fees, computer, books and equipment; 5,000 scholarships are given every year for degree courses.
Q2: Who can apply?
A: A girl student in the first year (or second year through lateral entry) of a technical degree course in an AICTE-approved institution, with family income up to ₹8 lakh, a maximum of two girls per family.
Q3: Can it be taken with another scholarship?
A: Not with another merit-based scholarship; welfare-based schemes like Saksham and Swanath can be held alongside it.
Q4: Where do I apply?
A: On the National Scholarship Portal, scholarships.gov.in — complete the OTR, fill the form, and check dates on the portal.
Useful links
- National Scholarship Portal (NSP): https://scholarships.gov.in/
- Pragati Scholarship on MyScheme: https://www.myscheme.gov.in/schemes/psgs-deg
- Next Action: see all 726 Central Government schemes — /english/kendra-sarkar-ki-yojnayen-2/
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