The Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Yojana aims to offer financial support to students from economically disadvantaged families. The goal is to help these students manage their day-to-day expenses while they pursue higher education, easing their path to academic success.
Scope:
The Ministry of Education, Government of India, awards these scholarships based on the results of the Higher Secondary/Class XII Board Examination. Each year, up to 82,000 fresh scholarships are available to support students pursuing undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional courses, such as Medicine and Engineering.
Allocation of Scholarships:
The distribution of scholarships is managed by the State Education Boards, with allocations based on the population of 18-25 year-olds in each state. The distribution is designed to be fair and balanced:
- 50% of the scholarships are reserved for girls.
- For the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, 3% of the scholarships are allocated specifically for Ladakh students.
- Scholarships are divided among Humanities, Science, and Commerce streams in a 3:3:1 ratio. If there are not enough applicants in one category, slots may be reassigned to ensure that as many students as possible benefit.
Eligibility for Scholarship:
- Students in the top 80th percentile of their class in the Class XII Board Examination or equivalent.
- Enrolled in regular degree courses (not correspondence or distance learning) at colleges/institutions recognized by the All India Council for Technical Education and other relevant bodies.
- Not receiving benefits from other scholarship schemes or fee waivers.
- Family income should not exceed ₹4.5 lakh per annum (income certificate required for new applicants).
- Scholarships can be renewed if students transfer to a different institution with a valid AISHE code, which can be verified on the AISHE portal.
- Students must apply for renewal on the National Scholarships Portal (NSP) if they missed the initial renewal deadline, provided they meet all other eligibility criteria.
- For renewal, students must maintain at least 50% marks and 75% attendance. Any complaints of misconduct or indiscipline can result in the forfeiture of the scholarship.
- Applications must be submitted online through the National Scholarships Portal (NSP); direct submissions to the Ministry of Education are not accepted.
Reservation:
Scholarships are available to students from reserved categories, including SCs, STs, OBCs, and persons with disabilities, based on merit and according to the Central Reservation Policy. Unfilled slots in specific categories may be reallocated to maximize the number of beneficiaries, within the overall quota limits.
Procedure for Application:
- Applications are submitted online. Verification of student credentials is done through the DIGILOCKER facility.
- The NSP portal will provide information on application deadlines and procedures.
- Applications are reviewed and verified first by the student’s institution, then by the State Higher Education Department or a nominated agency.
- The latest guidelines and timelines for application and renewal will be available on NSP.
- Delays in renewal applications will not permanently disqualify students, but they must adhere to deadlines to ensure continuation of their scholarship.
Rate and Duration of Scholarship:
| Level of Education |
Type of Course |
Rate of Scholarship |
Duration |
| Graduation |
General Courses |
₹12,000 per annum |
First 3 years of college/university |
| Post-Graduation |
General Courses |
₹20,000 per annum |
Typically 2 years |
| Professional Courses |
Duration of 5 years/Integrated Courses |
₹20,000 per annum |
4th and 5th year |
| Technical Courses |
B.Tech, B.Engg. |
₹12,000 per annum (1st, 2nd, 3rd year) |
4th year: ₹20,000 per annum |
Notes: Scholarship is provided up to the graduation level only.
Payment of Scholarship:
Scholarships are paid directly into students' savings bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Students can track their payments using the "Know Your Payment" feature on the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) portal, with options to search by Aadhaar number, bank account number, or NSP Application ID.
For Colleges/Universities:
Institutions should inform students about the PM-USP Yojana during admissions. Aadhaar-based authentication of the Institute Nodal Officer (INO) or State Nodal Officer (SNO) is mandatory for application verification.
For State Governments/Boards:
State governments and education boards should promote the scheme through schools and colleges to assist students in rural areas with online applications on NSP.
