Scholarship for Top Class Education for Students with Disabilities

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

Higher education can open the door to better career opportunities, but the cost of tuition, books, living expenses and disability-related support can create additional challenges for students with disabilities. The Scholarship for Top Class Education for Students with Disabilities is designed to reduce this financial burden by supporting eligible students pursuing full-time Graduate and Post-Graduate Degree or Diploma courses in Institutes of Excellence notified by the Government. Under the current guidelines, eligible students with benchmark disabilities can receive tuition and admission fee support of up to ₹1.90 lakh per year, along with maintenance assistance, a disability-related allowance, book support, and one-time assistance of ₹45,000 for a computer/laptop and ₹30,000 for aids and assistive devices, subject to the applicable conditions. The scheme provides 300 Top Class slots, including fresh and renewal cases, with 50% of the slots reserved for female candidates.

The scholarship is a component of the Central Sector Umbrella Scheme "Scholarships for Students with Disabilities" and is administered by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. The scheme supports students with benchmark disabilities of 40% or more whose parents or guardians have an annual income of up to ₹8 lakh, provided they meet the other eligibility requirements and study in a notified Institute of Excellence. Applications are submitted online through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). For the 2026-27 academic year, the student application window is open until 31 October 2026.

The scholarship covers more than tuition fees. Hostellers can receive a maintenance allowance of ₹3,000 per month, while day scholars can receive ₹1,500 per month. A special disability allowance of ₹2,000 per month and an annual book allowance of ₹5,000 are also provided. The computer/laptop grant and assistive-device grant are available as one-time first-year assistance under the latest provisions. This makes the scheme particularly useful for students who need both academic and disability-related financial support while studying at a notified premier institution.

Students looking for other disability-related education support can also explore the Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities, which supports eligible students pursuing education after Class X, and the Saksham Scholarship Scheme, which provides financial assistance to eligible specially-abled students pursuing AICTE-approved technical degree and diploma courses. These schemes have different eligibility and institutional requirements, so students should check the conditions before applying.

Scheme Benefits

The Scholarship for Top Class Education for Students with Disabilities provides financial support for tuition, living expenses, study materials and disability-related needs. The main benefits available to eligible students are:

• Students can get tuition and admission fee assistance of up to ₹1.90 lakh per year, subject to the actual eligible fee.
• Hostellers receive ₹3,000 per month as maintenance allowance, while day scholars receive ₹1,500 per month.
• A ₹2,000 per month disability-related allowance is available for eligible support such as reader, escort or helper requirements, depending on the disability.
• Students can receive ₹5,000 per year for books and stationery.
• A ₹45,000 one-time grant is provided in the first year for a computer or laptop with accessories, as per the latest guidelines.
• A ₹30,000 one-time grant is available in the first year for eligible aids and assistive devices, subject to the applicable conditions.
• Up to ₹10,000 per year can be provided towards eligible compulsory miscellaneous fees such as library, sports and medical examination fees.
• The scholarship is available for both fresh and renewal students, subject to the available 300 Top Class slots and the scheme's renewal conditions.
• 50% of the available slots are reserved for female candidates.
• The scholarship amount is disbursed through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the beneficiary's eligible bank account.

Financial Assistance Under The Scholarship for Top Class Education for Students with Disabilities

The actual amount received by a student depends on factors such as the applicable fee, hosteller or day-scholar status, and eligibility for individual allowances. Therefore, the maximum amounts listed above should not be treated as a guaranteed annual payment for every student.

Eligibility Requirements

Students need to meet the following conditions to apply for the Scholarship for Top Class Education for Students with Disabilities. Before applying, applicants should check their disability status, family income, course and institution carefully.

• The applicant must be an Indian citizen.
• The applicant must have a benchmark disability of 40% or more and hold a valid disability certificate issued by the competent authority.
• The applicant must have a valid Unique Disability Identity (UDID) Card and Aadhaar Card as required under the latest guidelines.
• The applicant must be admitted to a full-time Graduate or Post-Graduate Degree or Diploma course.
• The course must be offered by an Institute of Excellence notified by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD).
• The annual income of the applicant's parents or guardian from all sources must not exceed ₹8 lakh.
• The applicant must not be receiving another scholarship or stipend at the same time.
• Not more than two children with disabilities from the same parents can receive benefits under the scheme. In the case of twins, the applicable exception is allowed under the guidelines.
• The scholarship is not available for distance learning, correspondence, part-time or weekend courses.
• The scholarship is awarded only once to an individual and can be renewed each year until completion of the approved course, subject to the applicable renewal conditions.
• Meeting the eligibility conditions does not automatically guarantee selection because the scheme has a fixed number of available slots.

Required Documents

Before applying for the scholarship, students should keep the required documents and details ready. Having these documents available can make the NSP application process easier and help avoid delays during verification.

• Aadhaar Card
• Valid UDID Card
• Disability Certificate showing 40% or more benchmark disability
• Recent passport-size photograph
• Income Certificate of the parents or guardian showing annual income of up to ₹8 lakh
• Proof of age
• Mark sheet or certificate of the last qualifying examination
• Admission proof or documents showing admission to the eligible course
• Tuition or admission fee details and applicable fee receipt
• Bank account details for receiving the scholarship through DBT
• Any other document or information requested by the National Scholarship Portal during the application or verification process

Students should make sure that their name, date of birth, disability details and other information are consistent across the documents and the NSP application. The portal may also specify the required file format and size while uploading documents.

Steps to Apply

The Top Class Education Scholarship application is submitted online through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). Students need to complete their One-Time Registration (OTR) first and then use their NSP login to apply for the scholarship.

• Start by opening the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). For the 2026-27 academic year, the student application window is open until 31 October 2026.
• Before starting the scholarship application, make sure you have a valid UDID. Students with disabilities must log in to the UDID Portal and give consent to share their UDID details with NSP. This consent is required before submitting the scholarship application.
• Next, complete the One-Time Registration (OTR) on NSP. Choose the student registration option and follow the instructions shown on the screen. Keep your OTR number safely after registration, as it is used for scholarship applications on NSP.
• Once your OTR is generated, use the student login option on NSP to sign in and access the scholarship application.
• Open the scholarship section and select the Scholarship for Top Class Education for Students with Disabilities under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD).
• Fill in your personal, disability, academic, course, institution, income and bank account details. Enter the information carefully and make sure it matches your supporting documents.
• Upload the documents requested on the portal, such as your disability certificate, UDID, income certificate, academic records and admission-related documents.
• Before final submission, check the complete form once. Pay special attention to your name, Aadhaar details, UDID, course, institute and bank account information. Incorrect details can cause problems during verification or payment.
• Submit the completed application before the last date. For 2026-27, the NSP lists 31 October 2026 as the last date for student applications. It is advisable to check the current NSP schedule before submitting.
• After submission, the application is checked through the applicable verification process. Under the latest rules, State Nodal Officer verification is not required for fresh or renewal applications under the Top Class Education Scholarship. Students should follow the verification instructions shown for their application on NSP.
• After final submission, keep your application details and login information safe. You can use NSP to check the application status. If the scholarship is approved, the eligible amount is paid through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the student's eligible bank account.

If you need help with the online process, you can also approach a nearby Common Service Centre (CSC). NSP provides services through CSCs for activities such as OTR generation and scholarship application submission, subject to the applicable service charges.

Selection Process

The scholarship has a limited number of seats. So, students who meet the eligibility conditions are considered for selection according to the prescribed merit and seat allocation rules.

• A total of 300 scholarship slots are available, covering both fresh and renewal students.
• Renewal applications are considered first. Fresh applicants are selected from the slots left after renewals.
• For fresh applications, the percentage of disability mentioned in the disability certificate is used as the main basis for merit.
• For students with Specific Learning Disability, a disability percentage of 40% is considered if the certificate confirms 40% or more disability but does not mention an exact percentage.
• If two students have the same merit position, the older student is given preference.
• 50% of the available slots are reserved for female students. If these slots are not filled by eligible female students, they can be offered to eligible male students.
• Seats are allocated among States and Union Territories according to the allocation method prescribed in the scheme guidelines.
• If there are more eligible applicants than available slots, students are selected according to the prescribed merit and allocation rules.

Therefore, fulfilling the eligibility conditions does not guarantee selection. The final selection depends on the available slots and the applicable merit rules.

Renewal Process

Students who have already received the scholarship can continue to receive it for the remaining period of their course, provided they meet the renewal conditions. They must also submit a renewal application through the National Scholarship Portal when the application window opens.

• The student must continue in the approved course and institution.
• The student should maintain regular attendance and good conduct.
• The student must meet the required academic and promotion conditions for continuing the scholarship.
• The scholarship can continue until the approved course is completed, subject to the scheme rules.
• A student normally cannot receive the scholarship again for the same academic year or course year.
• If there is a change in the course or subject, the student should follow the applicable scholarship rules, as an unauthorised change may affect the scholarship.
• For renewal, log in to the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) during the prescribed application period and select the renewal option.
• Check the details shown in the renewal form and update the information wherever required, especially academic, course, institution and bank details.
• Submit the renewal application and complete the verification process required for the scholarship.
• If the student no longer meets the required conditions or provides incorrect information, the scholarship may be stopped or cancelled as per the scheme rules.

Students should not assume that the scholarship will continue automatically because they received it in the previous year. The renewal application must be submitted within the prescribed NSP timeline.

Relevant Links

• Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) – Scholarship Section
• National Scholarship Portal (NSP)
• Top Class Education Scholarship – DEPwD
• Notification for 135 Additional Institutes
• Revised Scholarship Guidelines, 25 September 2024
• September 2025 Revision of Scholarship for Top Class Education for Students with Disabilities Guidelines
• NSP Helpdesk

Contact Information

For questions specifically related to the scholarship, applicants should first contact their institute's scholarship or nodal officer. For problems with registration, OTR, application submission or the NSP portal, the National Scholarship Portal helpdesk is the appropriate contact.

National Scholarship Portal (NSP) Helpdesk

• Phone: 0120-6619540 (8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, all days except government holidays)
• Email: [email protected]
• PFMS Helpdesk: [email protected]
• PFMS Toll-Free Number: 1800-118-111

Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD)

• Address: 5th Floor, Antyodaya Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi – 110003
• Office Phone: 011-24365019
• For department-level contact details, refer to the official DEPwD Telephone Directory.