Odisha Post Matric Scholarship Scheme

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

Higher education can become financially difficult when students and their families have to manage tuition fees, course charges and other education-related expenses. To help eligible students continue their studies after matriculation, the Government of Odisha provides financial assistance under the Post Matric Scholarship Scheme.

The scheme is administered through the ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department, Government of Odisha. The Odisha State Scholarship Portal provides separate Post-Matric Scholarship provisions for ST, SC, OBC/SEBC and EBC students.

Eligible students can receive assistance towards applicable course fees and prescribed academic or maintenance allowances. The amount and benefits depend on the student's category, course, and the applicable government guidelines.

The scheme covers eligible post-matric and post-secondary courses, including +2, ITI, Polytechnic and Diploma courses, +3 degree courses, postgraduate, technical, professional and higher-level programmes, subject to the applicable category and course conditions.

Applications are submitted online through the Odisha State Scholarship Portal (OSSP). The portal provides Aadhaar-based registration, fresh and renewal applications, eligibility checking, application-status tracking and, where applicable, the Freeship Card facility for eligible ST/SC students.

The Government of Odisha has also issued recent orders affecting scholarship assistance, including the 20 September 2025 resolution on reimbursement of course fees under the Centrally Sponsored Post-Matric Scholarship and the 27 November 2025 resolution on enhancement of Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarship rates under the Mukhyamantri Medhabi Chatra Protsahan Yojana.

Benefits of The Scheme

The scholarship benefit varies according to the student's category, course and hosteller/day-scholar status. Therefore, every student does not receive the same amount.

Benefits for ST and SC Students

• Reimbursement of eligible course fees according to the prescribed course-wise ceiling.
• Eligible course fees may include admission/re-admission fee, tuition fee, examination fee and specified compulsory non-refundable fees.
• Eligible ST/SC students also receive an academic/maintenance allowance according to their course group and hosteller or day-scholar status.
• The maximum annual course-fee ceiling is ₹5.50 lakh for eligible MBBS students.
• The scholarship amount is paid through the prescribed government payment process into the student's Aadhaar-seeded bank account.

Note: The ₹5.50 lakh amount is the maximum annual course-fee ceiling for eligible ST/SC MBBS students. It is not a fixed cash scholarship. The applicable reimbursement is subject to the prescribed ceiling and the actual eligible fee.

Benefits for OBC/SEBC and EBC Students

Eligible OBC/SEBC and EBC students can receive scholarship assistance according to their prescribed course group and the rules applicable to their category.

OBC/SEBC Students

For OBC/SEBC students, the annual parental/guardian income should not exceed ₹2.50 lakh, subject to the applicable scholarship conditions.

EBC Students

For EBC students, the applicable guidelines provide an annual family-income limit of ₹1 lakh, along with other category-specific conditions.

Maintenance / Academic Allowance for ST and SC Students

Eligible ST and SC students receive an annual maintenance/academic allowance in addition to applicable course-fee assistance. The amount depends on the course group and whether the student is a hosteller or day scholar. The enhanced rates are paid for 10 months in a year.

Note: Under the State Government's enhancement, eligible Group II, III and IV hostellers receive a top-up to ₹1,100 per month, while eligible ST/SC day scholars receive an additional ₹50 per month over the prescribed rate. The allowance is paid for 10 months in a year.

Additional Post-Matric Boarder Benefit for Eligible ST/SC Students

Under the State-sector enhancement effective from 1 December 2025, the Post-Matric mess-management assistance for eligible ST/SC boarder students studying in Classes XI and XII in Higher Secondary Schools run by the ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department was increased.

Selected Course-Wise Maximum Fee Reimbursement for ST/SC Students

The Government of Odisha has prescribed course-wise maximum annual fee ceilings for eligible ST/SC students. The following are selected major course ceilings from the official fee resolution.

Note: The table above shows selected course-wise fee ceilings. The complete course-fee structure includes additional courses as notified by the Government of Odisha. The applicable ceiling or actual eligible fee, whichever is lower, is considered for reimbursement.

Eligibility Criteria

ST and SC Students

• The applicant must belong to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) or Scheduled Caste (SC) category.
• The student must be a permanent resident of Odisha.
• The student must be pursuing an eligible post-matriculation or post-secondary course.
• The course must be pursued in a Government, aided or recognised institution, as applicable.
• The annual family income from all sources must not exceed ₹2.50 lakh, subject to the applicable rules.
• The student must meet the course-specific and other conditions prescribed under the scholarship guidelines.
• Scholarship is not available for the same stage of education in a different subject or stream where the applicable rules prohibit it.
• Correspondence or online courses are eligible only where permitted under the applicable scholarship rules.

OBC/SEBC Students

• The applicant must belong to the eligible OBC/SEBC category.
• The student must be pursuing an eligible post-matriculation course.
• The annual family income must be within the prescribed limit.
• The student must have secured at least 50% marks in the last qualifying examination, where required under the applicable OSSP eligibility conditions.
• The applicant must satisfy all other conditions prescribed for the OBC/SEBC scholarship.

EBC Students

• The applicant must belong to the eligible EBC category, as defined under the applicable scholarship provisions.
• The student must be pursuing an eligible post-matriculation or post-secondary course.
• The student must meet the prescribed income and academic requirements.
• The applicant must fulfil the other conditions applicable to the EBC scholarship through OSSP.

Documents Required

The documents required may vary according to the student's category and application. Keep the following documents ready, wherever applicable:

• Caste Certificate for ST, SC and OBC/SEBC students
• Self-Declaration Certificate for eligible EBC students, wherever required
• Parent/guardian's Income Certificate
• Student's Aadhaar Card
• First page of the student's bank passbook
• Passport-size photograph
• Resident/Domicile Certificate
• Academic certificates from matriculation onwards, as applicable
• Mark sheet of the last examination passed
• Disability/Divyang Certificate, if applicable
• Hostel Bonafide Certificate for hostellers, where required
• Institute Declaration Certificate, where required
• Any additional document specifically requested by OSSP or the applicable scholarship authority

Steps to Apply

• Visit the official Odisha State Scholarship Portal and enter your Aadhaar number to complete OTP verification.
• After successful registration, log in using your Aadhaar/Unique Number and password.
• Select the Post Matric Scholarship that applies to your category and proceed with the application.
• Choose Fresh if you are applying for the first time or Renewal if you received the scholarship earlier.
• Update your profile and enter your personal, academic, eligibility and bank details.
• Enter the required SAMS verification number and SAMS barcode, wherever applicable or requested by the portal.
• Select your district, block, institution, course and stream.
• If your course or stream is not listed, use Send Request and ask your institution to add the correct course or stream.
• Enter your ABC ID, wherever required, and select your residential status.
• Upload the required documents, such as your caste certificate, income certificate, Aadhaar, bank-passbook details, academic certificates and marksheet.
• If applicable, upload the Hostel Bonafide Certificate.
• If the portal asks for a Self-Declaration Form, download the prescribed format, fill it in, sign it and upload the scanned copy.
• Check all the details and uploaded documents carefully before submitting the application.
• You can use Save as Draft if you want to complete the application later.
• Once everything is correct, submit the application and download or print the submitted form.
• Keep your Application ID safely for checking your application status later.

Note: Before applying, check that your Aadhaar is seeded and NPCI-mapped with your bank account. Also make sure that the bank details entered on the portal are correct. Incorrect bank details or Aadhaar-bank mapping problems may affect scholarship payment.

How to Check Odisha Post Matric Scholarship Status?

• Visit the Know Your Status page on the Odisha State Scholarship Portal.
• Enter your Aadhaar number or Application Number.
• Enter the required details shown on the portal.
• Submit the details to view your scholarship application status.

Keep your Application ID safely so that you can check the progress of your application whenever required.

Freeship Card

The Freeship Card is available to eligible ST and SC students under the Odisha Post Matric Scholarship system. It helps eligible students take admission without paying the applicable course fee in advance, subject to the prevailing rules.

• Freeship Cards are issued to eligible fresh applicants from Academic Year 2021-22 onwards.
• Once issued, the Freeship Card remains valid for the entire duration of the course.
• Eligible ST and SC students can apply for the Freeship Card through the Odisha State Scholarship Portal (OSSP).
• Students need to provide the required eligibility documents, including their caste certificate and income certificate.
• The District Welfare Officer (DWO) of the student's domicile district verifies and approves the Freeship Card.
• After approval, the institution may allow the student to take admission without pre-paying the applicable course fee, subject to the applicable rules.
• After receiving the scholarship, the student is required to reimburse the institution as applicable.
• If any amount remains payable after the scholarship reimbursement, the student must pay the remaining amount to the institution.

Important Links

• Odisha State Scholarship Portal (OSSP)
• Check Scholarship Eligibility
• Check Application Status
• List of Institutions
• Check IFSC Code
• ST & SC Development Department – Post Matric Scholarship
• Odisha Post Matric Scholarship Scheme – Resolutions 2025
• Post Matric Scholarship Guidelines for OBC, EBC and DNT Students.
• Post Matric Scholarship Guidelines for SC Students.
• Post Matric Scholarship Guidelines for Scheduled Tribe (ST) Students.

Contact Details

• Odisha State Scholarship Portal (OSSP) Toll-Free Helpline: 155335
• Alternative Toll-Free Number: 18003456770
• Helpdesk Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Government official working days
• Departemts wise contact details

District-level assistance: Students can contact the concerned District Welfare Officer (DWO) or their educational institution for application-related assistance.