PM-USP Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (CSSS)

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

Pursuing higher education can be challenging for students from financially weaker families, as college fees, study materials, and other educational expenses can place a considerable burden on their households. To help meritorious students continue their regular college and university studies, the Government of India provides financial assistance through the PM-USP Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (CSSS). Under this scheme, eligible students can receive a scholarship of ₹12,000 per year during the first three years of graduation, while the amount increases to ₹20,000 per year at applicable higher-study levels. With up to 82,000 fresh scholarships offered annually, including 50% earmarked for girls, the scheme helps deserving students pursue higher education with greater financial support.

The CSSS was introduced in 2008 by the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India. It is one of the components of the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Yojana, which aims to promote access to higher education through various forms of student support. The CSSS follows a merit-cum-means approach, giving preference to students who demonstrate strong academic performance and meet the prescribed family-income criteria.

For a fresh application, students generally need to secure a position above the 80th percentile among successful candidates in their respective Class XII stream, pursue a regular degree course, and have an annual family income of up to ₹4.5 lakh. Students enrolled in diploma, correspondence, or distance-learning courses are not eligible under this scholarship. Eligible applicants can submit their applications online through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), after which the applications undergo verification by the concerned institution and the designated State Higher Education Department or State Nodal Agency.

Students who are already receiving the CSSS scholarship can continue their financial assistance through the renewal process, provided they meet the prescribed academic, attendance, and other renewal requirements. Once the application has been verified and approved, the scholarship amount is transferred directly to the eligible student's bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). This support helps students manage their educational expenses and continue their studies without placing excessive financial pressure on their families.

Students who do not meet the eligibility conditions of CSSS but are looking for other educational assistance can also explore related scholarship opportunities, such as the AICTE Saraswati Scholarship Scheme and the Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana. These schemes have their own eligibility requirements and benefits, so students should review the applicable guidelines before applying.

Scheme Benefits

The scholarship amount depends on the student's level and year of study. The main benefits under CSSS are as follows:

• Students can receive ₹12,000 per year during the first three years of graduation.
• Eligible students can receive ₹20,000 per year at the applicable post-graduation level.
• Students in eligible five-year professional or integrated courses can receive ₹20,000 per year during the fourth and fifth years.
• B.Tech and B.E. students can receive ₹12,000 per year in the first three years and ₹20,000 in the fourth year.
• The scholarship can continue for up to five years, subject to the applicable renewal conditions.
• Up to 82,000 fresh scholarships are available every year.
• 50% of the fresh scholarships are earmarked for girls.
• Scholarship payments are transferred directly to the eligible student's bank account through DBT after approval.

The actual scholarship amount depends on the student's course, academic level and the conditions applicable to that year.

PM-USP CSSS Scholarship Amount

The scholarship amount changes according to the student's course and year of study. The applicable rates are:

Eligibility Requirements

Students should check the following conditions before applying for the PM-USP CSSS scholarship:

• The student must be above the 80th percentile of successful candidates in the relevant stream of Class XII from the concerned Board.
• The student must be studying a regular degree course at a recognised institution.
• The annual family income must not exceed ₹4.5 lakh.
• The student must not be receiving another scholarship or fee reimbursement for the same purpose.
• Students pursuing diploma courses are not eligible under CSSS.
• Students studying through correspondence or distance mode are not eligible.
• Students who took a drop after Class XII are not eligible for a fresh CSSS application.
• The student must satisfy the applicable category, academic and other conditions prescribed under the scheme.

Renewal Eligibility

Students who have already received CSSS can continue the scholarship by meeting the renewal conditions and applying through NSP within the prescribed period.

• The student must secure at least 50% marks in the annual examination.
• The student must maintain at least 75% attendance.
• The student must continue studying the eligible regular course.
• The student must not be involved in disciplinary or criminal misconduct.
• The renewal application must be submitted through NSP within the prescribed application period.

Required Documents

Keep the following information and documents ready before starting the application. The portal may ask for additional details depending on the student's category and application type.

• Class XII marksheet for fresh applicants.
• Family income certificate showing that the annual income is within the prescribed limit.
• Category or caste certificate, if applicable.
• Disability certificate, if applicable.
• Aadhaar details required for OTR.
• Aadhaar-linked bank account details for receiving the scholarship through DBT.
• Previous year's marksheet for renewal applicants.
• Attendance-related information or documents, where required during verification.

Steps to Apply

The PM-USP CSSS application is submitted online through the National Scholarship Portal. Students should complete the OTR first and then use the registered details to access the scholarship application.

• Open the National Scholarship Portal and select the student section for the academic year 2026-27.
• If you do not already have an OTR number, complete the One-Time Registration (OTR) using the required Aadhaar details. OTR is mandatory for scholarship applications through NSP.
• After OTR registration, log in to the NSP student area using the details provided during registration.
• Select PM-USP – Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (CSSS) from the available scholarship schemes.
• Choose the appropriate application type, such as fresh or renewal, and enter your personal, academic and course details.
• Fill in the income, category, disability and bank details wherever applicable. Make sure the information matches your official documents.
• Check your name, Class XII details, bank account information and other entries carefully before final submission.
• Submit the application within the prescribed period and save a copy of the submitted form or application details.
• After submission, the application is first verified by the concerned institute. It then goes through the prescribed verification by the State Higher Education Department or designated State Nodal Agency.
• Keep checking the NSP dashboard after submission because a defective application may require correction within the specified period.

For the 2026-27 academic year, NSP shows the CSSS renewal application period and related verification dates on its scheme listing. Students should check the date displayed against PM-USP CSSS on NSP before submitting or renewing an application.

How to Check PM-USP CSSS Application Status

After submitting the application, students can use the NSP student dashboard to follow the progress of their scholarship application.

1. Open the NSP Student Portal.
2. Log in using your OTR details.
3. Open the submitted PM-USP CSSS application from the student dashboard.
4. Check whether the application is submitted, defective, verified, rejected or under further processing.

Once the scholarship is sanctioned, payment can be tracked through the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) using its payment-tracking facility.

PM-USP CSSS 2026-27 Important Dates

The National Scholarship Portal opened the 2026-27 academic year from 1 June 2026. For PM-USP CSSS renewal, the current scheme-specific NSP listing shows the following dates:

These dates are based on the current scheme-specific listing on NSP and may be updated by the portal. Students should check the PM-USP CSSS listing on NSP before submitting an application.

Relevant Links

• Ministry of Education, Government of India
• National Scholarship Portal (NSP)
• NSP Student Portal
• NSP All Scholarship Schemes
• NSP One-Time Registration (OTR)
• PFMS Payment Portal
• PM-USP Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (CSSS) Guidelines
• PM-USP Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (CSSS) Faqs

Contact Information

For technical problems related to the PM-USP CSSS online application, students can contact the National Scholarship Portal Helpdesk. For scheme-related correspondence, the official PM-USP CSSS guidelines also provide contact details for the National Scholarship Division.

National Scholarship Portal Helpdesk

• Phone: 0120-6619540
• Email: [email protected]
• Timing: 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM on all days except government holidays

National Scholarship Division, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education

• Address: West Block 1, 2nd Floor, Wing 6, Room No. 6, R.K. Puram, Sector 1, New Delhi – 110066
• Phone: 011-20862360
• Email: [email protected]

For payment-related issues, students can also contact the PFMS Helpdesk at 1800-118-111 or [email protected]. The current NSP helpdesk details are published on the official NSP website.