Pre Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

The Pre-Matric Scholarship for Students with Benchmark Disabilities is a Central Sector scholarship scheme implemented by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. The scheme has been introduced to provide financial assistance to students with benchmark disabilities studying in Classes IX and X so that they can continue their education without financial hardship.

Many students with disabilities face challenges such as a lack of financial resources, social barriers, transportation difficulties, learning support issues, and limited access to educational facilities. Due to these reasons, several students discontinue their education before completing secondary schooling. To address these problems and improve educational participation among disabled students, the Government of India introduced the Pre-Matric Scholarship scheme under the umbrella scholarship programme for students with disabilities.

Disability Scholarship Scheme aims to encourage students with benchmark disabilities to continue their studies at the secondary level and reduce the dropout rate during the transition from elementary education to higher education. Through this scheme, eligible students receive financial support in the form of a maintenance allowance, an annual book grant, and disability allowance. The scholarship amount is directly transferred to the beneficiary's bank account through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.

The Scholarship for Disabled Students is available for Indian students having benchmark disabilities of 40% or more as defined under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016. Students studying regularly in Government schools or schools recognised by the Government or the Central/State Board of Secondary Education are eligible to apply. The scholarship is awarded through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), which manages the online application, verification, and disbursal process.

As per the revised scheme guidelines, applicants are mandatorily required to complete Aadhaar-based biometric authentication and fulfil the UDID/UDID enrolment requirement before applying. The UDID card serves as a single national identity document for persons with disabilities and helps students access disability-related government schemes, scholarships, and welfare benefits across the country. Students can apply for the UDID card online through the official portal and must use it while submitting the scholarship application.

Under the Pre-Matric Scholarship, 25,000 slots are available each year, including fresh and renewal cases, and 50% of the slots are reserved for female candidates. Renewal cases are processed first, and fresh applications are considered only against the remaining slots. Therefore, fulfilling the eligibility conditions alone does not guarantee selection because the number of scholarships is fixed each year. If adequate applications are not available under the Pre-Matric, Post-Matric or Top Class Education Scholarship, the approved slots may also be interchanged among these schemes subject to the approved financial outlay and approval of the Secretary, DEPwD.

Scheme Benefits

• The scheme provides financial assistance to students with benchmark disabilities studying in Classes IX and X.
• Beneficiaries receive a maintenance allowance for educational expenses.
• Students are provided with book grant assistance for study materials.
• An additional disability allowance is provided based on the type of disability.
• Scholarship amount is transferred directly into the beneficiary's bank account through DBT mode.
• The scheme helps reduce dropout rates among students with disabilities.
• The scholarship encourages continuation of secondary education among disabled students.

Scholarship Amount and Rates

Under the Pre-Matric Scholarship for Students with Benchmark Disabilities, eligible students receive financial assistance for maintenance expenses, books, and disability-related support. The scholarship amount varies for day scholars and hostellers. An additional disability allowance is also provided based on the type of benchmark disability of the student.

The scholarship amount is directly transferred to the bank account of beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The detailed scholarship rates under the scheme are given below:

Types of Disabilities Covered

The following disabilities are covered under the Pre-Matric Scholarship scheme:

• Blindness
• Low Vision
• Hearing Impairment
• Locomotor Disability
• Intellectual Disability
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Cerebral Palsy
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Multiple Disabilities
• Speech and Language Disability
• Parkinson's Disease
• Other benchmark disabilities covered under the RPwD Act, 2016

Eligibility Requirements

• Applicant must be an Indian citizen.
• Applicant must have a benchmark disability of 40% or more certified by a competent authority.
• Applicant must be studying regularly in Class IX or X.
• The student must be studying in a government school or a school recognised by the Government or the Central/State Board.
• Annual income of parents/guardians from all sources should not exceed Rs. 2.5 lakh.
• The student should not be receiving another scholarship or stipend simultaneously.
• Only two children with disabilities from the same parents can avail the scholarship, except in the case of twins.
• Scholarship is available for only one academic year for a class and will not be provided again if the student repeats the same class.
• Applicant must complete Aadhaar-based biometric authentication.
• Applicant must have a UDID number or UDID enrolment.
• The scholarship benefit will stop from the date the student accepts another scholarship or stipend.

Scholarship Distribution and Merit Criteria

• A total of 25,000 Pre-Matric Scholarship slots are available, including fresh and renewal cases.
• Renewal cases are processed first, and fresh applications are considered against the remaining available slots.
• Fulfilling the eligibility conditions alone does not guarantee selection because the number of scholarships is limited to the approved annual slots.
• 50% of the total scholarship slots are reserved for female candidates.
• If sufficient eligible female candidates are not available, the unutilized female-reserved slots may be allotted to suitable male candidates.
• State-wise slots are decided based on eligible applications and the population of persons with disabilities in each State.
• Merit for selection is based on the percentage of disability mentioned in the disability certificate.
• For Specific Learning Disability, where the certificate indicates 40% or above instead of a specific percentage, 40% is considered for merit purposes.
• In case of a tie, the older candidate is given preference.

Required Documents

• Aadhaar details and Aadhaar-based biometric authentication
• Valid Disability Certificate issued by the competent authority
• UDID Number or UDID Enrolment
• Parental/Guardian Income Certificate
• Proof of Age
• Recent Passport Size Photograph
• Last Academic Qualification Certificate/Marksheet
• Bank Account Details

Application Schedule 2026

Steps to Apply

Eligible students can apply for the Pre-Matric Scholarship for Students with Benchmark Disabilities through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). Before applying for the scholarship, applicants must complete One-Time Registration (OTR) on the NSP portal. After obtaining the OTR number, students can log in and submit their scholarship application online within the schedule prescribed by the Government.

• Visit the National Scholarship Portal official website.
• Complete One-Time Registration (OTR) on the NSP portal.
• Obtain the OTR number after successful registration.
• Log in to the NSP portal using the OTR credentials.
• Select the "Pre-Matric Scholarship for Students with Benchmark Disabilities" scheme.
• Fill in the online scholarship application form carefully.
• Upload all required documents in PDF format.
• Verify all entered details before final submission.
• Submit the scholarship application online within the prescribed application schedule.
• The concerned institution and State Nodal Officer will verify the application online.
• Applicants can also check the application status online through the National Scholarship Portal.

How to Apply for UDID Card

Students applying for the Pre-Matric Scholarship must fulfil the UDID requirement prescribed under the latest scholarship guidelines. The guidelines accept a UDID number or UDID enrolment number. Therefore, applicants should complete UDID enrolment and keep the relevant details available while applying for the scholarship.

• Visit the official UDID portal.
• Click on the "Apply for UDID" option.
• Register using the required personal details.
• Fill in the online disability application form carefully.
• Upload the required documents such as Aadhaar Card, photograph, address proof, and disability certificate.
• Submit the application online.
• After verification by the concerned medical authority, the UDID card will be generated.
• Applicants can download the UDID card online after approval.
• The physical UDID card is also dispatched to the applicant's registered address.
• Students can also track the application status through the UDID portal.

Relevant Links

• Pre Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Online Application
• NSP One-Time Registration (OTR)
• National Scholarship Portal Login
• Pre Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Application Status
• Apply online for UDID
• Track UDID Application Status
• Pre Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Notification
• National Scholarship Portal
• Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities

Contact Information

• National Scholarship Helpline Number: 0120-6619540
• NSP Email Helpdesk: [email protected]