The Pre-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities is a central sector scheme of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It supports students with benchmark disability (40% or more) who are studying in Class 9 or Class 10.
The scholarship pays a monthly maintenance allowance, a yearly disability allowance and a book allowance to the student’s bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer. For the 2026-27 session the National Scholarship Portal lists the scheme as open till 31 October 2026.
This page gives the amounts, the eligibility and income rules, the documents needed, the important dates and the official links, all taken from the scheme’s own official guidelines and the National Scholarship Portal’s official listing.
Pre-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities 2026-27: quick facts
Quick facts2026-27
| Scholarship from | Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India |
| Scholarship value | Maintenance allowance of Rs 800 per month (hostellers) or Rs 500 per month (day-scholars), plus a disability allowance of Rs 4,000 or Rs 2,000 a year and a book allowance of Rs 1,000 a year |
| Who can apply | Students with benchmark disability (40% or more) studying in Class 9 or Class 10 in a Government school or a school recognised by the Government or a Central/State Board |
| Income limit | Parental income up to Rs 2.5 lakh per annum |
| Number of awards | 25,000 slots including renewal cases; 50% of the slots are reserved for female candidates |
| Last date to apply | 31 October 2026 (student application on the National Scholarship Portal) |
| Official website | scholarships.gov.in – National Scholarship Portal scheme list |
What is the Pre-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities?
This is one of the scholarship schemes run by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities for students with benchmark disability, that is 40% or more disability as defined in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, supported by a valid certificate of disability issued by the competent authority.
The pre-matric component covers study in Class 9 and Class 10. The department also runs post-matric, Top Class Education and overseas scholarships, but this page deals only with the pre-matric scheme for Classes 9 and 10.
How much money does the scheme pay?
- Maintenance allowance: Rs 800 per month for hostellers and Rs 500 per month for day-scholars.
- Disability allowance: Rs 4,000 per annum for visual impairment or intellectual disabilities, and Rs 2,000 per annum for all other types of disability.
- Book allowance: Rs 1,000 per annum.
- The scholarship is paid into the student’s Aadhaar-seeded bank account through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.
Eligibility for the Pre-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities
As per the official scheme guidelines, you are eligible if you meet all of these conditions:
- You are an Indian national.
- You have a benchmark disability of 40% or more as defined in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, with a valid certificate of disability issued by the competent authority.
- You have a UDID or UDID enrolment, and can complete Aadhaar-based biometric authentication.
- You are a regular, full-time student in Class 9 or Class 10 in a Government school or in a school recognised by the Government or by a Central/State Board of Secondary Education.
- Your parental income is up to Rs 2.5 lakh per annum.
- Not more than two children with disabilities of the same parents can receive the benefit; in case the second child is a twin, the scholarship is admissible to the twin.
A scholarship holder under this scheme cannot avail any other scholarship or stipend. The scholarship for studying in any class is available for only one year – if a student has to repeat a class, the scholarship is not paid again for the same class.
Documents needed for the application
- Valid certificate of disability (40% or more) from the competent authority, and UDID details.
- Aadhaar and an Aadhaar-linked active mobile number for biometric authentication.
- Income certificate of the parent or guardian from the designated revenue authority.
- Bank passbook details of the Aadhaar-seeded, DBT-enabled account.
- Passport-size photograph and proof of age, plus the previous class marksheet and the school bonafide certificate.
How to apply for the Pre-Matric Scholarship 2026-27
- Complete One Time Registration (OTR) on the National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in if you have not done it already.
- Log in and select the Pre-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities scheme.
- Fill in your personal, academic, bank and disability details, and upload the disability certificate, income certificate and bank details.
- Submit the online application before 31 October 2026.
- Your school and the State/UT welfare authorities verify the application on the portal; institute verification closes on 15 November 2026 and DNO/SNO/MNO verification on 30 November 2026.
Important dates for 2026-27
- Scheme opened on the National Scholarship Portal: 25 July 2026
- Last date for students to submit the application: 31 October 2026
- Institute verification closes: 15 November 2026
- DNO / SNO / MNO verification closes: 30 November 2026
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Indian students with a benchmark disability of 40% or more who are studying full time in Class 9 or Class 10 in a Government or Government-recognised school, with parental income up to Rs 2.5 lakh per annum.
A maintenance allowance of Rs 800 per month for hostellers and Rs 500 per month for day-scholars, a disability allowance of Rs 4,000 per annum for visual impairment or intellectual disabilities (Rs 2,000 for other types) and a book allowance of Rs 1,000 per annum.
The parental income should not be more than Rs 2.5 lakh per annum.
The National Scholarship Portal lists the student application as open till 31 October 2026. Institute verification closes on 15 November 2026 and DNO/SNO/MNO verification on 30 November 2026.
Yes. You need a valid certificate of disability showing 40% or more disability, and UDID or UDID enrolment, along with Aadhaar-based biometric authentication.
The pre-matric scheme has 25,000 slots including renewal cases, and 50% of the slots are reserved for female candidates.
No. A scholarship holder under this scheme cannot avail any other scholarship or stipend.
Official links
Related reading: National Scholarship Portal – official scheme list (All-Scholarships)
DEPwD scholarship guidelines (PDF)
National Scholarship Portal – home
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
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