PMSS Railways Scholarship 2026-27 for RPF/RPSF Wards

The Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme (PMSS) for the Ministry of Railways is a welfare scholarship for the dependent wards and widows of Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF) personnel. It was introduced from the academic year 2008-09 and is run by the Security Directorate of the Ministry of Railways under the National Defence Fund.

The scholarship pays Rs 2,500 per month to male students and Rs 3,000 per month to female students for professional and technical degree courses. A total of 150 scholarships are earmarked every academic session, and half of them (75) are reserved for female candidates.

Applications are made only online on the National Scholarship Portal. For the 2026-27 session the portal is open from 1 June 2026 and the last date for the student application is 31 October 2026.

PMSS Railway scholarship 2026-27 for RPF and RPSF wards - Rs 2,500 a month for boys and Rs 3,000 a month for girls, apply on NSP by 31 October 2026

Table of Contents

PMSS for Ministry of Railways (RPF/RPSF Wards) 2026-27: quick facts

Quick facts2026-27

Scholarship from	Security Directorate, Ministry of Railways (Railway Board), Government of India, under the National Defence Fund
Scholarship value	Rs 2,500 per month for male students and Rs 3,000 per month for female students
Who can apply	Dependent wards and widows below the rank of Gazetted officer of ex and serving RPF/RPSF personnel
Number of awards	150 scholarships per academic session; 75 reserved for female candidates
Courses covered	Professional and technical degree courses such as MBBS, B.E./B.Tech, BBA, BCA, B.Sc (Ag), MBA, MCA, M.Ed. and 5-year integrated law
Last date to apply	31 October 2026 (student application on the National Scholarship Portal)
Official website	scholarships.gov.in – National Scholarship Portal scheme list

Go to official website

How much is the PMSS Railway scholarship?

The monthly amount depends on the gender of the student:

Male students	Rs 2,500 per month
Female students	Rs 3,000 per month

The payment is released after the approval of the Director General of the RPF, in the order of merit each year. The scholarship runs for two to five years, as per the duration of the course. Selected applicants in the new category also receive a personal letter from the Hon’ble Prime Minister.

Eligibility criteria

The applicant must be the dependent ward or widow of ex or serving RPF/RPSF personnel, below the rank of Gazetted officer.
The student must have secured 60% marks or an equivalent grade in the minimum entry qualification (Class 12, Diploma or Graduation, depending on the course).
Admission must be in a regular professional or technical degree course at an institute having AISHE regulation.
The scholarship is admissible for a maximum of two wards per family.
Students studying abroad are not eligible, and no distance-learning course is permitted.
PMSS can be availed for one course only.

Courses covered and minimum entry qualification

MBBS and equivalent medical courses	Class 12
B.E. / B.Tech	10+2, or Diploma for lateral entry
BBA, BCA, B.Sc (Ag) and similar	Class 12
MBA, M.Ed., MCA	Graduation
BA LLB / BBA LLB / B.Sc LLB / B.Com LLB (5-year integrated only)	Class 12

Master’s degree courses are not eligible under this scheme, except MBA and MCA. A full list of permissible professional and technical courses is given in Annexure I of the official guidelines.

Order of preference if applications exceed the seats

When the number of applications is more than the available scholarships, the seats are allotted in this order of preference:

Category I: wards and widows of ex-RPF/RPSF personnel who died in harness during an encounter with terrorists or criminals while protecting railway property, passengers and the passenger area, or who died during election work.
Category II: wards and widows of ex-RPF/RPSF personnel who died while in service.
Category III: wards of retired ex-RPF/RPSF personnel.
Category IV: wards of serving RPF/RPSF personnel.

How to apply for PMSS Railways

Register and log in on the National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in.
Fill the fresh application form and select the Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme for the Ministry of Railways.
Confirm that the course is one of the permissible professional or technical courses and that you meet the 60% minimum entry qualification.
Submit the application on or before 31 October 2026 for verification by the institute and the zonal Railway.
For renewal, log in on NSP with the application ID generated at registration and upload the certificate from the college showing the result of the previous class and that the student is still pursuing the course.

Important dates for 2026-27

Scheme open for applications: 1 June 2026
Last date for the student application on NSP: 31 October 2026
Scrutiny by the college, institute or university: 15 November 2026
Scrutiny by the zonal Railways (state level): 30 November 2026
Preparation of the merit list and processing for sanction: 15 December 2026
Validation of the bank account by PFMS: 30 December 2026
Sanction of the scholarship and disbursal: 15 January to 30 January 2027

Frequently asked questions

Who is eligible for the PMSS Railway scholarship?

The dependent wards and widows (below the rank of Gazetted officer) of ex and serving Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF) personnel, who have secured 60% marks in the minimum entry qualification and have taken admission in a permissible professional or technical degree course at an AISHE-regulated institute.

How much does the PMSS Railway scholarship pay?

It pays Rs 2,500 per month to male students and Rs 3,000 per month to female students, for two to five years depending on the duration of the course.

How many scholarships are given every year?

A total of 150 scholarships are earmarked for the RPF every academic session, and half of them that is 75 are reserved for female candidates.

Are master’s degree courses covered?

Generally no. Master’s degree courses are not eligible under this scheme, except MBA and MCA. Students studying abroad and distance-learning students are also not eligible.

What is the last date to apply for 2026-27?

The last date for the student application on the National Scholarship Portal is 31 October 2026. Institute verification closes on 15 November 2026 and zonal Railway verification on 30 November 2026.

Can two children from the same family get this scholarship?

Yes, the scholarship is admissible for a maximum of two wards per family.

PMSS for Ministry of Railways 2026-27: Scholarship for RPF and RPSF Wards