The National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies (NSPG) is a University Grants Commission (UGC) scheme that pays Rs 15,000 a month to meritorious students who are doing a postgraduate degree in India. Under the scheme guidelines, 10,000 national scholarships are available every year and each selected scholar receives the grant for two years of the PG programme.
For the 2026-27 academic year the scheme opened on the National Scholarship Portal on 16 September 2026, and the last date for students to apply is 31 October 2026. It is meant for students who have just entered the first year of a regular, full-time PG degree and are below 30 years of age.
This page gives the amount, the number of awards, the full eligibility rules and the exact 2026-27 dates, all taken from the UGC scheme guidelines and the National Scholarship Portal’s own official scheme listing.
National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies 2026-27: quick facts
Quick facts2026-27
| Scholarship from | University Grants Commission (UGC), Government of India |
| Scholarship value | Rs 15,000 per month for 10 months a year, that is Rs 1.5 lakh a year, paid for two years |
| Number of awards | 10,000 national scholarships a year, as per the scheme guidelines. 30% of the slots are reserved for women |
| Study level | First year of a postgraduate (PG) degree programme in India |
| Who can apply | Indian students admitted to the first year of a regular, full-time PG degree, below 30 years of age, at a UGC-recognised institution. Only the first PG degree counts |
| Last date to apply | 31 October 2026 (the scheme opened for 2026-27 on 16 September 2026) |
| Official website | scholarships.gov.in – National Scholarship Portal scheme list |
What is the NSPG scholarship and how much does it pay?
The National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies is run by the UGC to encourage students to take up postgraduate study inside India. The UGC guideline document states that 10,000 national scholarships – or as many as the Commission decides – are available at the rate of Rs 15,000 per month for 10 months in a year, for two years, for Indian students pursuing a postgraduate degree in India. A scholar therefore receives Rs 1.5 lakh a year for two years. The money is paid directly into the student’s bank account through DBT via PFMS.
Selection is on an all-India merit basis, except that the 30% of slots reserved for women are filled first by single, twin or fraternal girl children without considering their undergraduate marks. Within each category, 50% of the slots are earmarked for Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Law and Management, and the other 50% for Science, Engineering and Technology, medical, technical, agriculture and forestry programmes. The result is normally declared in November or December on the National Scholarship Portal and on the UGC website at ugc.ac.in/notices.
Eligibility for the NSPG scholarship 2026-27
As per the UGC guidelines, you can apply for the National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies only if you meet all of the following conditions:
- You are applying for the first postgraduate degree only. Students who have already completed any postgraduate degree are not eligible.
- You are already admitted to the first year of a PG degree programme at an eligible university, college or institution. You must be enrolled before you apply.
- For integrated programmes, the scholarship is given for the PG component only.
- You are below 30 years of age as on the date of admission in the first semester or year of the PG programme.
- You are studying in regular or full-time mode. Open, distance, correspondence, private and part-time modes are not eligible.
- Your course is a recognised PG degree whose nomenclature and duration follow the UGC Notification on Specification of Degrees, 2014, as amended from time to time.
- You hold only this one scholarship. A student who receives this scholarship cannot hold any other scholarship, stipend, salary or paid appointment at the same time.
Eligible institutions are universities, colleges and institutions covered under Section 2(f) of the UGC Act, 1956 with valid NAAC accreditation; deemed universities under Section 3 of the UGC Act with valid NAAC accreditation; institutions fully funded by the Central or a State Government that are empowered to award degrees; and Institutions of National Importance. The institution must have a valid AISHE code to work on the National Scholarship Portal.
How to apply for NSPG on the National Scholarship Portal
The application is made online on the National Scholarship Portal. The UGC guidelines note that students are not required to upload any certificate or affidavit on NSP while applying; documents are submitted to the institution, which verifies the application on the portal.
- Complete One Time Registration (OTR) on the National Scholarship Portal if you have not done it already. OTR is a unique number used for the whole academic career.
- Log in at scholarships.gov.in and select the National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies under the UGC schemes.
- Fill in your personal, academic, bank and caste/category details exactly as they appear in your documents, and give a bank account in your own name that is Aadhaar-seeded and KYC-compliant.
- Submit the online application before 31 October 2026.
- Submit the supporting documents to your institution so that it can verify your online application. Institute verification closes on 15 November 2026.
Important dates for NSPG 2026-27
- Scheme opened on the National Scholarship Portal: 16 September 2026
- Last date for students to submit the application: 31 October 2026
- Defective application and institute verification close: 15 November 2026
- DNO / SNO / MNO verification closes: 30 November 2026
- Result declared: normally November or December, on NSP and ugc.ac.in/notices
NSPG renewal rules and other conditions
The scholarship is renewed for the next year of study on the successful completion of the first year. During the second year you have to apply for renewal again on the National Scholarship Portal, and the institution verifies it and uploads a scanned certificate. The renewal is subject to good conduct and the prescribed attendance.
- A student who is not promoted to the next class or level forfeits the scholarship.
- A change of course or institution is not permitted. The scholarship stands forfeited from the date of such a change.
- Aadhaar seeding of your bank account is mandatory for the scholarship to be released, because it is paid as a Direct Benefit Transfer through PFMS.
- Incomplete applications are summarily rejected, and only verified online applications are considered.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Under the UGC scheme guidelines the National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies pays Rs 15,000 per month for 10 months a year, that is Rs 1.5 lakh a year, for two years of a postgraduate degree in India.
The National Scholarship Portal lists the scheme as open from 16 September 2026 with the student application open till 31 October 2026. Institute verification closes on 15 November 2026 and DNO/SNO/MNO verification on 30 November 2026.
Students admitted to the first year of a regular, full-time postgraduate degree at a UGC-recognised institution, below 30 years of age as on the date of admission, who do not already hold a postgraduate degree and do not hold any other scholarship.
Yes. Only students below 30 years of age as on the date of admission in the first semester or year of the PG programme are eligible to apply.
No. The scholarship is available only for students admitted to a PG degree programme through the regular or full-time mode. Open, distance, correspondence and part-time modes are excluded.
The guidelines provide for 10,000 national scholarships a year, or as many as the Commission decides, with 30% of the slots reserved for women.
No. Students do not upload any certificate or affidavit on NSP while applying. The required documents are given to your institution, which verifies your online application on the portal.
Official links
Related reading: National Scholarship Portal – official scheme listing (All-Scholarships)
UGC guidelines for the National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies (PDF)
National Scholarship Portal – home
University Grants Commission
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