The PM YASASVI Central Sector Scheme of Top Class Education in College is the central government scholarship for OBC, EBC and DNT students who get into a top-ranked college after class 12. It pays the full tuition fee, Rs 3,000 a month for living expenses, Rs 5,000 a year for books and a one-time laptop grant of up to Rs 45,000. The 2026-27 application on the National Scholarship Portal closes on 31 October 2026.
Unlike most central scholarships, this one is not open to every institution. Only the colleges and institutes notified by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment are covered – the IITs, NITs, IIITs, IIMs, AIIMS, NIFTs, NIDs, IHMs, National Law Universities and other central institutions, plus private institutions that hold NAAC A++ or A+ or sit in the top 100 of the NIRF rankings. Admission has to be through the entrance exam listed for that course in the scheme’s own Annexure-I.
This page gives the exact amounts, the income and category conditions, the slot and girl-student quota, the document list and the portal dates. Every figure comes from the scheme guideline PDF hosted on the National Scholarship Portal and from the portal’s own 2026-27 closing dates.
PM YASASVI college scholarship 2026-27 at a glance
Quick facts2026-27
| Scholarship from | Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (Department of Social Justice and Empowerment), Government of India, under the PM YASASVI umbrella |
| Last date to apply | 31 October 2026 (student application on the National Scholarship Portal); institute verification 15 November 2026 |
| Official website | National Scholarship Portal, all schemes and 2026-27 closing dates (official) |
What the YASASVI college scholarship pays
The guideline lists four separate components, and all of them are paid to the student by Direct Benefit Transfer:
- Full tuition fee and non-refundable charges charged by the institution. For private sector institutions the ceiling is Rs 2.00 lakh per student per year; for private sector flying clubs running Commercial Pilot Training or Type Rating courses the ceiling is Rs 3.72 lakh per student per year.
- Living expenses of Rs 3,000 per month per student.
- Books and stationery of Rs 5,000 per annum per student.
- A latest computer or laptop of a reputed brand with accessories such as a UPS and printer, limited to Rs 45,000 per student as one-time assistance during the course.
The student is expected to deposit the fee with the institute immediately after receiving the money, and in any case within a month. The institution is responsible for making sure the fee has been paid, and can recover dues from the scholarship amount if a student defaults.
Who is eligible for the YASASVI college scheme
- You belong to an OBC, EBC or DNT category and hold a valid caste or category certificate.
- Your total annual family income from all sources is up to Rs 2.50 lakh.
- You have secured admission in a full-time prescribed course in one of the institutions notified under the scheme, for studies beyond class 12.
- You were selected on the institution’s general merit criteria – for each course the scheme fixes the entrance exam whose rank decides the merit list (JEE Advanced for IITs, JEE Main for NITs, IIITs and other central institutions, CAT for IIMs and management institutes, CLAT for National Law Universities, NEET for medical seats, NIFT, NCHMCT JEE for hotel management institutes, and the institute’s own test for several others).
- You are not the third sibling in the family availing this scheme – the benefit is limited to two children per family, and the institution asks for an affidavit on this.
Three conditions decide who wins a seat when an institution receives more eligible applications than the slots allotted to it. The scholarship goes to the top students in the inter-se merit list based on the admission criteria, and if two students have equal marks for the last slot, the one with the lower family income is preferred. Students left out can still claim the Post-Matric Scholarship for their state, if they are otherwise eligible. Within the slots, 30 per cent are reserved for girl students on inter-se merit, and unused girl slots pass to boys.
The scholarship is renewed every year, not awarded once for the whole course – the guideline requires students to apply for the scholarship every year, including renewals, and it is terminated if the student fails to be promoted to the next semester or class.
Documents and how to apply
Applications are made only on the National Scholarship Portal; there is no paper form. The guideline names the details the student has to upload, and the institution verifies every one of them before forwarding the application to the Ministry.
- Register or log in on the National Scholarship Portal and select the scheme listed as PM YASASVI Central Sector Scheme of Top Class Education in College for OBC, EBC and DNT Students.
- Upload your income certificate and caste or category certificate.
- Enter your bank account details – the money moves by DBT, so the account has to be in the student’s name and linked correctly.
- Enter your admission rank (the entrance exam rank for your course) and the fee details charged by the institution.
- Submit before 31 October 2026 and make sure the institute verifies the application by 15 November 2026. An unverified application is not paid.
For a renewal year, institution verification means the institute has confirmed that the student was promoted to the next class and has taken admission there. The institute can verify only as many applications as the number of slots allotted to it, so a late or incomplete file is a real risk.
Important dates for 2026-27
| Portal opened for 2026-27 | 1 June 2026 |
| Last date for student application | 31 October 2026 |
| Defective application verification | 15 November 2026 |
| Institute verification | 15 November 2026 |
| DNO / SNO / MNO verification | 30 November 2026 |
These are the dates the National Scholarship Portal prints for this scheme. The guideline also sets 31 October as the normal cut-off for institute verification every year, so a student who misses the portal window has to wait for the next academic year.
Frequently asked questions
Full tuition fee and non-refundable charges (ceiling Rs 2.00 lakh a year for private institutions, Rs 3.72 lakh a year for private flying clubs on CPL and type rating courses), living expenses of Rs 3,000 a month, books and stationery of Rs 5,000 a year, and a one-time computer or laptop grant of up to Rs 45,000.
Total annual family income from all sources must be up to Rs 2.50 lakh. The income certificate is uploaded on the National Scholarship Portal and verified by the institution.
Yes, if the institution is notified under the scheme. Private institutions qualify when they hold NAAC A++ or A+ accreditation, appear in the top 100 of the NIRF rankings, or are listed as institutions of national importance.
No. The scheme uses the entrance exam that decides admission to your course – for example JEE Advanced for IITs, JEE Main for NITs and IIITs, CAT for IIMs, CLAT for National Law Universities and NEET for medical seats. That rank forms the inter-se merit list for the scholarship slots.
Yes. Thirty per cent of the slots allotted to an institution are reserved for eligible girl students on inter-se merit. If there are not enough eligible girl students, those slots pass to boy students on merit.
Two. The scheme does not allow more than two siblings from a family to receive the benefit, and the institution takes an affidavit certifying that the applicant is not the third sibling.
The scholarship is terminated if the student is not promoted to the next semester or class. Renewal also requires a fresh application on the National Scholarship Portal every year.
Official links: National Scholarship Portal – all schemes with 2026-27 closing dates, scheme guideline PDF, Central Sector Scheme of Top Class Education in College for OBC, EBC and DNT students, National Scholarship Portal home.
Browse more: National Scholarships, SC, ST and OBC Scholarships, Graduation Scholarships, Post Graduation Scholarships.
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