Pre-Matric Scholarship SC/ST/OBC 2026: Apply, Amount & Eligibility

प्री-मैट्रिक छात्रवृत्ति 2026: SC/ST/OBC के लिए पूरी गाइड

Quick facts: For students in Class 9-10 from SC, ST, or OBC families · monthly ₹225 (day scholar) / ₹525-750 (hosteller) + annual book allowance + tuition reimbursement · family income cap ₹2.5 lakh/year · apply via scholarships.gov.in · usual window: Aug-Oct.

The Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST/OBC students is one of the oldest and most utilised scholarships in India. Administered by the Ministry of Social Justice (for SC/OBC) and Ministry of Tribal Affairs (for ST), it covers students in Class 9 and 10 from eligible families. The goal: prevent school dropouts at the critical pre-matriculation stage.

लाभ — What Students Receive

For SC/OBC students (Ministry of Social Justice)

Item	Day scholar	Hostel student
Maintenance allowance	₹225/month × 10 months = ₹2,250/year	₹525/month × 10 months = ₹5,250/year
Book / ad-hoc grant	₹750/year	₹1,000/year
Tuition fee	Actual (as per fee structure)	Actual
Total (typical)	~₹5,000-8,000/year	~₹10,000-15,000/year

For ST students (Ministry of Tribal Affairs)

Amounts are similar, slightly higher in hostel category — ~₹750/month hosteller allowance.

Additional PwD rate

Students with disability receive 50% additional allowance across all components.

पात्रता — Who Qualifies

Student currently enrolled in Class 9 or Class 10
In a government / aided / recognized private school
Belongs to SC, ST, or OBC (verified via caste certificate)
Family annual income below ₹2.5 lakh (verified via income certificate)
Student is not already receiving another overlapping scholarship

Category-wise income cap

SC / ST — ₹2.5 lakh/year
OBC — ₹2.5 lakh/year (some schemes slightly higher)
Minority (under Ministry of Minority Affairs Pre-Matric) — ₹1 lakh/year (stricter)

आवश्यक दस्तावेज़ — Documents Required

Aadhaar card (student)
Bank passbook (Aadhaar-NPCI-seeded; can be parent’s or student’s account depending on age)
Caste certificate (SC/ST/OBC)
Income certificate (recent, within 6 months)
Previous class marksheet (Class 8 for Class 9 applicants; Class 9 for Class 10 applicants)
Bonafide certificate from current school
School admission/fee receipt
Passport-size photograph
PwD certificate (if applicable)

आवेदन प्रक्रिया — How to Apply

Step 1: Register on NSP (first-time)

Open https://scholarships.gov.in → Student → New Registration
Enter Aadhaar + basic details
Create Application ID + password
Receive SMS confirmation

Step 2: Apply for Pre-Matric scheme

Login with Application ID + password
Click “Apply for Scholarship”
Scheme name will be: – “Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC Students” (for SC) – “Pre-Matric Scholarship for ST Students” (for ST) – “Pre-Matric Scholarship for OBC Students” (for OBC)
Fill the application: personal + parent + school + academic details
Upload documents
Submit

Step 3: School verification

Your school Principal / Nodal Officer approves your application on their NSP dashboard.

If school isn’t on NSP, ask the principal to register the institution first
Without school verification, the application doesn’t progress

Step 4: District + State verification

State social welfare department / tribal welfare department verifies eligibility.

Step 5: Ministry approval + DBT

Scholarship credited to your bank account in 2-3 installments typically: – First: Nov-Dec (covers July-Oct term) – Second: Mar-Apr (covers Nov-Feb term) – Third (if applicable): May (covers Mar-Apr term)

Application Window (Typical Dates)

Action	Timeline
Application window opens	August each year
Last date (fresh)	October-November (varies by year)
Last date (renewal)	Usually 2 weeks earlier than fresh
Institution verification	Oct-Dec
First DBT	Nov-Jan (varies)

Check NSP portal homepage banner for current year’s exact dates.

स्थिति चेक — Status Check

Login at scholarships.gov.in with Application ID + password
Dashboard shows: – Application Status: Pending / Verified / Defected (i.e., sent back for correction) / Approved / Rejected – Payment Status: Pending / In Process / Paid – Transaction Reference Number (once paid)

Common Rejection Reasons

School not registered on NSP → ask principal to register
Caste certificate invalid/expired → renew
Income certificate in wrong format → get fresh
Previous class marksheet missing → upload clear scan
Aadhaar-bank seeding broken → visit bank

Renewal (for Class 10 students who received in Class 9)

If you received this scholarship in Class 9, renew for Class 10:

Login with existing Application ID
Select “Renewal” (not new registration)
Upload current year’s marksheet + bonafide
Same fee + caste certificate from earlier validly carries over (if not expired)
Faster processing (30-60 days)

FAQ — Common Questions

Can I apply if I’m in Class 10 but didn’t get it in Class 9? Yes. You can apply fresh for Class 10. Submit all documents as a new applicant.

My family income is ₹2.8 lakh — am I eligible? No. The ₹2.5 lakh annual income cap is strict for Pre-Matric SC/ST/OBC. Even ₹10,000 over disqualifies.

I’m from a minority community (Muslim/Christian/Sikh/Buddhist/Jain/Parsi). Is there a separate scheme? Yes — Pre-Matric Scholarship for Minorities under Ministry of Minority Affairs, with lower income cap (₹1 lakh/year). Also on NSP.

My school says they don’t register on NSP. What do I do? The school is legally required to register (if recognized). Request in writing; if refused, escalate to the District Education Officer. Or transfer to a school that does.

Can orphans or single-parent children get extra benefit? Yes. Orphan / single-parent students get priority in limited-seat schemes and sometimes additional maintenance allowance. Upload death certificate of parent as supporting document.

Is the money given to parents or students? For pre-matric (Class 9-10), it’s typically credited to the parent’s Aadhaar-linked account (minor student rule). Once the student turns 18, subsequent years’ payment can go to student’s own account.

Related guides on LabhKosh

🏠 अपनी जमीन का रिकॉर्ड देखें Download the bhulekh app — खसरा, खतौनी, भू-नक्शा सब एक जगह।

Last verified: 20 April 2026. Official source: https://scholarships.gov.in