Are you a brilliant student in India with high academic ambitions but lack of money? Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Yojana has the potential to open the door to your potential. This Central Government scholarship is meant to aid the meritorious scholars who are not well off and give them the much needed financial aid so that they can access higher education.
This scheme, which is administered by the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, gives up to 82,000 new scholarships annually according to the results of Class 12th board exams. Need a graduate, postgraduate or professional degree? This guide will take you through the process that you need to know.
What are the Financial Benefits of the PM-USP Scholarship?
Through the scholarship you will have a very large financial contribution that will take care of your day to day needs during your course. The rates are as follows:
- For Undergraduate (UG) Courses (first three years): ₹12,000 per annum
- For Postgraduate (PG) Courses: ₹20,000 per annum
- For Integrated/5-Year Professional Courses (e.g., B.Tech, MBBS, Integrated Law):
- Years 1-3: ₹12,000 per annum
- Years 4 & 5: ₹20,000 per annum
Noticeable: The scholarship will be deposited by the bank account of the beneficiary by Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), making it transparent and efficient. Your Aadhaar number has to be seeded in your bank account.
Am I Eligible for the PM-USP Scholarship?
This scholarship is highly competitive. To qualify, you must meet the following criteria:
- Academic Merit: You must have scored above the 80th percentile in your relevant stream in the Class 12th (or equivalent) board examination.
- Course Type: You must be enrolled in a regular, full-time degree course (not distance or correspondence learning) at a college or institution recognised by the appropriate regulatory body (e.g., AICTE, UGC).
- Family Income: The total annual income of your family from all sources must not exceed ₹4,50,000.
- Renewal Criteria: To renew the scholarship each year, you must:
- Score at least 50% marks in your annual examinations.
- Maintain a minimum of 75% attendance.
- Bank Account: You must have a bank account in your name that is linked to your Aadhaar (Aadhaar seeded).
Who is Not Eligible?
- Students pursuing diploma courses or studies through distance learning.
- Students who are already receiving benefits from any other central or state government scholarship or fee-waiver scheme.
How to Apply for the PM-USP Scholarship: A Step-by-Step Guide
The entire application process is conducted online through the National Scholarships Portal (NSP). Here’s how to get started:
Stage 1: One-Time Registration (OTR)
Before you can apply for any scholarship, you need a unique OTR number.
- Visit the NSP One Time Registration page.
- Click on “Apply for OTR” and carefully read the guidelines.
- Register using your active mobile number and email address.
- Complete your Aadhaar e-KYC by entering your Aadhaar number and verifying with the OTP received.
- Fill in the required details to generate a Reference Number.
- Download the ‘NSP OTR’ and ‘Aadhaar FaceRD’ apps from the Google Play Store to complete facial authentication.
- Upon successful verification, your 14-digit OTR number will be sent via SMS.
Stage 2: Fresh Scholarship Application
- Go to the NSP Applicant Login page and select “OTR Login”.
- Enter your OTR number and the password you created. You will be asked to reset your password upon first login for security.
- You will be directed to your Applicant Dashboard. On the left pane, click “Application Form”.
- Carefully fill in all the compulsory fields (marked with a *).
- Upload the necessary documents. The portal uses the DigiLocker facility for verification, making the process smoother.
- You can ‘Save as Draft’ to complete later or click ‘Final Submit’ to apply.
Key Note: Always check the NSP portal for official application deadlines, as they are strictly enforced.
Required Documents
Have digital copies (scanned or clear photos) of these documents ready for upload:
- For Fresh Applications: Class 12th Mark Sheet, Family Income Certificate, Category/Caste Certificate (if applicable), Disability Certificate (if applicable).
- For Renewal Applications: Previous year’s mark sheet.
You may also be asked to provide physical copies of these documents to your institute’s Nodal Officer for verification.
Tracking Your Application and Payment
The Public Financial Management System (PFMS) portal will help you monitor the position of your scholarship payment. Just add your Aadhaar number, bank account number or NSP Application ID.
What If I Have a Problem or Query?
Any grievances or complaints concerning the scheme may be raised at the centralised http://pgportal.gov.in/grievancenew.aspx. You may also approach the Nodal Officer of your state/institution; his or her contact information is listed under the Services tab on the NSP portal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: I missed the renewal deadline. Am I permanently barred?
A: No, you are not forever banned. Failure to meet the renewal cut-off date of a given year means that that year, you cannot claim the scholarship. You can however renew in the next year provided you are able to meet all the eligibility criteria.
Q: How is reservation applied under this scheme?
A: The plan is based on the Central Reservation Policy. This translates to 15 percent of scholarships to be allocated to SC students, 7.5 percent to the ST and 27 percent to the OBC students. Also, students with benchmark disabilities (40% or more) can get a horizontal reservation in all categories (5 percent).
Q: How do I select my college on the application form?
A: Please be careful when choosing your institution in the drop down menu. Make sure that you choose the actual official name of your college/university as it is recognised by the respective regulatory body. A wrong choice may result in you losing your application in the verification process.
Q: How are the 82,000 scholarships distributed across different boards?
A: The scholarships are allocated in accordance with the population of the students in every state and union territory, and it is a fair and equal distribution throughout the country.