Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Post-Matric Scholarship for OBC Students for studying in India
State: Central
Ministry: Ministry Of Social Justice and Empowerment
Department: Department of Social Justice & Empowerment
Category: Education & Learning, Social welfare & Empowerment
Beneficiary Type: Individual

The objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to OBC students studying at the post-matriculation or post-secondary stage to enable them to complete their education. These scholarships shall be available for studies in India only and will be disbursed via Direct Benefit Transfer.

Benefits:
##### **Maintenance Allowance**
> **Group A**

1. Degree and Post Graduate level courses including M.Phil., PhD and Post Doctoral research in Medicine (Allopathic, Indian and other recognized systems of medicines), Engineering, Technology, Planning, Architecture, Design, Fashion Technology, Agriculture, Veterinary and Allied Sciences, Management, Business Finance/Administration, Computer Science/Applications.
1. Post Graduate Diploma courses in various branches of management &amp; medicine.
1. C.A./ I.C.W.A./ C.S./ I.C.F.A. etc.
1. M. Phil., Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral Programmes (D.Litt., D.Sc. etc.).
1. L.L.M

**Rate of Maintenance Allowance (₹ per month):** Hostellers: 750; Day Scholars: 350.
> **Group B**

1. Graduate/Post/Graduate courses leading to Degree, Diploma, Certificate in areas like Pharmacy (B. Pharma), Nursing (B Nursing), LLB, BFS, other para-medial branches like rehabilitation diagnostics etc., Mass Communication, Hotel Management &amp; Catering, Travel/Tourism/Hospitality Management, Interior Decoration, Nutrition &amp; Dietetics, Commercial Art, Financial Services (e.g. Banking, Insurance, Taxation etc.) for which entrance qualification is minimum Sr. Secondary (10+2), except aviation related courses.
1. Post Graduate courses not covered under Group A e.g. MA/M.Sc./M.Com/ M.Ed./M.Pharma etc.

**Rate of Maintenance Allowance (₹ per month):** Hostellers: 510; Day Scholars: 335.
> **Group C**

All other courses leading to a graduate degree not covered under Group A &amp; B e.g. BA/B.Sc./B.Com etc.
**Rate of Maintenance Allowance (₹ per month):** Hostellers: 400; Day Scholars: 210.
> **Group D**

All post-matriculation level non-degree courses for which entrance qualification is High School (Class X), e.g. senior secondary certificate (class XI and XII); both general and vocational stream, ITI courses, 3-year diploma courses in Polytechnics, etc.
**Rate of Maintenance Allowance (₹ per month):** Hostellers: 260; Day Scholars: 160.
**NOTE:** Scholars who are entitled to free boarding and/or lodging will be paid maintenance chargers at 1/3rd of the hostellers&#39; rate.
##### **Reader Charges for Blind Students (Blind Scholars)**
The blind scholars will be given an additional amount as &#39;Readers Charges&#39; as mentioned below:
**Group: A &amp; B;** Reader Allowance (₹ per month): 175
**Group: C;** Reader Allowance (₹ per month): 130
**Group: D;** Reader Allowance (₹ per month): 90
##### **Fees**
Scholars will be paid enrolment/registration, tuition, games, union, library, magazine, medical examination and such other fees compulsorily payable by the scholar to the institution or University/Board. Refundable deposit-like caution money and security deposit will, however, be excluded.
##### **Study Tours**
Study tour charges upto a maximum of ₹ 900/- per annum limited to the actual expenditure incurred by the student on transportation charges etc., will be paid to the scholars studying professional and technical courses, provided that the head of the institution certifies that the study tour is essential for the scholar for completion of his/her course of study.
##### **Thesis Typing/ Printing Charges**
Thesis typing/printing charges upto a maximum of Rs. 1000 will be paid to research scholars on the recommendation of the Head of the Institution.
##### **Mode of Disbursal**
In order to ensure timely payment of scholarship amount to the beneficiaries, the State Government/UT administrations are requested to avoid cash payment of scholarship amount and are required to issue instructions to all concerned that payment of scholarship should be made directly to beneficiaries through their accounts in post offices/banks with phased transition to Smart Cards.
##### **Duration of Awards**
The award once made will be tenable from the stage at which it is given to the completion of the course subject to good conduct and regularity in attendance. 
##### **Renewal of Awards**
It will be renewed from year to year provided that within a course, which is continuous for a number of years, the scholar secures promotion to the next higher class irrespective of the fact whether such examinations are conducted by a University or the Institution.
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Eligibility:
> **Eligibility Criteria for Applicants -** 

- The applicant should be an Indian national.
- The applicant should belong to OBCs, as notified by their State Govt./ UT Admn.
- The applicant should be pursuing post-matriculation or post-secondary courses in a recognized institution.
- The applicant should be permanently settled and should have passed a recognized Matriculation or Higher Secondary or any higher examination.
- The applicant should be eligible if, after failing or passing the undergraduate/Post-Graduate examinations in Arts/Science/Commerce, they join any recognized professional or technical certificate/diploma/degree courses, provided they are otherwise eligible. No subsequent failure will be condoned, except for courses in Group &#39;A&#39;, and no further change in the course will be allowed.
- The employed applicant should be eligible to the extent of reimbursement of all compulsorily payable non-refundable fees if their income, combined with the income of their parents/guardians, does not exceed Rs. 1.50 lakh per annum.
- The unemployed applicant should be eligible if their parents/guardians&#39; income from all sources does not exceed Rs. 1.50 lakh per annum.
- The scholarships are restricted to two boys of the same parents/guardian, with this restriction not applying to girls.

- The applicant should be eligible to pursue post-graduate courses in medicine only if they are not allowed to practice during the period of their course.
- The applicant should not hold any other scholarship/stipend concurrently under this Scheme. If awarded any other scholarship/stipend, they can exercise their option for either of the two scholarships/stipends, whichever is more beneficial to them, and should inform the awarding authority through the Head of the Institution about the option made. No scholarship will be paid from the date they accept any other scholarship/stipend. However, students can accept free lodging or a grant or ad-hoc monetary help from the State Government or any other source for the purchase of books, equipment, or for meeting the expenses on board and lodging, in addition to the scholarship amount paid under the Scheme.
- The applicant should be eligible if they pursue their studies through correspondence courses, with eligibility only towards reimbursement of a non-refundable fee and an annual allowance of Rs. 900/- for essential/prescribed books, as applicable.

> **Eligibility Criteria for Beneficiaries -** 

The scholarship holders receiving coaching in any of the pre-examination training centres with financial assistance from the Central Government/State Government will not be eligible for a stipend under the coaching schemes for the duration of the coaching program.
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Application Process:
[Online]
Step 1:   Visit the National Scholarship Portal and click “New Registration”. The guidelines for Registration will appear. Scroll to the bottom. Read carefully the undertaking. Accept the Terms. Click “Continue”.
Step 2:  A Registration Form will appear. (The fields marked as * are compulsory). Fill in the details and click “Register”.  Your Application ID and password will be displayed. The same will also be sent as an SMS to your registered mobile number. 
Step 3:  Go to https://scholarships.gov.in/fresh/newstdRegfrmInstruction. Click on “Login to Apply”. Enter your Application ID and password. Type the Captcha and click “Login”. On the next screen, provide the OTP received on your registered mobile number. You will be directed to the Password Reset screen. Create a new password and confirm. Click “Submit”. You will be directed to the “Applicant’s Dashboard”.
 Step 4:  On the left pane, click “Application Form”. The fields marked as * are compulsory. Fill in the details and upload the documents. You can either click on “Save as Draft” to complete the application later. Else, click “Final Submit” to submit the application.

Documents Required:
One copy of the application for the scholarship in the prescribed form (a separate application form may be prescribed by the concerned State Government/UT for a 'fresh' and 'renewal' scholarship).
One copy of the passport-size photograph with signatures of the student thereon (for fresh scholarship)
One attested copy of each of the certificates/diplomas/degrees etc., with respect of all examinations passed
A certificate (in original) of income issued by an authorized Revenue Officer, not below the rank of Tehsildar.
A receipt in acknowledgement of the scholarship in the previous year on the form attached to the application only duly countersigned by the Head of the Institution concerned, if the applicant was in receipt of a scholarship under this Scheme in the preceding year.