National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students 2025: The National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students is a flagship scheme by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India.
The objective of this scheme is to provide financial support to meritorious Scheduled Tribe (ST) students pursuing Graduate and Postgraduate studies in India’s top institutes. The scheme is fully funded by the central government and covers tuition fees, hostel fees, stipends, books, and a one-time computer allowance.
This scholarship is a Central Sector Scheme and is open to students studying in notified premier institutions across the country. It helps ST students focus on their studies without financial burden.
National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students 2025: Overview
| Scholarship Name | National Fellowship & Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students |
| Department | Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India |
| Beneficiaries | Scheduled Tribe (ST) students pursuing Graduate & Postgraduate courses |
| Mode of Application | Online through National Scholarship Portal |
| Parental Income Limit | ₹6 lakh per annum |
| Institutes Covered | 252 Premier Institutions notified by the Ministry |
| Reservation/Quota | No fixed slots — all eligible students are considered |
| Scholarship Type | Central Sector Scheme |
Important Dates
| Scholarship Open for Applications | 02 June 2025 |
| Last Date for Student Application | 30 November 2025 |
| Defective Application Verification Last Date | 15 December2025 |
| Institute Verification Last Date | 15 December 2025 |
| DNO/SNO/MNO Verification Last Date | 31 December 2025 |
Eligibility Criteria
- The applicant must be a Scheduled Tribe (ST) student.
- Must have secured admission in a notified premier institution approved by the Ministry.
- Applicable for Graduate and Postgraduate courses in fields such as Management, Medicine, Engineering, Technology, Humanities, Law, and Social Sciences.
- Total family income must not exceed ₹6.0 lakh per annum from all sources.
- Students admitted under management quota in private institutes are not eligible.
- Scholarship once awarded continues till course completion, subject to satisfactory performance.
- Cannot be combined with any other central/state government scholarship for the same study.
Scholarship Amount
| Component | Financial Assistance Details |
|---|---|
| Tuition Fees & Admission Fees | Full amount for Govt. institutes. For private institutes — up to ₹2.50 lakh per annum |
| Books & Stationery | ₹5,000 per annum (no bills required) |
| Monthly Stipend | ₹3,000 per month |
| Computer & Accessories | ₹45,000 (one-time assistance during course tenure) |
Documents Required
Documents Required for Fresh Candidates
- ST Certificate / PVTG Certificate – Must be signed & stamped by the competent authority.
- Income Certificate – For the financial year preceding the selection year.
- Fee Receipt – Proof of admission and payment.
- Bank Passbook – Name must match the application.
- Marksheet / Certificate – 12th pass for UG, Graduation for PG.
- Bonafide Certificate from Institute – Issued by the institution.
Documents Required for Renewal Candidates
- Fee Receipt – Proof of admission and payment.
- Bank Passbook – Name must match the application.
- Marksheet / Certificate – Last semester marksheet.
- Bonafide Certificate from Institute – Issued by the institution.
How to Apply for National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students 2025?
- Visit the official National Scholarship Portal — scholarships.gov.in
- Register as a new user (if not already registered).
- Log in with your credentials and select: “National Fellowship & Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students.”
- Fill in all required details carefully.
- Upload the required documents.
- Submit the application before the last date.
- The institute and nodal officers will verify the application.
- Scholarship will be disbursed through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) after approval.
Important Links
| NSP One Time Registration | Click Here |
| Download Notification | Click Here |
| Official Website | scholarships.gov.in |
| Know Your State Nodal Officer | Click Here |
| Track NSP Payment (PFMS) | pfms.nic.in |
| Check Application Status | Check Here |
Helpdesk
- Email: helpdesk@nsp.gov.in
- Phone: 0120-6619540
- Timings: 8 AM – 8 PM (Monday to Friday)
National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students 2025: FAQs
Q. How to fill the application form?
A: Complete NSP OTR (One Time Registration) using Aadhaar and mobile number.
Log in to the NSP portal and select the relevant scheme.
Fill out the form carefully and upload required documents or fetch from DigiLocker.
Q. What is the last date to apply?
A: Last date: 31 October 2025.
Q. What happens if I mistakenly withdraw my renewal application?
A: The application will be treated as withdrawn. Contact your Institute Nodal Officer and Ministry through the grievance portal to resolve the issue.
Q. I entered the wrong course year earlier and NSP now shows my course as completed. What should I do?
A: Inform your Institute Nodal Officer; they will raise the issue to the Ministry to resolve it through the NSP technical team.
Q. How can I check the status of my application?
A: Use your Application ID and Date of Birth on the NSP portal to check the status.
Q. What should be the document size for upload?
A: Files must be in PDF or JPEG format and less than 200 KB.
Q. Can I apply for more than one scholarship scheme?
A: No, students can apply for only one scholarship scheme at a time.
Q. I selected the wrong institute by mistake. What should I do?
A: If submitted: request the institute to mark the application as defective so you can correct it.
If not submitted: you can edit and change the institute name.
Q. Do I need to upload documents if my fee is below ₹50,000?
A: Yes. Mandatory documents include:
Photograph
Income certificate
ST/PVTG certificate
Bank passbook
Marksheets
Bonafide certificate