National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) 2026-27: Last Date 31 October, OTR, Schemes, How to Apply and Status
NSP 2026-27 is open since 1 June 2026. Last dates for each scheme group, One Time Registration with face authentication, major central schemes, the new one-merit-scheme rule, application steps, status check and helpdesk.
On this page14 sections
The National Scholarship Portal (NSP) at scholarships.gov.in is the Government of India's single platform for applying to central and many state scholarship schemes. It is a Mission Mode Project under the National e-Governance Plan, owned by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and built by the National Informatics Centre (NIC). Scholarship money is paid directly to students' bank accounts through DBT.
The portal has been open for the 2026-27 academic year since 1 June 2026. For most schemes, the last date to apply is 31 October 2026. This guide explains One Time Registration (OTR), the 2026-27 last dates, major schemes, how to apply, how to check status and the helpdesk details.
NSP at a Glance
| Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Website | scholarships.gov.in |
| Owner | Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) |
| Built by | National Informatics Centre (NIC) |
| 2026-27 portal opened | 1 June 2026 |
| Last date (most schemes) | 31 October 2026 |
| Registration | One Time Registration (OTR), 14-digit number based on Aadhaar |
| Mobile app | NSP OTR app (by National Informatics Centre) |
| Helpdesk | 0120-6619540, [email protected] |
| Fee to apply | Free on the portal (CSCs charge Rs 30 per candidate for assisted service) |
NSP 2026-27 Important Dates
| Scheme Group | Last Date to Apply | Institute Verification | District / State Verification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most schemes (post-matric, top class, AICTE, UGC, ICAR, MHA, Railways, ST and others) | 31 October 2026 | 15 November 2026 | 30 November 2026 |
| NMMS, Pre-Matric for Students with Disabilities, Beedi/Cine/IOMC/LSDM Pre-Matric, PM YASASVI Top Class School (Renewal) | 30 September 2026 | 15 October 2026 | 31 October 2026 |
| PM-USP CSSS (Renewal), PM-USP Special Scholarship for J&K and Ladakh (Renewal) | 30 September 2026 | 15 October 2026 | 30 October 2026 |
Some schemes opened later than 1 June: UGC schemes on 16 September 2026, disability pre-matric and post-matric on 25 July 2026, Free Coaching for SC and OBC on 3 August 2026, and NEC Merit (Renewal) on 15 July 2026.
NMMS extension: The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship deadline was first 31 August 2026 and was extended to 30 September 2026 (PIB, 1 September 2026).
What Is One Time Registration (OTR)?
OTR is a unique 14-digit number issued based on your Aadhaar or Aadhaar Enrolment ID. It stays valid for your whole academic career and has been required to apply on NSP since the 2024-25 academic year. You need:
- An active mobile number.
- An Aadhaar number linked to that mobile number. A minor without Aadhaar can use a parent's or guardian's Aadhaar or an Aadhaar enrolment slip.
- Aadhaar biometric lock status set to Unlocked.
How to Get Your OTR Number
- Start OTR registration on scholarships.gov.in by entering your mobile number and Aadhaar details.
- You get a reference number by SMS.
- Install the AadhaarFaceRD app and the NSP OTR app from Google Play.
- In the NSP OTR app, choose eKYC with FaceAuth and complete face authentication.
- Your 14-digit OTR number is generated.
Changes to your mobile number or profile need Aadhaar OTP authentication. Name corrections go through the "Update Profile" option.
Major Central Schemes on NSP (2026-27)
| Scheme | Key Details |
|---|---|
| National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) | Rs 12,000 a year, 1 lakh fresh scholarships a year for Class 9 students of government, aided and local body schools. Parental income up to Rs 3.5 lakh and at least 55% in Class 7 (5% relaxation for SC/ST) |
| PM-USP Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships (CSSS) | Rs 12,000 a year for UG years 1 to 3, Rs 20,000 a year for PG. Family income up to Rs 4.5 lakh and above 80th percentile in Class 12. Only renewals listed for 2026-27 |
| PM YASASVI Top Class School and Top Class College | For OBC, EBC and DNT students |
| Top Class Education for SC Students | Central sector scheme for SC students in notified institutions |
| Scholarships for Students with Disabilities | Pre-Matric, Post-Matric and Top Class |
| National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students | Formerly Top Class for ST |
| AICTE Pragati, Saksham and Swanath | For degree and diploma technical students |
| UGC National Scholarship for PG Studies and Ishan Uday | For postgraduate students and students from the North East |
| ICAR NTS-UG, NTS-PG, PGS, JRF/SRF | For agriculture students |
| PM Scholarship Schemes of MHA and Railways | For wards of eligible CAPF and Assam Rifles personnel, state police martyrs, and eligible Railways personnel |
| Free Coaching for SCs and OBCs | Coaching support for competitive exams |
NSP also lists state schemes for several states and UTs. Check the full list at scholarships.gov.in under All Scholarships.
New Rule from 2026-27: One Merit Scheme Only
From the 2026-27 academic year, a student can apply for only one merit-based scheme in a year (fresh or renewal). However, you can apply for more than one welfare-based scheme if you are eligible.
How to Apply on NSP (Step by Step)
- Log in on scholarships.gov.in using your Aadhaar, APAAR or OTR.
- Fill in the Basic Information section with your general and academic details.
- Open Apply Fresh (or Renewal) and accept the terms.
- Choose Scholarship or Incentive, then click Apply. An Application ID is created.
- Select the scheme you are eligible for.
- Upload the required documents and click Final Submit.
After you submit, your application is verified first by your institute (Level 1) and then by the district, state or ministry nodal officer (Level 2/3). If your application is marked defective, you can correct it through the Fill/Edit Application Form option before the deadline.
Documents Usually Needed
- Aadhaar (or Aadhaar enrolment ID)
- Bank account linked with Aadhaar and enabled for DBT (Aadhaar seeding)
- Bonafide or study certificate from your institute
- Income certificate, caste certificate, previous marksheets or UDID card, depending on the scheme
Always read the guidelines of your specific scheme for the exact documents. Students with disabilities must give UDID consent.
How to Check NSP Status and Payment
- Application status: Log in on scholarships.gov.in and check the status of your application.
- Payment status: Track the DBT payment on the PFMS "Know Your Payment" page.
- Aadhaar seeding: Check whether your bank account is seeded with Aadhaar on myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in.
Helpdesk and Grievance
| Purpose | Contact |
|---|---|
| NSP helpdesk | 0120-6619540, [email protected] (8 AM to 8 PM, all days except government holidays) |
| PFMS (payment) helpdesk | 1800 118 111 (toll-free), [email protected] |
| Grievance registration | nsp.gov.in/grievanceregistration |
| AI chatbot | "VANI" on the NSP homepage |
Common Problems and Fixes
- Face authentication fails: Make sure your Aadhaar biometrics are unlocked, the lighting is good and both AadhaarFaceRD and NSP OTR apps are updated.
- Payment not received: Check Aadhaar seeding of your bank account and your PFMS payment status.
- Application marked defective: Correct it before the defective-application deadline for your scheme.
- Institute not verified: Contact your institute's nodal officer before the Level 1 verification deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the last date to apply on NSP for 2026-27?
31 October 2026 for most schemes. NMMS, some pre-matric and a few renewal schemes close on 30 September 2026.
Q2. Is OTR mandatory on NSP?
Yes. OTR has been required to apply since the 2024-25 academic year.
Q3. Can I apply for two scholarships on NSP?
From 2026-27, only one merit-based scheme a year, but more than one welfare-based scheme if eligible.
Q4. How much is the NMMS scholarship?
Rs 12,000 a year.
Q5. How do I check if my scholarship money was paid?
Use the PFMS Know Your Payment page and check your bank account.
Q6. What is the NSP helpline number?
0120-6619540, or email [email protected].
Conclusion
If you are a student looking for a government scholarship, make your OTR first, check which schemes match your profile, and apply before 31 October 2026 (or 30 September 2026 for NMMS and some pre-matric schemes). Keep your Aadhaar-seeded bank account active so the money reaches you without delay.
Reference Links
- National Scholarship Portal (official)
- NSP: About Us
- NSP: All Scholarships and 2026-27 dates
- NSP Helpdesk
- NSP: OTR FAQ (PDF)
- NSP: Application user manual and FAQs (PDF)
- PM-USP CSSS guidelines (PDF)
- PIB: NMMS deadline extended to 30 September 2026
- PIB: NMMS 2026-27 applications open (August 2026)
- NIC: National Scholarships Portal project
- NSP OTR app on Google Play
- PFMS: Know Your Payment
Last updated: 27 September 2026. Dates can be extended. Always check scholarships.gov.in before applying.