Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Yojana or Central Sector Scheme Scholarship has invited applications for the FY 2023-24. Interested Candidates are requested to apply as soon as possible. This is a golden opportunity for those who are pursuing undergraduate, PG, or any professional degree like B-Tech, or MBBS and want to receive a scholarship from the government. The application link is already active and the last date to apply for the Central Sector Scholarship Scheme is December 31, 2023. In this article, we are going to talk about the scheme in detail. I am certain that by the end of the article, you won’t have any doubt regarding the scheme.Â
What is the Central Sector Scholarship Scheme 2023?
The Department of Higher Education, under the Ministry of Education, has introduced a scholarship program to provide financial support to academically outstanding students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds during their pursuit of higher education. Scholarships are granted based on performance in the Higher Secondary or Class 12th Board Examination.
Each year, a maximum of 82,000 new scholarships are made available for students pursuing undergraduate, and postgraduate degrees in colleges and universities, and professional courses like Medical and Engineering.
To be eligible for this program, students must have achieved a percentile ranking above 80% in their respective Board of Examination’s Class 12th or equivalent examination. They should be enrolled in regular degree programs at colleges and institutions recognized by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and relevant Regulatory Bodies.
| Central Sector Scholarship Scheme 2023 Key Highlights | |
| Central Sector Scholarship Scheme 2023 Launch Date | August,2021 |
| Central Sector Scholarship Scheme 2023 Official Website | Click Here |
| Central Sector Scholarship Scheme 2023 Objective | To provide financial assistance to the meritorious students of EWS who want to pursue Higher Education |
| Central Sector Scholarship Scheme 2023 Scholarship Amount | Rs 12,000 to Rs 20,000 ( Depends on Course) |
| Central Sector Scholarship Scheme 2023 No of Beneficaires | 82,000 Every Year |
| Central Sector Scholarship Scheme 2023 Benefcaires | Meritious Students of economically disadvantaged backgrounds |
| Central Sector Scholarship Scheme 2023 Minimum Educational Background | 12th Class |
| Central Sector Scholarship Scheme 2023 Minimum Percentile Criteria | 80% |
| Central Sector Scholarship Scheme 2023 Age Limit | No Age Limit |
| Central Sector Scholarship Scheme 2023 Income Limit | Rs 4,50,000 rupees |
| Central Sector Scholarship Scheme 2023 Mode of Application | Online through the NSP Portal |
| Central Sector Scholarship Scheme 2023 Department | Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education |
| Central Sector Scholarship Scheme 2023 Helpline Number | 011- 20862360 |
Central Sector Scholarship Scheme Amount
The scholarship amount is ₹12,000 per annum for the first three years of undergraduate courses and ₹20,000 per annum for postgraduate programs. Students pursuing professional courses, particularly those with a duration of five years (integrated courses), will receive ₹20,000 per annum during the 4th and 5th years. However, students in technical courses such as B.Tech and B.Engg. will be eligible for the scholarship up to the undergraduate level, receiving ₹12,000 per year in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd years, and ₹20,000 in the 4th year.
Please note that for the academic year 2021-22, the scholarship rate is ₹10,000 per annum for the first three years of both new and renewed scholarships, even if the funds are disbursed in the fiscal year 2022-23.
| Academic Level | Scholarship Amount per Year |
| Undergraduate (1st, 2nd, and 3rd years) | ₹12,000 |
| Postgraduate | ₹20,000 |
| Professional Courses (1st, 2nd, and 3rd years) Integrated B-Tech and MBA | ₹12,000 |
| Professional Courses (4th and 5th years) Integrated B-Tech and MBA | ₹20,000 |
| Technical Courses (B.Tech and B.Engg in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd years) | ₹12,000 |
| Technical Courses (B.Tech and B.Engg. in the 4th year) | ₹20,000 |
Central Sector Scholarship Scheme Scholarship Important Dates 2023
The Central Sector Scholarship, a merit-cum-means scholarship, is typically announced in July each year, with its deadline set for the last week of October. The application period may vary annually and is subject to change as determined by the scholarship provider. For the academic session 2023-24, the application deadline for the scholarship is December 31, 2023. It is requested to apply for the scheme as soon as possible.
The crucial dates for the Central Sector Scholarship Program 2023 are as follows.
| Particulars | Dates |
| Scholarship closing date | December 31, 2023, |
| Last date for defective verification | To be announced |
| Last date for institute verification | Opening Soon |
Central Sector Scholarship Scheme Scholarship Benefits:
To receive the benefit of the scholarship, students must have their own bank accounts, which should be opened in their names specifically for this program. The scholarship funds will be transferred directly into the beneficiaries’ savings bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.
Students can monitor the status of their payments by accessing the “Know Your Payment” feature on the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) portal. This can be done by providing either their Aadhaar number, bank account number, or National Scholarship Portal (NSP) Application ID.
Central Sector Scholarship Scheme Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must have scored above 80% in the relevant stream of the Class 12th Board Examination or its equivalent (10+2 pattern).
- Applicants should be enrolled in regular degree programs, and not in correspondence or distance learning modes, or pursuing Diploma courses.
- The courses should be conducted at colleges or institutions officially recognized by the All India Council for Technical Education and the relevant Regulatory Bodies.
- Applicants should not be beneficiaries of any other scholarship schemes, including those offered by the state or fee waivers and reimbursement programs.
- The gross annual income of the applicant’s parents or family should not exceed ₹4,50,000.
- For the renewal of the scholarship in each academic year, students must maintain a minimum of 50% marks in the Annual Examination and ensure adequate attendance of at least 75%.
Note:
Students are allowed to continue or renew the scholarship if they change their college or institution of study, provided that the course and institution have a valid AISHE Code, which can be verified on the portal.
Central Sector Scholarship Scheme Exclusions
- Students enrolled in correspondence or distance learning programs or pursuing Diploma courses are not eligible.
- Students who are currently receiving benefits from other scholarship programs, including state-run scholarship schemes or fee waiver and reimbursement programs, are not eligible.
Central Sector Scholarship Scheme Reservation Policy
Students who belong to reserved categories, economically weaker sections, minorities, and other similar groups are eligible for reservation benefits based on their merit, in accordance with the Central Reservation Policy. This policy designates 15% of seats for Scheduled Castes (SCs), 7.5% for Scheduled Tribes (STs), and 27% for Other Backward Classes (OBCs), along with 5% horizontal reservation for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) across all categories.
| Eligible Groups and Categories | Reservation Percentage |
| Scheduled Castes (SCs) | 15% |
| Scheduled Tribes (STs) | 7.5% |
| Other Backward Classes (OBCs) | 27% |
| Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) | 5% (Horizontal) |
The Central Reservation Policy will be applied when filling the available slots each year. If there are unoccupied slots in a particular group after considering all states and union territories, these remaining slots will be allocated to other eligible categories to ensure that the maximum number of deserving students benefits, while adhering to the overall limit on slots.
Central Sector Scholarship Scheme Required Documents
- Bank Passbook for providing bank account information.
- Aadhaar Number.
- Certificate verifying parental income.
- An active email address.
- Caste Certificate, if applicable.
- Disability Certificate, if applicable.
Central Sector Scholarship Scheme Merit List
The merit list is created from eligible applicants, considering the following criteria:
- Gender distribution (50% for boys and 50% for girls).
- Stream of study (3 slots for Science, 2 for Commerce, and 1 for Humanities).
- Categories (15% for SC, 7.5% for ST, and 27% for OBC).
- Additionally, a 3% horizontal reservation is allocated for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) from individual State Education Boards.
The total scholarship slots are limited to the allocated quotas specified for each individual Board in accordance with the scheme guidelines.
| Criteria | Allocation (%) |
| Gender (Boys/Girls) | 50% / 50% |
| Stream of Study (Science/Commerce/Humanities) | 3 / 2 / 1 |
| Categories (SC/ST/OBC) | 15% / 7.5% / 27% |
| Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) | 3% |
Central Sector Scholarship Scheme 2023 Appy Online
The Central Sector Scholarship application form link is already active. Interested candidates are advised to apply for the scheme as soon as possible. The last date to apply for the same is December 31, 2023. It is recommended not to wait until the last date, as the final day often experiences service issues. Here is the step-by-step process of CSSS online application
To facilitate a user-friendly and accessible application process, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) permits students to complete the scholarship application form online via the government scholarship portal, the National Scholarships Portal (NSP). Follow the steps outlined below to complete the Central Sector Scholarship application form:
1. New User Registration:
- If you are applying to NSP for the first time, you need to register as a new user.
- Fill in all the required information and click ‘Register’ to create your account. A unique student application ID and password will be generated and sent to your registered mobile number.
2. Login and Password Change:
- Use the newly generated ID and password to log in to NSP.
- An OTP will be sent to your registered mobile number, which you must use to change your password.
- After changing your password, you will be directed to the Applicant’s Dashboard Page. Here, click on ‘Application form’ to initiate the application process.
3. Application Details:
- Provide all the necessary information, including registration details, academic details, basic details, contact information, and scheme details.
4. Document Upload:
- Upload all required documents that support your identity and academic eligibility.
5. Save as Draft:
- Save the completed application form as a draft to review all details for accuracy.
6. Submission:
- After ensuring the correctness of your application, click ‘Submit’ to send the completed scholarship application form.
Note: These online scholarship submissions by candidates undergo verification at two levels. The first level is at the institute where the candidate is currently studying, and the second level is at the education board through which the candidate completed their Class 12 examination.
Please Note:
Students will not be permanently disqualified from receiving scholarships due to delays in renewal or verification. However, students must submit renewal applications within a specified deadline, and if missed, renewal for that year will not be permitted.
Applications are accepted exclusively online. Verification of students’ credentials, such as their caste and educational qualifications, is conducted through the DIGILOCKER service provided by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India.
