SCHOLARSHIP DETAILS & PARAMETERS (For Custom Fields / ACF)
Short Job Summary/Description:
PM-USP Scholarship Scheme 2026: The Ministry of Education, Government of India, provides financial assistance to meritorious students through the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Yojana. The scheme includes the Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship (CSSS) for College and University Students and the Special Scholarship Scheme for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh (SSSJKL). Eligible candidates pursuing regular undergraduate, postgraduate, or professional courses can apply online via the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
Table of Contents
Scheme Name(s):
PM-USP CSSS & PM-USP SSSJKL (Special Scholarship Scheme for J&K and Ladakh)
Scholarship Amount / Financial Aid:
Up to ₹20,000/year (PM-USP CSSS) | Up to ₹3,00,000/year Academic Fee + ₹1,00,000/year Maintenance Allowance (PM-USP SSSJKL)
Qualification Required:
Class 12th passed (Above 80th percentile for CSSS / Domicile of J&K or Ladakh for SSSJKL) or Diploma in Engineering for Lateral Entry
Family Income Ceiling:
Up to ₹4.5 Lakh/year (PM-USP CSSS) | Up to ₹8.0 Lakh/year (PM-USP SSSJKL)
Exam / Merit Criteria:
Class 12th Board Marks / Merit List & Online Application via NSP Portal
Last Apply Date:
31/10/2026 (For Student Applications on NSP Portal for AY 2026-27)
Introduction
The Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Yojana, implemented by the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India, provides financial aid to meritorious students from low-income families to help cover their educational and daily maintenance expenses during higher studies.
Under PM-USP, two major scholarship components are available:
- PM-USP CSSS (Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students): Open to meritorious Class 12 pass-outs across India.
- PM-USP SSSJKL (Special Scholarship Scheme for J&K and Ladakh): Managed by AICTE to support students domiciled in the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh for pursuing higher studies.
Eligible students can submit fresh applications or apply for renewals for the Academic Year 2026-27 online on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) at scholarships.gov.in.
Scholarship Scheme Overview & Benefits
The rate of financial support varies depending on the specific component and the degree course pursued:
A. PM-USP CSSS (Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship)
- Total Fresh Scholarships (CSSS): 82,000 fresh scholarships per year (50% earmarked for female candidates).
B. PM-USP SSSJKL (Special Scholarship Scheme for J&K & Ladakh)
Eligibility Criteria
1. PM-USP CSSS (General All-India Scheme)
- Academic Merit: Must have scored above the 80th percentile of successful candidates in the Class 12 board examination (10+2 pattern).
- Course Type: Pursuing a regular degree course (UG/PG) in a recognized college/institution with a valid AISHE code. (Distance learning, correspondence, or diploma courses are not eligible).
- Family Income Limit: Gross parental/family income must not exceed ₹4,50,000/- per annum.
- Other Conditions: Must not be receiving benefits from any other central/state scholarship scheme.
2. PM-USP SSSJKL (J&K & Ladakh Students)
- Domicile: Must be a permanent domicile of the UT of Jammu & Kashmir or UT of Ladakh.
- Educational Qualification: Passed Class 12th from JKBOSE or CBSE schools located in J&K/Ladakh, OR passed a Diploma in Engineering from a recognized J&K/Ladakh Polytechnic Institute for Lateral Entry into B.Tech 2nd year.
- Family Income Limit: Gross family income must not exceed ₹8,00,000/- per annum.
Reservation Policy & Categories
Under central government rules, scholarship allocation follows central reservation policy:
- Scheduled Castes (SC): 15%
- Scheduled Tribes (ST): 7.5%
- Other Backward Classes (OBC): 27%
- Persons with Disabilities (PwD): 5% horizontal reservation across all categories
Selection & Renewal Process
- One-Time Registration (OTR): Applicants must register on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) to generate a unique 14-digit OTR number using Aadhaar/e-KYC verification.
- Online Application & Verification: Credentials and documents are validated online via DigiLocker on NSP.
- Two-Tier Verification: Applications undergo Level-1 verification by the Institute Nodal Officer (INO) and Level-2 verification by the State Nodal Officer (SNO).
- Merit List Generation: NSP releases the merit list based on criteria and board percentiles.
- Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): Approved scholarship funds are directly credited to the beneficiary’s Aadhaar-seeded bank account via PFMS.
- Annual Renewal: To renew the scholarship each year, students must secure at least 50% marks in the annual exam and maintain a minimum of 75% attendance.
Documents Required for Application
- Aadhaar Card (mandatory for OTR and DBT transfers)
- Class 10th & 12th Marksheet / Passing Certificate
- Polytechnic Diploma Certificate (for lateral entry engineering candidates)
- Domicile Certificate (for J&K / Ladakh SSSJKL applicants)
- Valid Income Certificate issued by competent revenue authority (Tehsildar or above)
- Category / Caste Certificate (SC/ST/OBC) or PwD Certificate (if applicable)
- Bank Account Details (Seeded/linked with Aadhaar)
- College Admission Fee Receipt / College ID Card with valid AISHE code
How to Apply Online for PM-USP Scholarship
- Visit the official National Scholarship Portal: https://scholarships.gov.in.
- Click on “Apply For One Time Registration (OTR)” if you do not have an active OTR ID.
- Complete face-authentication / e-KYC using Aadhaar details to generate your 14-digit OTR ID.
- Log in using your OTR ID and Password.
- Select “Department of Higher Education” under Central Schemes and choose “PM-USP CSSS” or “PM-USP SSSJKL”.
- Fill in personal, educational, and bank account details correctly.
- Upload the required documents via DigiLocker / NSP portal.
- Submit the application form online and download a printed copy for submission to your Institute Nodal Officer for L1 verification.
Important Dates (Academic Year 2026-27)
| Event / Schedule | Date |
| NSP Portal Opening Date (AY 2026-27) | 01st June 2026 |
| Application Start Date (Fresh/Renewal) | Active Now |
| Last Date for Student Application Submission | 31st October 2026 |
| Last Date for Institute Level (L1) Verification | 15th November 2026 |
| Last Date for State / District Level (L2) Verification | 30th November 2026 |
Important Links
| Link Title / Description | Direct Link / Action Text |
| Official NSP Portal (Apply Online) | Visit NSP Scholarships Portal |
| AICTE PM-USP SSSJKL Portal | Visit AICTE SSSJKL Portal |
| myScheme Information Page | View PM-USP SSSJKL Details |
| Check Payment Status (PFMS Portal) | Track Scholarship Payment |
| AISHE Code Verification | Find College AISHE Code |
| Official Scheme Guidelines (PDF) | Download CSSS Guidelines PDF |
| Join Telegram / WhatsApp Channel | Join Channel Here |
