StudyDesk Scholarships
About the scheme
Saksham is AICTE’s scholarship for specially-abled students pursuing technical education in India, launched in the 2014-15 academic year and run ever since as a welfare-based scheme on the National Scholarship Portal. Its most unusual feature is what it does not do: there is no merit cut-off, no state quota to fight over, and no cap on the number of awards. The scheme guidelines and FAQ, as summarised in current guides, state that every eligible student admitted to the first year of a degree or diploma course — or to the second year through lateral entry — receives the scholarship. Selection, in other words, is about meeting the conditions, not about beating other applicants.
A note on the title. This article carries the queue’s 2024-25 title because that is the entry the writing operation was asked to complete, and the scheme’s terms have not changed between cycles. But the 2024-25 cycle itself is over. The live cycle at the time of writing is 2026-27, and AICTE’s notification of 19 June 2026 invited fresh applications for that batch alongside renewals for the 2023-24 degree batch and the 2024-25 and 2025-26 degree and diploma batches. Everything below — amount, eligibility, documents, steps — is therefore stated for the continuing scheme, with the live cycle’s deadline in the deadline card.
Who can apply
- Be a specially-abled student with a disability of 40% or more, certified by the competent authority (disability certificate or UDID details).
- Be admitted to the first year of a diploma or degree course, or to the second year through lateral entry, at an AICTE-approved institution in the relevant academic year.
- Have an annual family income from all sources of no more than Rs 8 lakh. A valid income certificate issued by the State or UT Government is required; for married girls, guides note that the higher of the parents’ or in-laws’ income is considered.
- Hold only passing marks in the qualifying examination: no specific minimum percentage beyond passing is required.
Students already in the second or third year — other than lateral-entry second-year students — are not eligible for a fresh award, according to the scheme FAQ as summarised in current guides. Under AICTE’s corrigendum of 18 August 2026, Saksham is classed as a welfare-based scheme and can be held together with another welfare-based scholarship or with one merit-based scholarship.
What you get
Each awardee receives Rs 50,000 for every year of study, paid as a lump sum towards college fee, computer, stationery, books, equipment and software, and transferred directly to the student’s bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer. The maximum duration is four years for students admitted in the first year and three years for students admitted directly into the second year through lateral entry. There is no separate grant for hostel fees, medical expenses or similar charges.
Renewal is not automatic. It requires a renewal application through the NSP, supported by a promotion certificate certified by the Head of the Institution, and it depends on satisfactory academic performance and promotion to the next year. Failing to be promoted ends the scholarship.
Documents needed
- Disability certificate or UDID details showing disability of 40% or more (disabled students must log in to the UDID portal and consent to share their UDID details before the application can be submitted, according to the current application guide).
- Annual family income certificate in the prescribed format, issued by the Tehsildar or a higher competent authority, or by the State or UT Government.
- Marksheet of the Class 10 and Class 12 examinations, as applicable.
- Admission letter to the first year of a degree or diploma course, issued by the Centralised Admission Authority or Directorate of Technical Education.
- Tuition fee receipt for the academic year.
- Aadhaar number and an Aadhaar-seeded savings bank account in the student’s own name (with account number, IFSC code and photograph in the passbook).
- Caste certificate, for SC, ST or OBC applicants, where applicable.
- Certificate issued by the Director, Principal or Head of the Institute, and a signed declaration by parents that the information given is correct.
How to apply
- Open the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) and complete One-Time Registration (OTR) if you have not already done so.
- Disabled students should log in to the UDID portal and consent to share their UDID details, as the NSP application requires that step before submission.
- Under Apply for Scholarship, select AICTE — Saksham Scholarship Scheme for Specially Abled Student (Technical Degree) or (Technical Diploma), listed as a welfare-based scheme.
- Enter the details, attach the income certificate and disability proof, and enter the Aadhaar-seeded savings bank account in the student’s own name.
- The live 2026-27 cycle closed 31 October 2026 — keep the submitted form and fee receipt for institute verification.
FAQs
Rs 50,000 per year as a lump sum, for up to four years (first-year entrants) or three years (lateral-entry entrants).
No. Only passing marks in the qualifying examination are required, and every eligible student admitted to the first year or lateral-entry second year receives the award, according to the scheme FAQ.
A disability of 40% or more, certified by the competent authority or shown through UDID details.
Rs 8 lakh a year from all sources, supported by a valid income certificate from the State or UT Government.
Under AICTE’s corrigendum of 18 August 2026, Saksham as a welfare-based scheme can be held with another welfare-based scholarship or one merit-based scholarship.
No. The 2024-25 cycle has closed. This article covers the continuing scheme, and the live 2026-27 cycle closed 31 October 2026.
Verified 1 Nov 2026: AICTE Saksham on NSP closed 31 Oct 2026 — the AICTE notice (via SASTRA) states the portal for Saksham, Pragati and Swanath applications closed 31.10.2026 and that no further request for extension shall be entertained. The live cycle checked is 2026-27; the 2024-25 cycle in the title has been succeeded by later cycles. No extension found.
