StudyDesk Scholarships
About the scholarship
This scheme sits inside the National Scholarship Portal’s family of central schemes, but it is run by a specific department: the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Its purpose is to remove the cost barrier for students with disabilities who win places at the country’s notified Institutes of Excellence — the IITs, NITs, IIMs, AIIMS, NLUs and similar institutions on the department’s list — for graduate, postgraduate or diploma study. It is a top-class scheme in the literal sense: it only applies at notified institutions, and it pays at a higher level than the ordinary pre-matric and post-matric disability schemes.
Benefits
- Reimbursement of tuition fees and non-refundable charges, capped at Rs 1.9 lakh a year in the detailed 2026-27 listing checked. One guide gives the cap as Rs 2,00,000 a year; the detailed listing’s Rs 1.9 lakh figure is used here, and the difference is flagged rather than hidden — confirm the cap in force on the NSP scheme page.
- Maintenance allowance of Rs 3,000 a month for hostellers and Rs 1,500 a month for day scholars.
- A special allowance of Rs 2,000 a month for students who need a reader, escort or helper.
- A fixed book and equipment allowance of Rs 5,000 a year.
- Payment by Direct Benefit Transfer into the student’s Aadhaar-linked bank account, through the Public Financial Management System.
Who can apply
- You have a benchmark disability of 40% or more, as defined under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, with a valid disability certificate from a competent authority or a UDID card or enrolment number.
- You are pursuing a graduate, postgraduate or diploma course at an Institute of Excellence notified by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. Courses at institutions outside the notified list are not covered.
- Your parents’ or guardians’ annual income from all sources does not exceed Rs 8 lakh.
- You have not received this scholarship before: it is admissible only once, and is not given for a repeat course or a second award.
- You are an Indian student applying through the National Scholarship Portal with One Time Registration completed.
Documents required
Keep ready: your disability certificate or UDID card, an income certificate showing family income up to Rs 8 lakh a year, proof of admission to a notified Institute of Excellence, your Aadhaar card and Aadhaar-linked bank account details, and your previous academic records. The NSP application itself lists the documents it requires for your course and category, and that list governs the application — follow it rather than any shorter summary.
How to apply
- Complete One Time Registration (OTR) on the National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in, if you have not already done so.
- Find the Scholarship for Top Class Education for Students with Disabilities under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and open the 2026-27 application.
- Fill in your disability, income and admission details, upload the documents listed above, and submit before 31 October 2026. This article is written on the last day of the window.
- Have your institute verify the application: defective-application verification closes on 15 November 2026 and district/state verification on 30 November 2026.
FAQs
Tuition reimbursement up to Rs 1.9 lakh a year, plus Rs 3,000 a month maintenance for hostellers (Rs 1,500 for day scholars), Rs 2,000 a month special allowance where a reader, escort or helper is needed, and Rs 5,000 a year for books and equipment.
A disability of 40% or more under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, backed by a valid disability certificate or a UDID card.
Yes. The course must be at an Institute of Excellence notified by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. Courses elsewhere are not covered.
31 October 2026 on the National Scholarship Portal. This article is written on that day — apply immediately.
No. The scholarship is awarded only once and is not admissible for a repeat course or a second award.
Yes: annual family income from all sources must not exceed Rs 8 lakh.
Verified 31 Oct 2026 against the Buddy4Study scheme page (window 1 June to 31 October 2026; defective verification 15 November 2026; district/state verification 30 November 2026; benchmark disability 40% or more; notified Institutes of Excellence; income up to Rs 8 lakh; one-time award; PFMS payment), the detailed 2026-27 listing (tuition reimbursement up to Rs 1.9 lakh a year; maintenance Rs 3,000 hosteller and Rs 1,500 day scholar a month; Rs 2,000 a month special allowance; Rs 5,000 a year book allowance; deadline 31 October 2026) and a second 2026-27 guide (300 slots including renewals; 40%+ disability; Rs 8 lakh income limit; 31 October 2026 deadline). A separate guide’s Rs 2,00,000 tuition cap is carried openly as a disagreement.
