Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) provides financial support to eligible learners through Government of India scholarship schemes, while the University also has its own IGNOU Research Fellowship for selected full-time M.Phil. and PhD scholars. IGNOU's January 2026 Common Prospectus confirms that learners can apply for Government of India scholarships through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
For 2026, the most specific financial-support provision announced by IGNOU is for SC/ST students. Under Notification No. 92 dated January 2, 2026, eligible SC/ST students seeking fresh admission or re-registration in specified undergraduate programmes can receive financial support equal to 50% of the programme fee.
IGNOU also provides its own research fellowship of ₹8,000 per month for PhD scholars and ₹5,000 per month for M.Phil. scholars, along with an annual contingency grant of ₹8,000 for selected scholars.
Table of Contents
- IGNOU Scholarship 2026: Key Highlights
- IGNOU Scholarship 2026: Types of Financial Support
- IGNOU Scholarship Amount 2026
- IGNOU SC/ST Scholarship 2026: 50% Fee Support
- IGNOU Scholarship Eligibility 2026
- IGNOU Scholarship for SC/ST Students: Documents Required
- IGNOU Government Scholarship 2026 Through NSP
- IGNOU Scholarship Last Date 2026
- How to Apply for IGNOU Scholarship 2026
- IGNOU Research Fellowship 2026
- IGNOU Scholarship for PhD Students
- IGNOU Scholarship for UG Students
- IGNOU Scholarship for PG Students
- IGNOU Scholarship Renewal 2026
- IGNOU Scholarship Status 2026
- IGNOU Scholarship 2026: Important Points
- IGNOU Scholarships FAQs 2026
IGNOU Scholarship 2026: Key Highlights
| Parameter | Latest Official Information |
| University | Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) |
| Scholarship categories | Government scholarships + IGNOU Research Fellowship |
| Government scholarship portal | National Scholarship Portal (NSP) |
| IGNOU Research Fellowship | Available to selected full-time research scholars |
| PhD fellowship | ₹8,000 per month |
| M.Phil. fellowship | ₹5,000 per month |
| Research fellowship contingency | ₹8,000 per year |
| SC/ST financial support | 50% of programme fee for specified UG programmes |
| SC/ST income limit for January 2026 fresh applicants | ₹2.5 lakh per annum |
| Current admission cycle | July 2026 |
| Latest July 2026 admission deadline | 31 August 2026 for notified ODL/Online programmes |
IGNOU's latest announcement extended fresh admission and re-registration for the July 2026 session until 31 August 2026. This is an admission deadline and should not be treated as a universal scholarship application deadline because scholarship schemes may follow separate schedules.
IGNOU Scholarship 2026: Types of Financial Support
IGNOU's official documents show three important routes through which learners may receive financial assistance: Government of India scholarships, SC/ST financial support under IGNOU's policy, and the IGNOU Research Fellowship.
| Financial Support | Administered Through | Latest Benefit / Amount | Main Eligibility |
| Government of India Scholarships | National Scholarship Portal / concerned authority | Scheme-specific | Eligible IGNOU learners as per applicable scheme |
| SC/ST Financial Support | IGNOU | 50% of programme fee for specified UG programmes | Eligible SC/ST students meeting the notified conditions |
| IGNOU Research Fellowship | IGNOU Research Unit | ₹8,000/month for PhD; ₹5,000/month for M.Phil. | Selected full-time research scholars |
| Research Contingency | IGNOU Research Fellowship | ₹8,000/year | Selected IGNOU-RF scholars |
IGNOU states that its learners are eligible to apply for Government of India scholarships through the National Scholarship Portal. The University also facilitates scholarship access through its Regional Centres.
IGNOU Scholarship Amount 2026
The scholarship amount depends on the particular scheme. IGNOU does not publish one universal scholarship amount applicable to every learner.
For the University's own research fellowship, the official Research Unit specifies ₹8,000 per month for PhD scholars and ₹5,000 per month for M.Phil. scholars. Selected scholars are also entitled to an annual contingency grant of ₹8,000.
| Support Type | Amount | Frequency | Who Receives It |
| IGNOU PhD Research Fellowship | ₹8,000 | Per month | Selected PhD scholars |
| IGNOU M.Phil. Research Fellowship | ₹5,000 | Per month | Selected M.Phil. scholars |
| IGNOU-RF Contingency | ₹8,000 | Per year | Selected M.Phil./PhD IGNOU-RF scholars |
| Government scholarships | Scheme-specific | Scheme-specific | Eligible students under the applicable scheme |
| SC/ST UG financial support | 50% of programme fee | As notified for admission/re-registration | Eligible SC/ST students |
The IGNOU Research Fellowship is awarded through a selection committee according to criteria prescribed by the University.
IGNOU SC/ST Scholarship 2026: 50% Fee Support
For the January 2026 admission cycle, IGNOU issued Notification No. 92 providing financial support to eligible SC/ST students.
For fresh admissions, the support is equal to 50% of the programme fee for:
- Bachelor of Arts (BAM)
- Bachelor of Commerce (BCOMF)
- Bachelor of Science (BSCM)
For re-registration, eligible SC/ST students who received fee exemption or financial support in earlier admission cycles can receive support equal to 50% of the programme fee for the specified BA, BCom and BSc programmes.
| Applicant Type | Eligible Programmes Mentioned by IGNOU | Financial Support |
| Fresh SC/ST students | BAM, BCOMF, BSCM | 50% of programme fee |
| Re-registering SC/ST students | BAM/BAG, BCOMF/BCOMG, BSCM/BSCG | 50% of programme fee |
| Registration fee | Applicable | Not covered |
| University Development Fee | Applicable | Not covered |
The January 2026 notification specifically states that registration fee and University Development Fee remain payable by students receiving this support.
IGNOU Scholarship Eligibility 2026
Eligibility depends on the scholarship or financial-support scheme. For the January 2026 SC/ST financial-support scheme, IGNOU specified category, income, documentation and non-duplication requirements.
| Eligibility Condition | January 2026 IGNOU Requirement |
| Category | SC/ST |
| Fresh-applicant income limit | ₹2.5 lakh per annum |
| Income period considered | FY 2024-25 |
| Income certificate | Issued by authorised Revenue Officer |
| Caste certificate | Issued by appropriate authority |
| Certificate verification | Digital verification by IGNOU |
| Other scholarship | Applicant must not be receiving another Central/State Government or government-agency scholarship |
| Programme condition | Support restricted to programmes specified in the notification |
The income and caste certificates are required to be digitally verified by IGNOU.
IGNOU Scholarship for SC/ST Students: Documents Required
For the January 2026 SC/ST financial-support scheme, IGNOU specifically requires income and caste documentation.
| Document | Purpose | Requirement |
| Income Certificate | Establishes family-income eligibility | Required for fresh applicants |
| Caste Certificate | Establishes SC/ST eligibility | Required |
| Proof of IGNOU admission | Establishes learner status | Required as part of admission process |
| Undertaking regarding other scholarships | Confirms that the student is not receiving another eligible government scholarship | Required |
| Digitally verifiable certificates | Authentication | Required by IGNOU |
The income certificate for fresh applicants must be issued by the Revenue Officer of the student's domicile State, while the caste certificate must be issued by the appropriate authority.
IGNOU Government Scholarship 2026 Through NSP
IGNOU's January 2026 Common Prospectus states that its learners are eligible for Government of India scholarships and advises them to apply through the National Scholarship Portal. IGNOU Regional Centres also continue to direct learners to NSP for information about available schemes and eligibility.
Because the schemes are administered by different government authorities, IGNOU does not list one common scholarship amount or one universal deadline for all learners.
| What Students Need to Check | Why It Matters |
| Scholarship scheme | Different schemes have different eligibility rules |
| Category | Many schemes are category-specific |
| Academic programme | Eligibility may vary by programme |
| Family income | Scheme-specific income conditions may apply |
| Application period | Deadlines differ by scheme |
| Documents | Required documents differ between schemes |
| Verification | Applications may require institutional/authority verification |
| Renewal | Some schemes require a separate renewal process |
IGNOU's official scholarship guidance directs learners to check the eligibility conditions of the relevant scheme before applying.
IGNOU Scholarship Last Date 2026
There is no single IGNOU scholarship last date for all scholarships. IGNOU's official prospectus directs students to the National Scholarship Portal for Government of India scholarships, while scheme-specific dates are determined by the concerned authority.
For the IGNOU admission cycle currently in progress, the University has extended the July 2026 fresh admission and re-registration deadline to 31 August 2026 for notified ODL and Online programmes. This should not be interpreted as the deadline for every scholarship application.
| Date / Deadline | Latest Status |
| July 2026 fresh admission | 31 August 2026 |
| July 2026 re-registration | 31 August 2026 |
| Government scholarship deadline | Scheme-specific |
| IGNOU Research Fellowship | As per Research Unit notification/selection process |
How to Apply for IGNOU Scholarship 2026
The application route depends on the type of financial assistance.
For Government of India scholarships, IGNOU directs learners to the National Scholarship Portal. For the SC/ST financial-support provision, students must meet IGNOU's notified requirements and submit the prescribed certificates during the admission/re-registration process.
Government Scholarship Route
- Check the scholarship schemes applicable to your category and programme.
- Register/apply through the National Scholarship Portal as applicable.
- Complete the scholarship application with accurate details.
- Upload the required documents.
- Complete the required verification process.
- Track the application through the concerned scholarship system.
IGNOU SC/ST Financial Support Route
- Apply for an eligible IGNOU programme.
- Select the applicable financial-support provision.
- Submit the required income and caste certificates.
- Ensure the certificates can be digitally verified.
- Submit the required undertaking regarding other scholarships.
- Pay the charges that are not covered by the financial support.
IGNOU Research Fellowship 2026
IGNOU has its own Research Fellowship scheme for researchers working on a full-time basis at IGNOU. The University identifies the fellowships as the Dr B R Ambedkar Fellowship Scheme for male scholars and Savitri Bai Phule Fellowship Scheme for female scholars.
The Research Unit states that selected PhD scholars receive ₹8,000 per month and selected M.Phil. scholars receive ₹5,000 per month, along with an annual contingency grant of ₹8,000.
| Research Fellowship | Monthly Fellowship | Annual Contingency | Selection |
| PhD | ₹8,000 | ₹8,000 | University selection committee |
| M.Phil. | ₹5,000 | ₹8,000 | University selection committee |
For PhD candidates, the IGNOU-RF guidelines state that the fellowship is awarded on a yearly basis for up to a maximum of three years, subject to the prescribed conditions and recommendation of the Research Supervisor/Director.
IGNOU Scholarship for PhD Students
IGNOU PhD students can receive fellowships from different funding agencies, subject to eligibility and selection. IGNOU's official FAQ specifically mentions schemes such as UGC-JRF, ICSSR, ICMR and ICHR Doctoral Fellowships. The University also provides its own IGNOU Research Fellowship to eligible non-JRF scholars who are not receiving financial benefits from another source, subject to selection.
| PhD Financial Support | Official IGNOU Position |
| UGC-JRF | Available subject to selection |
| ICSSR fellowship | Available subject to selection |
| ICMR fellowship | Available subject to selection |
| ICHR fellowship | Available subject to selection |
| IGNOU Research Fellowship | Available subject to University selection |
| IGNOU-RF PhD amount | ₹8,000/month |
| IGNOU-RF contingency | ₹8,000/year |
IGNOU Scholarship for UG Students
The latest specific IGNOU financial-support notification for January 2026 provides 50% of programme fee for eligible SC/ST students enrolled in the specified undergraduate programmes.
The programmes specifically named for fresh admissions are BAM, BCOMF and BSCM. For re-registration, the notification includes BAM/BAG, BCOMF/BCOMG and BSCM/BSCG.
| UG Category | Programme(s) Named in Notification No. 92 | Support |
| Fresh admission | BAM | 50% programme fee |
| Fresh admission | BCOMF | 50% programme fee |
| Fresh admission | BSCM | 50% programme fee |
| Re-registration | BAM/BAG | 50% programme fee |
| Re-registration | BCOMF/BCOMG | 50% programme fee |
| Re-registration | BSCM/BSCG | 50% programme fee |
IGNOU Scholarship for PG Students
IGNOU's official prospectus states that its learners can apply for Government of India scholarships through NSP. However, the University does not state one universal IGNOU scholarship amount applicable to all PG students. Eligibility and benefits depend on the particular government scheme.
Students should therefore avoid treating the ₹5,000 M.Phil. or ₹8,000 PhD fellowship as a general PG scholarship. Those amounts relate specifically to IGNOU's research fellowship scheme.
IGNOU Scholarship Renewal 2026
Renewal requirements depend on the individual scholarship scheme. IGNOU's official materials do not prescribe one universal renewal rule for every Government of India scholarship.
For the January 2026 SC/ST financial-support scheme, IGNOU specifically provides support for eligible re-registering SC/ST students who received exemption or financial support in earlier admission cycles, subject to the conditions of Notification No. 92.
IGNOU Scholarship Status 2026
Students applying through a Government scholarship scheme should use the relevant scholarship portal to track their application. IGNOU Regional Centres state that students can apply for Government of India scholarships through the National Scholarship Portal and should check the eligibility conditions before applying.
For IGNOU-specific financial support, students should also monitor notifications from IGNOU and their concerned Regional Centre.
| Application Type | Where to Check |
| Government of India scholarship | National Scholarship Portal |
| IGNOU SC/ST financial support | IGNOU admission/Regional Centre notifications |
| IGNOU Research Fellowship | IGNOU Research Unit |
| Admission-related status | IGNOU Samarth Student/Admission Portal |
IGNOU Scholarship 2026: Important Points
- IGNOU does not have one universal scholarship amount for all students.
- Government scholarship schemes are accessed according to the eligibility rules of the respective scheme.
- IGNOU's January 2026 prospectus directs learners to the National Scholarship Portal for Government of India scholarships.
- Eligible SC/ST students under Notification No. 92 can receive 50% financial support on programme fee for specified UG programmes in the January 2026 cycle.
- Registration fee and University Development Fee are not covered under the January 2026 SC/ST financial-support provision.
- The January 2026 SC/ST fresh-applicant income limit is ₹2.5 lakh per annum.
- IGNOU's Research Fellowship provides ₹8,000 per month for PhD and ₹5,000 per month for M.Phil., plus ₹8,000 annual contingency.
- The latest July 2026 IGNOU admission and re-registration deadline is 31 August 2026; this is separate from scheme-specific scholarship deadlines.
IGNOU Scholarships FAQs 2026
Does IGNOU offer scholarships in 2026?
Yes. IGNOU learners can apply for eligible Government of India scholarship schemes through the National Scholarship Portal. IGNOU also provides its own Research Fellowship to selected full-time research scholars.
What is the IGNOU scholarship amount in 2026?
There is no single IGNOU scholarship amount. Under the IGNOU Research Fellowship, selected PhD scholars receive ₹8,000 per month and M.Phil. scholars receive ₹5,000 per month, with an annual contingency grant of ₹8,000. Eligible SC/ST students under the January 2026 financial-support notification receive 50% of the programme fee for specified UG programmes.
What is the IGNOU scholarship last date 2026?
IGNOU does not specify one common last date for all Government scholarship schemes. Scholarship deadlines are scheme-specific. For the July 2026 IGNOU admission cycle, the latest fresh-admission and re-registration deadline announced by the University is 31 August 2026.
What is the IGNOU SC/ST scholarship amount for 2026?
Under Notification No. 92 for the January 2026 cycle, eligible SC/ST students receive financial support equal to 50% of the programme fee for specified undergraduate programmes.
Which UG courses are covered under IGNOU SC/ST financial support 2026?
For fresh admissions in January 2026, IGNOU specifies Bachelor of Arts (BAM), Bachelor of Commerce (BCOMF) and Bachelor of Science (BSCM). For re-registration, BAM/BAG, BCOMF/BCOMG and BSCM/BSCG are specified.
What is the income limit for IGNOU SC/ST financial support?
For fresh applicants under the January 2026 notification, annual family income from all sources must not exceed ₹2.5 lakh during FY 2024-25.
Is IGNOU scholarship available for SC students?
Yes. IGNOU states that SC students can apply for Government of India scholarships, and the University also announced specific financial support for eligible SC/ST students for the January 2026 admission cycle.
Is IGNOU scholarship available for ST students?
Yes. IGNOU's January 2026 financial-support notification covers eligible SC/ST students, subject to the specified programme, income, documentation and other conditions.
Is IGNOU scholarship available for OBC students?
IGNOU learners may apply for Government of India scholarship schemes for which they meet the applicable eligibility conditions. IGNOU's prospectus directs learners to the National Scholarship Portal for such scholarships.
Can IGNOU students apply for scholarships through NSP?
Yes. IGNOU's January 2026 Common Prospectus states that learners enrolled in IGNOU are eligible for Government of India scholarships and advises them to apply online through the National Scholarship Portal.
Does IGNOU provide a PhD fellowship?
Yes. IGNOU has its own Research Fellowship scheme. A selected PhD scholar receives ₹8,000 per month and an annual contingency grant of ₹8,000 under the IGNOU-RF scheme.
What is the IGNOU M.Phil. fellowship amount?
The IGNOU Research Fellowship provides ₹5,000 per month to a selected M.Phil. scholar, along with an annual contingency grant of ₹8,000.
Is the IGNOU Research Fellowship available to all PhD students?
No. The fellowship is awarded to selected research scholars through the University's prescribed selection process. IGNOU also states that full-time PhD students can receive fellowships from different funding agencies subject to selection.
Can IGNOU students receive two scholarships at the same time?
The January 2026 SC/ST financial-support notification states that the support is available only to students who are not availing another scholarship scheme of a Central/State Government or other government agency.
What documents are required for IGNOU SC/ST financial support?
Fresh applicants must submit an income certificate and caste certificate issued by the appropriate government authorities. IGNOU also requires the certificates to be digitally verified and an undertaking that the student is not receiving another eligible scholarship.
Does IGNOU scholarship cover the registration fee?
Under the January 2026 SC/ST financial-support scheme, the non-refundable registration fee is not covered. Students receiving the support must also pay the applicable University Development Fee.
Does IGNOU scholarship cover the Term-End Examination fee?
IGNOU's prospectus states that the SC/ST fee-support provision does not cover charges such as Term-End Examination Fee, convocation fee, registration fee and development fee.
How can I check my IGNOU scholarship status?
For Government of India scholarships, students should check the status through the relevant scholarship system. IGNOU Regional Centres direct learners to the National Scholarship Portal for scholarship information and applications.
Is the IGNOU July 2026 admission deadline the scholarship deadline?
No. The 31 August 2026 deadline announced by IGNOU is for fresh admission and re-registration for the July 2026 session. Scholarship schemes can have separate application schedules and eligibility conditions.
Can distance-learning students at IGNOU apply for scholarships?
Yes. IGNOU's prospectus states that learners enrolled in IGNOU are eligible for Government of India scholarships, subject to the eligibility conditions of the relevant scheme.
