NSP Scholarship 2026-27: Last Date, Apply & Payment Status

2 minute read

Shivam Kumar

Update on 13 Oct, 2026, 10:40 AM IST

The NSP Scholarship deadline for 2026–2027 varies depending on the program; nevertheless, the National Scholarship Portal lists numerous significant Central Sector and welfare-based programs with an application deadline of October 31, 2026. On June 1, 2026, the NSP portal became live for the 2026–2027 school year. Before applying for a scholarship, students must finish One Time Registration (OTR).

 

Scholarships for school and college students are offered by NSP, including programs for SC, ST, OBC, EBC, DNT, students with impairments, technical students, and children of specific employees. Depending on the program and eligibility requirements, scholarship amounts might range from ₹1,000 annually under specific Labor Ministry programs to ₹1.5 lakh annually under the National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies.

NSP 2026–27 quick update: October 31, 2026 is the deadline for student applications for the majority of the primary schemes now listed on NSP. However, since different NSP scholarships have different deadlines, students should compare the date to their particular plan.

 

Table of Contents

  1. NSP Scholarship 2026-27: Important Dates
  2. What is the NSP Scholarship?
  3. NSP Scholarship Scheme-wise Deadlines 2026-27
  4. NSP Scholarship eligibility: Income limits and marks
  5. Fresh vs Renewal NSP Scholarship Application
  6. NSP OTR Error 904
  7. Disability Scholarship: UDID Consent Is Required
  8. Can You Apply Through a CSC?
  9. How to Apply for NSP Scholarship 2026-27
  10. NSP Login and Application Status
  11. How to Check NSP Scholarship Payment Status
  12. NSP Scholarship Disbursal: What the Latest Data Shows
  13. What is NSP 2.0?
  14. NSP Scholarship 2026-27 FAQs

 

NSP Scholarship 2026-27: Important Dates

NSP activity

2026-27 deadline/status

NSP 2026-27 portal opening

June 1, 2026

Application deadline for several central schemes

October 31, 2026

Institute verification for several listed schemes

November 15, 2026

L2 verification for several listed schemes

November 30, 2026

NMMSS application

October 31, 2026

NMMSS L1 verification

November 15, 2026

NMMSS L2 verification

November 30, 2026

PM-USP CSSS renewal application

October 31, 2026

PM-USP CSSS renewal institute verification

November 15, 2026

PM-USP CSSS renewal L2 verification

November 30, 2026

 

NMMSS 2026-27 deadline

The deadline for the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS) was changed in 2026. The most recent notification from the Ministry of Education extended the deadline for student applications until October 31, 2026. The deadlines for L1 and L2 verification are November 15 and November 30, respectively.

 

What is the NSP Scholarship?

The National Scholarship Portal is a Government of India platform where eligible students can apply for scholarships offered by central ministries, departments and participating state governments. It brings several scholarship application and tracking services together.

 

Schemes for schoolchildren, undergraduate and graduate students, students from qualifying SC, ST, OBC, EBC, and DNT communities, students with disabilities, and other eligible groups are included on the portal. Every plan has its own set of requirements for eligibility, supporting documentation, and award guidelines.

 

NSP Scholarship Scheme-wise Deadlines 2026-27

The table below covers major central schemes of NSP Scholarship 2026 currently visible on the NSP portal.

Scholarship scheme

Student application deadline

Amount/benefit

PM-USP Central Sector Scholarship (CSSS)

Oct 31, 2026*

₹12,000/year initially; ₹20,000/year in later eligible years

National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies

Oct 31, 2026

₹1.5 lakh/year

Ishan Uday Special Scholarship Scheme

Oct 31, 2026

₹5,400–₹7,800/month

AICTE Pragati Scholarship

Oct 31, 2026

₹50,000/year

AICTE Saksham Scholarship

Oct 31, 2026

₹50,000/year

AICTE Swanath Scholarship

Oct 31, 2026

₹50,000/year

NMMSS

Oct 31, 2026

₹12,000/year

Top Class Education for SC Students

Oct 31, 2026

Financial support as per scheme

Top Class Education for Students with Disabilities

Oct 31, 2026

Financial support as per scheme

Pre-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities

Oct 31, 2026

Scholarship + allowances

Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities

Oct 31, 2026

Scholarship + allowances

National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students

Oct 31, 2026

Scholarship/fellowship as per component

PM YASASVI Top Class School Education

Oct 31, 2026 for the listed renewal component

Up to ₹75,000/year for Classes 9–10 and ₹1.25 lakh/year for Classes 11–12

PM YASASVI Top Class College Education

Oct 31, 2026

Tuition/other support as per scheme

Labour Ministry Pre-Matric Assistance

Oct 31, 2026 on the current NSP listing

₹1,000–₹3,000 depending on class

Labour Ministry Post-Matric Assistance

Oct 31, 2026 on the current NSP listing

₹3,000–₹25,000 depending on course

*PM-USP renewal applications are particularly mentioned in the current NSP notice. Before applying, students should verify the fresh/renewal status on each scheme listing.The aforementioned SC, disability, NMMSS, PM-USP, ST, PM YASASVI, and Ministry of Labor schemes are currently included in the live NSP scheme list.

NSP Scholarship 2026-27

 

NSP Scholarship eligibility: Income limits and marks

NSP Scholarship eligibility varies. For information on the precise income cap, qualifying scores, course prerequisites, and renewal criteria, students should consult the most recent scheme guidelines.

Scheme/category

Key eligibility information

PM-USP CSSS

Above 80th percentile in Class XII; family income up to ₹4.5 lakh; regular course

NMMSS

Parental income up to ₹3.5 lakh; minimum 55% in Class VII, relaxed by 5% for SC/ST students

SC Pre-Matric

SC student in Classes IX/X; parental income up to ₹2.5 lakh

OBC/EBC/DNT PM YASASVI

Income and academic requirements vary by component

Disability Pre-Matric

Benchmark disability of 40% or more; family income up to ₹2.5 lakh

Disability Post-Matric

Benchmark disability of 40% or more; family income up to ₹2.5 lakh

Minority schemes

Historical rules include income ceilings and 50% minimum marks, but current 2026-27 availability must be checked separately

The Ministry expressly stipulates a minimum score of 55% in Class VII and a parental income cap of ₹3.5 lakh for NMMSS, with a 5% relaxation for SC/ST kids.Income ceilings of ₹1 lakh for Pre-Matric, ₹2 lakh for Post-Matric, and ₹2.5 lakh for Merit-cum-Means, with a 50% mark requirement, are specified in the previous and present Minority Affairs regulations. Instead of confirming that the schemes are open for 2026–2027, these should be regarded as scheme-rule information.

 

Fresh vs Renewal NSP Scholarship Application

NSP applications are broadly divided into Fresh and Renewal applications.

 

Fresh application

When a student applies for a scholarship for the first time and the program is available to new applicants, this is known as a fresh application. It is subjected to the scheme's eligibility rules:

 

The student generally needs to:

  1. Complete OTR.
  2. Log in to NSP.
  3. Select the applicable scholarship.
  4. Enter personal and academic details.
  5. Submit the application.
  6. Complete the required verification process.

 

Renewal application

A renewal application is for a current scholarship recipient remaining within the same program.Renewal doesn't automatically imply payment. Students must still finalize the renewal application and satisfy the program's academic and other ongoing requirements.For instance, NSP presently recognizes PM-USP CSSS and the PM-USP Special Scholarship Scheme for J&K and Ladakh as currently accepting renewal applications for 2026-27. 
What does NSP OTR Mean?One Time Registration (OTR) is a distinct 14-digit identifier necessary to apply for scholarships on NSP.The OTR continues to be relevant during the entirety of the student's academic journey. NSP indicates that it can be produced using Aadhaar or an Aadhaar Enrolment ID (EID), along with the necessary authentication procedure.

 

How to Generate NSP OTR

The broad OTR process is:

  1. Register an active mobile number.
  2. Generate the OTR reference number.
  3. Download the NSP OTR mobile app.
  4. Install the required Aadhaar Face RD services.
  5. Complete face authentication.
  6. Generate the 14-digit OTR.
  7. Use the OTR ID to apply for the scholarship when applications are open.

NSP states that no fee is charged for OTR itself.

 

NSP OTR Error 904

If error 904 occurs during face authentication, NSP recommends that students update the UIDAI AadhaarFACERD app via the Play Store.NSP also states that facial recognition may not work if the Aadhaar holder's biometrics are locked. In that case, students/parents/legal guardians ought to verify their biometric lock status via the mAadhaar app or My Aadhaar and confirm that biometrics are unlocked before trying authentication once more.

 

Disability Scholarship: UDID Consent Is Required

Students with disabilities must take an extra step prior to submitting their NSP application.NSP requires that students with disabilities initially access the UDID portal and give permission to share their UDID information. If this consent is not granted, the student cannot submit the NSP scholarship application.Students should have their UDID information prepared before initiating the scholarship application.

 

Can You Apply Through a CSC?

Certainly.NSP services can be accessed via Common Service Centres (CSCs). The formal NSP communication indicates that the overall fee for all scholarship-related activities, encompassing reference-number creation, biometric verification, OTR production, and submission of the entire application form, amounts to ₹30 for each candidate, including relevant taxes.Students are not required to pay ₹30 just to create an OTR on the NSP portal themselves.

 

How to Apply for NSP Scholarship 2026-27

Students who want to apply for NSP scholarship can follow these steps:

  • Generate the mandatory 14-digit OTR through the official NSP OTR process.

  • Use the OTR ID and password to access the scholarship application section. NSP allows students to fill and check the status of Fresh and Renewal applications from AY 2024-25 onwards after logging in.

  • Choose the scheme for which you satisfy the eligibility conditions.

  • Enter the required personal, academic, category, income, institution and bank details.

  • Review the information carefully before final submission. NSP warns that corrections/editing may not be allowed after submission of the OTR information.

  • The application may undergo institute-level and higher-level verification depending on the scheme.

 

NSP Login and Application Status

The NSP student dashboard can be used to:

  • Log in using OTR credentials
  • Fill a Fresh application
  • Fill a Renewal application
  • Check the application status
  • Access the list of schemes
  • Check eligibility
  • Track scholarship payment through PFMS
  • Check Aadhaar seeding status

NSP specifically provides a Track Your Payment option that takes students to the PFMS payment-tracking facility.

 

How to Check NSP Scholarship Payment Status

Completing the NSP scholarship application does not indicate that the funds have been disbursed.The overall procedure is:Application → Validation → Approval/Procurement → DBT handling → RemittanceNSP offers a Track Your Payment feature via PFMS. Students must utilize it to verify if their scholarship payment has been completed.Bank account linked to Aadhaar for DBTStudents must verify that the bank account designated for scholarship payments is correctly set up for DBT. NSP offers an Aadhaar-seeding service and emphasizes NPCI's Aadhaar-seeding framework for DBT transactions.For SC scholarships, the Social Justice Ministry clearly indicates that the central portion is deposited into the beneficiary's bank account linked to their Aadhaar.
 NSP Scholarship Status Check

 

NSP Scholarship Disbursal: What the Latest Data Shows

There isn't one fixed student-level NSP scholarship sum given out, as NSP offers various schemes.Nonetheless, official government publications offer disbursement statistics at both the scheme and initiative levels.In August 2026, the Agriculture Ministry reported that over 6,000 agriculture students benefited from ₹21.35 crore via NSP-linked DBT.The Ministry of Tribal Affairs publishes sanction orders at the scheme level for the National Fellowship and Scholarship aimed at ST Students pursuing Higher Education. These records contain several 2026-27 sanctions, but they denote government releases/sanctions and must not be mistaken for the scholarship funds awarded to a single student.Thus, students ought to utilize PFMS payment tracking to check their personal payment status instead of seeking a single NSP disbursal amount.

 

What is NSP 2.0?

NSP 2.0 denotes the updated terminology for the National Scholarship Portal found in previous government documents.The key takeaway for students applying for 2026-27 is straightforward: the current application system is the National Scholarship Portal located at scholarships.gov.in. Students ought to adhere to the current NSP/OTR guidelines instead of the outdated NSP 2.0 application directives.Government documents have previously mentionedscholarships.gov.in as NSP 2.0, especially in relation to applications for Minority Affairs scholarships.

 

NSP Scholarship 2026-27 FAQs

What is the NSP Scholarship last date for 2026-27?

For several major central scholarship schemes currently listed on NSP, the student application deadline is October 31, 2026. However, the deadline can differ by scheme, so students should check the individual scholarship listing on NSP before applying.

What is the NSP scholarship amount?

There is no fixed NSP scholarship amount. It depends on the scheme. For example, PM-USP CSSS provides ₹12,000 per year initially, while the National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies provides ₹1.5 lakh per year.

How can I apply for NSP Scholarship 2026-27?

Complete the mandatory OTR process, log in to the National Scholarship Portal using your OTR credentials, select the eligible scheme, complete the NSP scholarship form and submit it before the applicable deadline.

What is the NSP 2.0 portal?

NSP 2.0 is the name used in earlier government references for the revamped National Scholarship Portal. Current scholarship applications are handled through the official NSP website, scholarships.gov.in.

How can I check my NSP scholarship status?

Log in to NSP using your OTR credentials to check your Fresh or Renewal application status. For payment status, use the Track Your Payment option provided by NSP, which directs students to PFMS.

What should I do if I get NSP OTR error 904?

NSP advises students experiencing error 904 during face authentication to update the UIDAI AadhaarFACERD app. If authentication continues to fail, check whether Aadhaar biometrics are locked and unlock them before trying again.

Can I apply for NSP scholarship through a CSC?

Yes. NSP provides scholarship-related services through Common Service Centres. The official charge for the complete application-related service is ₹30 per candidate.

Do disabled students need UDID consent before applying on NSP?

Yes. NSP states that disabled students must log in to the UDID portal and provide consent to share their UDID details before submitting an NSP scholarship application.

What is the difference between Fresh and Renewal NSP applications?

A Fresh application is generally submitted by a student applying for a scholarship for the first time, while a Renewal application is submitted by an existing beneficiary continuing under the scheme and meeting its renewal conditions.

When will NSP scholarship money be credited?

Payment depends on successful verification, sanction and DBT processing. Students can track the payment through the PFMS payment facility linked from NSP.

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