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2026

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NIT Scholarships 2026 – Government & Merit-based Aid

Complete guide: SC/ST fee waiver, MCM scholarship, Post-Matric, Central Sector Scheme and NSP portal application

SC/ST Students: Near-Free Education at NIT

SC/ST students get full tuition fee waiver at all NITs automatically. Combined with Post-Matric Scholarship (hostel/mess) from state governments, many SC/ST students pay little to nothing for NIT education. Apply immediately upon joining.

NIT Scholarship Schemes 2026

Merit-cum-Means (MCM) Scholarship

Institute (GoI funded)

Eligibility

Family income < ₹5 LPA; academic performance criterion

Benefit

Full/partial tuition waiver + ₹1,000/month stipend

Deadline / How

Within first month of joining NIT

SC/ST Tuition Fee Waiver

Government of India

Eligibility

SC or ST category (all income levels)

Benefit

100% tuition fee waiver at all NITs

Deadline / How

Submit caste certificate at admission

Post-Matric Scholarship (SC/ST/OBC)

State Government

Eligibility

SC/ST/OBC students; income limits vary by state

Benefit

Tuition + hostel/mess support (varies by state)

Deadline / How

Apply via state portal or NSP — typically September-October

Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship

Government of India (MHRD)

Eligibility

Top 20th percentile in Class 12 board; family income < ₹8 LPA

Benefit

₹12,000/year (1st-3rd year), ₹20,000/year (4th year)

Deadline / How

Apply via NSP before October

NIT Institute Merit Scholarship

Institute

Eligibility

Top 5-7% of class (CGPA-based); no income limit

Benefit

Full tuition fee waiver for one academic year

Deadline / How

Auto-awarded based on CGPA

Minority Community Scholarship (NSP)

Ministry of Minority Affairs

Eligibility

Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi students; income < ₹2 LPA

Benefit

₹20,000-₹50,000/year depending on level

Deadline / How

Apply via NSP portal before October

Documents Required for NIT Scholarships

Income certificate from tehsildar/SDM (not older than 3 months)

Caste/category certificate (for SC/ST/OBC scholarships)

Class 12 marksheet (board examination)

Class 10 marksheet and certificate

Aadhaar card (linked to bank account)

Bank account details (nationalized bank preferred)

Domicile certificate (for state government scholarships)

NIT admission letter / enrollment certificate

Don't Miss Deadlines

MCM and Post-Matric scholarship applications close within weeks of joining NIT. NSP portal applications close in October. Missing these means waiting a full year. Prepare all documents before you join NIT.

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Frequently Asked Questions – NIT Scholarships 2026

Common questions about NIT scholarships, eligibility and NSP application

1
What is the income limit for NIT scholarship?
For the Merit-cum-Means (MCM) scholarship at NIT: family income must be below ₹5 Lakh per year. Students with income below ₹1 Lakh get maximum benefit (full tuition waiver + stipend). Students between ₹1-2 Lakh get 2/3 tuition waiver. Students between ₹2-5 Lakh get partial waiver. For Post-Matric Scholarship (state-funded), the income limit varies by state — typically ₹2.5 Lakh for OBC and ₹2.5-5 Lakh for SC/ST. For the Central Sector Scheme, there is no income limit (it is purely merit-based).
2
Is education free at NIT for SC/ST students?
Effectively yes for tuition. SC and ST students at NIT are eligible for full tuition fee waiver under the Government of India's scheme — this means ₹1.25-1.75 Lakh/year in tuition is waived. Additionally, the Post-Matric Scholarship from many state governments covers hostel and mess charges for SC/ST students, making NIT education near-free for SC/ST students from low-income families. This applies to all 31 NITs across India.
3
How to get NIT scholarship?
Steps to get NIT scholarship: (1) MCM Scholarship — visit your NIT's Student Financial Assistance (SFA) office within the first month of joining and submit income certificate from tehsildar/SDM. (2) SC/ST fee waiver — submit your caste certificate to the financial aid office. (3) NSP scholarships — register at scholarships.gov.in and apply before October. (4) Post-Matric Scholarship — apply through your state government's scholarship portal. Keep all documents ready (income cert, caste cert, bank account, Class 12 marksheet).
4
What is the merit scholarship at NIT?
Each NIT offers an Institute Merit Scholarship for top-performing students. The criteria vary by NIT but generally the top 5-7% of students in each branch receive a tuition fee waiver for one academic year. This is awarded based on CGPA at the end of each semester. It is purely merit-based with no income criteria — even high-income students can receive this scholarship if they maintain top grades.
5
How to apply on NSP portal for NIT scholarships?
To apply on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) for NIT: (1) Go to scholarships.gov.in. (2) Register with your Aadhaar number and bank account. (3) Select the appropriate scholarship scheme (Central Sector, Post-Matric, etc.). (4) Fill in academic and family income details. (5) Upload required documents (income certificate, caste certificate, marksheets). (6) Submit before the October deadline. The scholarship amount is credited directly to your bank account. Always use a nationalized bank account linked to Aadhaar for faster processing.

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NSP Portal

scholarships.gov.in — Apply before October. Needed for Central Sector Scheme and Post-Matric Scholarship.

SC/ST Tip

SC/ST students: submit your caste certificate to NIT financial aid office on Day 1. Tuition fee waiver is automatic.