All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) · Government of India
Technical education financial support for girls (Pragati), PwD students (Saksham), and orphans/eligible categories (Swanath). Apply via NSP portal with ₹8 lakh income limit.
🏛️ Central Government Scheme 💰 ₹50,000 per annum 📊 Income ≤ ₹8,00,000/yr 📝 NSP Portal Application
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Important: NSP OTR (One-Time Registration) is Mandatory
Before applying for any AICTE scholarship, you must complete OTR (One-Time Registration) on the NSP portal. Without OTR, you cannot proceed with scholarship applications. The 2025-26 cycle is closed; next cycle dates will be announced on NSP.
For students pursuing technical education in India, managing expenses for fees, books, laptops, and software can be challenging. The AICTE Scholarship 2026 offers three flagship schemes — Pragati (for girls), Saksham (for PwD students), and Swanath (for orphans and eligible categories) — providing ₹50,000 per year in direct financial support through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
This comprehensive guide covers verified eligibility criteria, complete document requirements, step-by-step NSP application process, selection methodology, renewal rules, and scam prevention tips — all based on official AICTE and NSP guidelines.
Degree: Max 4 years (3 years lateral) | Diploma: Max 3 years (2 years lateral)
Last Completed Cycle
2025-26: Applications closed 15 Dec 2025 (verification completed Jan 2026)
Apply Mode
Online via National Scholarship Portal (NSP) only
Official Portal
scholarships.gov.in
AICTE Scholarship 2026: Pragati (Girls), Saksham (Disabled) & Swanath (Orphans) – ₹50,000 per year. Apply online on scholarships.gov.in
🏛️ What is the AICTE Scholarship Scheme?
The All India Council for Technical Education operates three flagship scholarship schemes designed to promote technical education and support students from economically weaker sections who are pursuing engineering, technology, and diploma courses in AICTE-approved institutions across India.
👧 Pragati Scholarship
For girl students pursuing technical degree or diploma courses. Maximum 2 girls per family are eligible to apply for this scheme.
♿ Saksham Scholarship
For students with ≥40% disability (valid disability certificate required) pursuing technical degree or diploma courses.
🤝 Swanath Scholarship
For orphans, COVID-affected families, wards of Armed Forces/CAPF martyrs, and other notified eligible categories.
💡 Key Requirement: All applicants must be admitted to an AICTE-approved institution in either 1st year or lateral entry 2nd year of their degree or diploma program.
📅 Important Dates & Timeline — 2025-26
⚠️ Current Status: The NSP 2025-26 cycle for AICTE scholarships has already closed. Student applications closed on 15 December 2025, and verification was completed by January 2026. Dates for the 2026-27 cycle will be announced on the NSP portal.
📊 Last Completed Cycle Timeline (2025-26) — Reference
Stage
Date
Portal Opened
02 June 2025
Student Application Closed
15 December 2025
Defect Correction (Student)
31 December 2025
Institute Verification
31 December 2025
DNO/SNO/MNO Verification
15 January 2026
✅ Pro Tip: For the next cycle, register as soon as the portal opens. Early application gives you more time to correct any defects and ensures smoother verification processing.
💰 Benefits, Amount & Duration
💵
Scholarship Amount ₹50,000 per annum
The scholarship amount is transferred directly to the student’s bank account via DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer). This amount can be used for tuition fees, books, equipment, laptops, software, and other academic needs as per scheme guidelines.
⏱️ Duration
Degree (UG)
Maximum 4 years (Maximum 3 years for lateral entry students)
Diploma
Maximum 3 years (Maximum 2 years for lateral entry students)
Not receiving double benefit from other scholarships
✓
Gap between qualifying exam and admission ≤ 2 years
✓
Valid academic documents and certificates
📋 Scheme-Specific Eligibility
👧 Pragati (Girls)
▸ Applicant must be a girl student
▸Maximum 2 girls per family eligible
▸ All other common eligibility criteria apply
♿ Saksham (PwD)
▸ Disability ≥40% (mandatory)
▸Valid disability certificate required
▸ All other common eligibility criteria apply
🤝 Swanath (Eligible Categories)
▸Orphan (both parents deceased)
▸COVID-19 affected (parent deceased)
▸Wards of Armed Forces/CAPF martyrs
▸ Parent with critical disease/accident (severe disability)
▸Category proof certificate mandatory
📁 Required Documents — Complete Checklist
⚠️ Critical: Documents are the most common reason for rejection at institute and NSP verification stages. Ensure clear scans, correct formats, and complete information on all documents.
📄 Common Documents (All Applicants)
📌
Aadhaar Card Mobile linked / ID proof
📌
Income Certificate Latest certificate (≤₹8,00,000/year)
Bank Passbook/Cancelled Cheque In student’s name + IFSC code
📌
Passport Photo + Signature Recent photograph and digital signature
📑 Scheme-Specific Documents
Pragati: Family girl-children count declaration (if requested) + all common documents
Saksham:Disability certificate (≥40%) — mandatory and non-negotiable + all common documents
Swanath:Category proof documents (orphan certificate/COVID death certificate/martyr ward certificate/other category proof as applicable) + all common documents
💡 Document Tip: Scan all documents with good lighting on a white background at 150-200 DPI. Text must be fully readable. Keep file sizes optimized but not so compressed that text becomes blurry. Use PDF format where required.
🖊️ How to Apply on NSP — Step-by-Step Guide
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Complete NSP OTR (One-Time Registration) — Mandatory First Step
NSP has implemented the OTR (One-Time Registration) system from AY 2024-25. You cannot apply for any scholarship without creating OTR first. Visit scholarships.gov.in and complete your OTR registration using your mobile number, Aadhaar, and basic details. Save your OTR ID and password securely.
1
Login to NSP Portal with OTR Credentials
Go to scholarships.gov.in and log in using your OTR ID and password. Ensure you are logging into the official NSP portal only — check the URL carefully.
Navigate to Central Schemes → AICTE category. Choose the scheme based on your eligibility: Pragati (for girls), Saksham (for PwD students), or Swanath (for orphans and eligible categories).
3
Fill Application Form Carefully
Enter personal details, academic information, and institute details. CRITICAL: Choose your institution name exactly as it appears in the NSP/AICTE approved list. Wrong institute selection is a major rejection reason. Double-check marks percentage, account number, and IFSC code.
4
Upload All Required Documents
Upload documents in the required format (PDF/JPEG) within size limits. Ensure all documents are clear, readable, and properly named. For scheme-specific documents: upload disability certificate (Saksham), category proof (Swanath), or family declaration (Pragati) as applicable.
5
Submit Application & Save Application ID
Review all entered information carefully before final submission. After submitting, save your Application ID (take a screenshot or note it down). You will need this for status tracking and institute verification. Submit any required printouts to your institution as per their process.
🎯 Selection Process — Merit & Criteria
Selection for AICTE scholarships is primarily based on qualifying exam merit with applicable reservation norms as per guidelines:
Degree Level
Selection generally based on 12th marks merit (tie-breaker rules apply as per guidelines)
Diploma Level
Selection generally based on 10th marks merit (scheme-wise criteria apply)
📊 Note: Reservation and seat distribution follow applicable norms as defined in scheme guidelines. Check official scheme guideline PDFs for detailed criteria.
🔄 Renewal Rules — Continue Your Scholarship
📋 How to Get ₹50,000 Next Year?
✓ Successfully promoted to the next year (no detention)
✓ Upload required certificates and documents for renewal
✓ Apply through the NSP Renewal window (dates announced annually)
✓ Continue meeting all eligibility criteria (income, academic progress)
⛔ Who Should NOT Apply?
❌ Students NOT enrolled in AICTE-approved institutions — Verify your institution’s AICTE approval status before applying
❌ Admission other than 1st year or lateral entry 2nd year — Direct 3rd year or other entries typically not eligible
❌ Family income exceeds ₹8,00,000 per year — Income certificate will be verified
⏱️ Processing time: Status updates may take time due to institute verification + state/nodal verification layers. Check periodically but allow adequate processing time.
🛡️ Scam Alert — Verify Before You Trust
✅ AICTE Scholarships are 100% legitimate government schemes — Apply ONLY through the official National Scholarship Portal (NSP) at scholarships.gov.in
🚨 Common Scam Patterns to Avoid
• “Pay ₹5000 and scholarship is confirmed” — always fraud; no registration fee exists
• Fake websites with “scholarship” in domain — only scholarships.gov.in is official
• Agents claiming to “speed up” approval — processing is entirely system-based
• WhatsApp groups offering “guaranteed selection” — selection is merit-based only
• Requests for OTP/password sharing — NEVER share these with anyone
🔐 Safety Guidelines
No registration fee: Government scholarships are free — any payment demand is fraud. Official domain only: Apply and check status only on scholarships.gov.in. Protect credentials: Never share OTP or password at cybercafes or with agents. Direct DBT only: Scholarship amount comes directly to your bank account — no intermediaries.
🆘 If scammed: Save all evidence (screenshots, payment receipts, messages) → Contact your bank immediately to stop/reverse payment → File complaint at local cyber cell or cybercrime.gov.in → Report to NSP helpdesk
Complete overview of AICTE Scholarship 2026 including ₹50,000 annual benefit, eligibility criteria, NSP application process, and important dates.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the last date for AICTE Scholarship 2026? ▼
AICTE scholarship deadlines depend on the NSP academic cycle. The last completed cycle (2025-26) had student applications close on 15 December 2025. Next cycle dates will be announced on the NSP portal — check regularly for updates.
Do students receive ₹50,000 every year under AICTE Pragati? ▼
Yes, eligible students receive ₹50,000 per annum. This amount can continue for the course duration (max 4 years for degree, 3 years for diploma) if you meet renewal requirements including promotion to the next year.
How many girls from one family can apply for Pragati Scholarship? ▼
According to the official guidelines, maximum 2 girl children per family are eligible to apply for the Pragati Scholarship.
What is the minimum disability requirement for Saksham scholarship? ▼
Minimum 40% disability with a valid disability certificate is required. The certificate must be issued by a competent medical authority and clearly state the disability percentage.
Who can apply for Swanath scholarship? ▼
Students under eligible categories including orphans (both parents deceased), COVID-affected families, wards of Armed Forces/CAPF martyrs, and other notified categories can apply. Category proof certificate is mandatory.
What marks are used for Degree vs Diploma selection? ▼
Degree-level selection is generally based on 12th merit, while diploma-level selection is based on 10th merit. Tie-breaker rules and scheme-wise criteria apply as per guidelines.
What is the family income limit? ▼
For all three AICTE scholarship schemes, family income must not exceed ₹8,00,000 per year. An official income certificate is required as proof.
What is NSP OTR and is it mandatory? ▼
OTR (One-Time Registration) is NSP’s mandatory registration system implemented from AY 2024-25. You cannot apply for any scholarship without completing OTR first. Create OTR on scholarships.gov.in using your mobile number and Aadhaar.
What should I do if my application shows “Defective”? ▼
Login to NSP, check the defect remarks carefully, correct all issues, upload any missing/corrected documents, and re-submit before the defect correction deadline. Missing this window leads to rejection.
Where can I get official help or support? ▼
NSP helpdesk details are available on the official portal at scholarships.gov.in. You can also check AICTE’s official website for scheme-specific queries.
🔗 Official Verified Links — AICTE Scholarship 2026
Apply and verify only through these official government portals. Do not trust any other website, link, or agent for AICTE scholarships.
🌐
National Scholarship Portal (NSP) — Apply + OTR + Status scholarships.gov.in · Official NSP portal for all scholarships
📝 Update Log Last Updated: 16 February 2026 02:06 AM IST | Sources: NSP portal (scholarships.gov.in), NSP scheme guideline PDFs, NSP OTR FAQ PDF, AICTE official scheme pages
Apply for AICTE Scholarship 2026 — ₹50,000/Year for Technical Education
Girls (Pragati), PwD students (Saksham), and orphans/eligible categories (Swanath) studying in AICTE-approved institutions with family income ≤₹8 lakh — complete NSP OTR first, then apply when the next cycle opens.
For more engineering and technical scholarships, visit scholarshipx.in/
My name is Alok Kumar Singh ( Scholarship Content Specialist 2+ Years Experience), the editor of this website. I hold a B.Sc. in Computer Science and have spent over 2 years researching and publishing accurate scholarship, admission and education updates for students across India and world.
