Post-Matric Scholarship for OBC Students 2026: Maintenance Allowance & Fees

At a glance

About the scheme

The Dr. Ambedkar Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Post-Matric Scholarships for the Other Backward Class (OBC) Students for Studying in India is run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It provides vital financial relief to OBC candidates at the post-secondary level to ensure they can complete their education without financial distress. Disbursed directly through bank accounts by the applicant's home State Government or Union Territory administration, the scheme covers non-refundable compulsory academic fees and provides fixed monthly maintenance stipends classified by study levels.

Benefits

• Monthly maintenance allowance for Group A courses (degree/PG in medicine, engineering, management, research, etc.): ₹750 for hostellers and ₹350 for day scholars.
• Monthly maintenance allowance for Group B courses (diploma/degree in pharmacy, nursing, mass comm, post-graduate non-Group A, etc.): ₹510 for hostellers and ₹335 for day scholars.
• Monthly maintenance allowance for Group C courses (general graduate degrees like BA, BSc, BCom): ₹400 for hostellers and ₹210 for day scholars.
• Monthly maintenance allowance for Group D courses (class XI, XII, ITI, 3-year polytechnic diplomas): ₹260 for hostellers and ₹160 for day scholars.
• Hostellers receiving free boarding or lodging receive maintenance charges at one-third of the normal hosteller rate.
• Additional reader allowance for visually impaired students: ₹175 per month (Groups A & B), ₹130 per month (Group C), and ₹90 per month (Group D).
• Reimbursement of compulsory non-refundable fees including enrolment, tuition, library, games, union, magazine, and medical examination fees.
• Study tour charges up to ₹900 per annum for students in professional and technical courses upon institutional certification.
• Thesis typing and printing charges up to ₹1,000 for research scholars upon recommendation by the head of the institution.
• Correspondence course students receive reimbursement of non-refundable fees and an annual book allowance of ₹900.

Who can apply (eligibility)

• The applicant must be an Indian national belonging to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) as notified by their State Government or Union Territory administration.
• The applicant must be permanently settled in the awarding State/UT and have passed Matriculation, Higher Secondary, or higher examination.
• The candidate must be enrolled in a recognised post-matriculation or post-secondary course in a recognised institution in India.
• For unemployed applicants, total parental/guardian income from all sources must not exceed ₹1.50 lakh per annum.
• For employed applicants, combined income with parents/guardians must not exceed ₹1.50 lakh per annum (eligible only for reimbursement of non-refundable fees).
• Scholarship is restricted to a maximum of two boys from the same parents or guardian; this restriction does not apply to girl students.
• Post-graduate medical students are eligible only if they are barred from private practice during their course period.

Who cannot apply

• Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) training courses and other aviation-linked programmes are excluded.
• Students pursuing the same stage of education in a different subject after passing (e.g. BCom after BA, or an MA in a second subject) are ineligible.
• Candidates who have completed a professional career line and subsequently take up another (e.g. LLB after BEd/BT) are not eligible.
• Students studying in Class XI of Higher Secondary or Class XII of Multipurpose High School as part of a continuous school course are excluded, unless Class X is treated as Matriculation and they move to separate courses.
• Students who hold any other concurrent scholarship or stipend cannot receive funds under this scheme.

Documents required

• Prescribed scholarship application form.
• One passport-size photograph with the student's signature thereon (for fresh applicants).
• Attested copies of certificates, diplomas, or degrees for all examinations passed.
• Original income certificate issued by an authorised Revenue Officer not below the rank of Tehsildar.
• Receipt acknowledging previous year scholarship countersigned by the Head of the Institution (for renewal applicants).

How to apply

1. 1Visit the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) and click on New Registration.
2. 2Read the registration guidelines, accept the undertaking, and complete the registration form to receive your Application ID and password.
3. 3Log in using your Application ID, password, and the OTP sent to your registered mobile number, then create a new password.
4. 4Go to the Applicant Dashboard, open the Application Form, fill in the required academic and personal details, and upload the necessary documents.
5. 5Review all entered information and click Final Submit to complete your online submission.

Frequently asked questions