NEC Merit Scholarship 2026: Up to ₹30,000 Annual Stipend, Eligibility & How to Apply

At a glance

About the scheme

The North Eastern Council (NEC), under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, implements this merit-based scholarship to encourage students from the eight North Eastern States to undertake professional and higher education. The scheme supports students admitted to recognised institutions across India for Diploma, Degree, Postgraduate, and doctoral programmes. Selection is strictly merit-based, determined by marks secured in qualifying examinations within state-wise quotas, and funds are disbursed straight into students' bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer.

Benefits

• Diploma students receive ₹20,000 per annum.
• Degree course students receive ₹22,000 per annum.
• Postgraduate (PG) students receive ₹25,000 per annum.
• M.Phil. and Ph.D. scholars receive ₹30,000 per annum.
• Disbursement is made directly into verified bank accounts via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
• A total of 1,600 fresh scholarships are allocated annually across the eight North Eastern states.

Who can apply (eligibility)

• The candidate must be a permanent resident of any of the North Eastern States (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim).
• Must be enrolled in a Diploma, Degree, or Post-graduate course, or registered for M.Phil./Ph.D. in a Government-recognised institute.
• Total annual family income of parents or guardians from all sources must not exceed ₹8,00,000.
• Must have secured a minimum of 60% aggregate marks in the qualifying examination (Class 10/12 for Diploma, Class 12 for Degree, Graduation for PG, and PG for M.Phil./Ph.D.).
• Must not be receiving any other scholarship or financial assistance from any other source.
• For M.Phil. and Ph.D. candidates, the registered research synopsis must directly relate to problems or issues concerning the North Eastern Region.

Who cannot apply

• Sponsored candidates under full employment or working/in-service candidates during the period of study.
• Students pursuing internships or practical training programmes.
• Renewal applicants who have changed their subject of study after receiving the scholarship.
• Renewal applicants who have changed their institution of study.
• Students with backlogs pending for more than one year or who are not promoted to the next academic year.

Documents required

• Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) or Domicile Certificate from the respective North Eastern State.
• Income certificate issued by a competent authority showing family income up to ₹8,00,000 per annum.
• Mark sheet and pass certificate of the qualifying examination showing at least 60% aggregate marks.
• Proof of admission or registration from the recognised educational institution.
• Aadhaar card seeded with an active bank account.
• Approved research synopsis and Guide progress report countersigned by the Registrar (for M.Phil./Ph.D. scholars).

How to apply

1. 1Visit the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) and click on 'New Registration'.
2. 2Review the guidelines, accept the terms, fill in your primary details, and register to generate your Application ID and password.
3. 3Log in to NSP with your credentials, verify your mobile number via OTP, and reset your password.
4. 4Navigate to the Application Form, select the NEC Merit Scholarship scheme, complete all academic and personal fields, and upload the necessary documents.
5. 5Verify all submitted details and complete the process by clicking 'Final Submit' before the prescribed portal deadline.

Frequently asked questions