PG Merit Scholarship for Rank Holders 2026: ₹2,000 Monthly Support, Eligibility & Apply

At a glance

About the scheme

The University Grants Commission (UGC) under the Department of Higher Education introduced the Post Graduate Merit Scholarship Scheme to reward academic excellence and promote talent in basic disciplines. The initiative provides financial assistance to undergraduate university toppers from recognised institutions across India who enrol in full-time Master's degree programmes. It covers specified non-professional General and Honours streams, aiming to strengthen fundamental learning at the higher education level.

Benefits

• Monthly scholarship of ₹2,000 per month for a duration of two years (paid for 10 months in each year).
• Financial backing to pursue a Master's degree in any area of specialisation at any recognised higher education institution across India.
• Continuation into the second year upon submission of the annual progress report, statement of expenditure, and utilisation certificate.

Who can apply (eligibility)

• Candidate must have secured the 1st or 2nd rank at the university level in General undergraduate courses (B.A., B.Sc., B.Com.).
• Candidate must have secured the 1st rank at the university level in Honours undergraduate courses (specified subjects).
• Must have secured a minimum of 60% marks in the undergraduate degree.
• Must be admitted to a regular, full-time Master's degree course in a recognised university or postgraduate college.
• Applicable only to students enrolling in their first postgraduate degree.
• Candidate must be 30 years of age or younger at the time of admission to the postgraduate programme.
• Undergraduate degree must be in one of the approved courses: B.Sc. (General), B.A. (General), B.Com. (General), B.Com. (Hons.), or B.Sc. (Hons.) in Botany, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, Zoology, or B.A. (Hons.) in Economics, English, Geography, Hindi, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sanskrit, Sociology, Urdu.

Who cannot apply

• Distance education and correspondence courses are strictly excluded.
• Part-time postgraduate degree courses are not covered.
• Professional courses are excluded from the scheme.
• Students pursuing their second or subsequent postgraduate degree are not eligible.
• Candidates studying subject combinations outside the specified list are not covered.
• Rank holders at the individual college level who are not university toppers are not eligible.

Documents required

• University-issued Rank Certificate verifying undergraduate university topper status (college-level certificates not accepted).
• Undergraduate marksheet and degree certificate proving at least 60% marks.
• Proof of admission to a regular, full-time Master's degree programme.
• Proof of age (such as Class 10 certificate or birth certificate).
• Valid identity proof and active bank account details.
• First-year progress report, statement of expenditure, and utilisation certificate (required for the second-year grant renewal).

How to apply

1. 1Obtain an official university rank certificate confirming your 1st or 2nd rank at the university level in an eligible undergraduate course.
2. 2Visit the official scholarship portal designated for UGC schemes.
3. 3Register as a new applicant by providing basic identity and contact details.
4. 4Fill in the application form with personal, undergraduate academic, and postgraduate admission details.
5. 5Upload scanned copies of the required documents, including the rank certificate and marksheet.
6. 6Submit the online application and download the confirmation copy for institutional verification.

Frequently asked questions