PM Scholarship Scheme (PMSS) 2026: Up to ₹3,000 Monthly Stipend & Eligibility

At a glance

About the scheme

Administered by the Kendriya Sainik Board under the Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence, the Prime Minister's Scholarship Scheme (PMSS) encourages higher technical and professional education among the children and widows of deceased or retired Armed Forces and Coast Guard personnel. Funded by the National Defence Fund, the programme assists 5,500 students each year for approved undergraduate degree courses and select postgraduate courses like MBA and MCA. Financial aid is granted for the entire course duration and credited directly to bank accounts annually through ECS.

Benefits

• Boys receive a scholarship amount of ₹2,500 per month, disbursed annually.
• Girls receive a scholarship amount of ₹3,000 per month, disbursed annually.
• A total of 5,500 scholarships are awarded each academic year, equally split (2,750 for boys and 2,750 for girls).
• Assistance is provided for the full duration of two to five years depending on the regulatory-approved course.
• Payments are transferred directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries via ECS.

Who can apply (eligibility)

• Applicant must be a dependent ward or widow of an Ex-serviceman or Ex-Coast Guard personnel.
• Candidate must have taken admission in the first year of an approved professional degree course during the current academic cycle (lateral entry is not eligible).
• Candidate must have scored at least 60% marks in the Minimum Educational Qualification (10+2, Diploma, or Graduation).
• Eligible professional degree courses include BE, B.Tech, BDS, MBBS, B.Ed, BBA, BCA, B.Pharm, BA.LLB, and integrated courses recognised by AICTE, UGC, or NMC.
• Postgraduate degree courses are not eligible, with the exception of MBA and MCA programmes.
• The scholarship can only be availed for one course per student.
• Selection follows priority categories from Category 1 (killed in action) to Category 6 (wards/widows of PBOR).

Who cannot apply

• Wards of civilians and Para Military Personnel are not eligible.
• Students already studying in their second or subsequent years cannot submit a new application.
• Students pursuing their studies in foreign institutions abroad are excluded.
• Distance education and vocational training courses are not supported under the scheme.

Documents required

• Ex-Servicemen / Ex-Coast Guard Certificate signed by ZSB or Coast Guard HQ as per Annexure-1.
• Bonafide Certificate issued and signed by the head of the educational institution as per Annexure-2.
• Bank certificate confirming the student's Aadhaar is linked to their bank account as per Annexure-3.
• Matriculation certificate for date of birth verification.
• Minimum Educational Qualification (MEQ) marksheets showing all subjects for 10+2, Diploma, or all semesters of Graduation.
• First page of the student's bank passbook (preferably SBI or PNB) clearly showing name, account number, and IFS code.
• Aadhaar Card of the student.
• Original PPO or ESM Identity Card for Category 6, or relevant service/casualty documents (Part II Order, Gen form, POR, or Gallantry Award certificate) for Categories 1 to 5.

How to apply

1. 1Open the official Kendriya Sainik Board portal at www.ksb.gov.in and download Annexures 1, 2, and 3 from the PMSS section.
2. 2Get the downloaded annexures duly filled and certified by the competent authorities without altering the official format.
3. 3Click on Apply Online under the PMSS link and register by submitting Part-1 and Part-2 with the details of the Ex-serviceman.
4. 4Check the registered email address and click on the activation link to activate your user profile.
5. 5Log in to your dashboard on online.ksb.gov.in using the generated login ID and password.
6. 6Select New Application, choose Prime Minister Scholarship Scheme, and complete Part-1, Part-2, and Part-3 of the form.
7. 7Upload clean scanned copies of all original documents and a passport-size photograph in the designated fields.
8. 8Click Save and Forward to officially submit your application for verification by the respective Zila Sainik Board.

Frequently asked questions