For college and university students, the University Grants Commission (UGC) offers four scholarship schemes: the Ishan Uday Special Scholarship for North Eastern Region (UGC Ishan Uday or UGC NER), the PG Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child (UGC single girl child scholarship), the PG Scholarship for University Rank Holders, and the PG Scholarship for SC, ST Students Pursuing Professional Courses.
These scholarships must be applied through the National Scholarship Portal - scholarships.gov.in/
Here are more details about the four UGC scholarships, including eligibility, scholarship amount, and other details.
Ishan Uday Scholarship, UGC (University Grants Commission)
The Ishan Uday Scholarship is a unique scholarship scheme for students in India's North East Region (NER). It was first distributed by the UGC in the 2014-15 academic year. The National Scholarship Portal (NSP) now hosts applications. The UGC Ishan Uday scholarship aims to provide equitable opportunities for higher education to students of the North East, raise the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER), and place a greater emphasis on professional education in the region.
Number of scholarships under the scheme: 10,000
Scholarship amount: Rs.5400 per month for general degree courses and Rs.7800 per month for technical, medical, professional, and paramedical courses
Last Date to Apply: 30th November
PG Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child
The UGC established the PG Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child to highlight the importance of observance of the small family norm and to promote the education of single girl child in postgraduate courses.
This scholarship scheme is open to girl students who do not have a brother or who are twin daughters or fraternal daughters.
Number of scholarships under the scheme: 3000
Scholarship amount: Rs.36200 per annum (for two years, which is the full duration of a PG course)
Last Date to Apply: 30th November
UGC Scholarship for University Rank Holders
The PG Scholarship for University Rank Holders is for postgraduate students who have demonstrated “outstanding performance” at the undergraduate level. Professional and distance learning programmes, on the other hand, are not covered under the scheme.
First and second rank holders of a university who have enrolled in a normal, full-time master's degree course at any recognized university, deemed university, private university, autonomous college, or postgraduate college are eligible to apply for this scholarship.
Number of scholarships under the scheme: 3000
Scholarship amount: Rs.3100 per month (for two years, which is the duration of a PG course)
Last Date to Apply: 30th November
Postgraduate SC/ST Scholarship Scheme
The UGC's PG Scholarship Scheme for SC/ ST Students for Professional Courses aims to provide financial help to students from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) to pursue higher education in Professional courses. Candidates who have been admitted into MA, MSc, MCom, MSW, or Mass Communication and Journalism programmes are not eligible for this scholarship. These courses are classified as non-professional courses
Number of scholarships under the scheme: 1000
Scholarship amount: Rs.7800 per month for ME, MTech courses, Rs.4500 per month for other courses
Last Date to Apply: 30th November
Note: These scholarships will be very helpful to brilliant and ambitious students living in rural as well as urban areas.