Engineering (JEE / GATE) Scholarships
11 scholarships · 3 categories
India has one of the most generous scholarship ecosystems for engineering aspirants and students. Government scholarships cover tuition, hostel, and maintenance allowances. Private foundation scholarships add merit-based stipends. Most scholarships require JEE rank or Class 10/12 board marks as eligibility.
Government Scholarships
Funded by the Government of India or state governments. Most are renewable and cover full tuition.
Central Sector Scholarship (CSS)
Ministry of Education, Government of India
Amount: ₹12,000/year (1st & 2nd year) + ₹20,000/year (3rd & 4th year)
Deadline: October–November (NSP portal)
Eligibility: Class 12 marks above 80th percentile of respective board; family income ≤ ₹8 lakh/year
Post-Matric Scholarship (SC/ST/OBC)
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
Amount: Full tuition + maintenance allowance (₹230–₹1,200/month)
Deadline: September–November (NSP portal)
Eligibility: SC/ST/OBC students in recognized institutions; family income limits apply
ISHAN UDAY (North-East Students)
University Grants Commission (UGC)
Amount: ₹5,400/month (day scholars) + ₹7,800/month (hostellers)
Deadline: November (NSP portal)
Eligibility: Domicile of North-East states; enrolled in regular degree courses
AICTE Pragati Scholarship (Girls)
AICTE
Amount: ₹50,000/year (tuition fee reimbursement)
Deadline: November (AICTE portal)
Eligibility: Girl students admitted to AICTE-approved programs; family income ≤ ₹8 lakh/year; only one girl per family
AICTE Saksham Scholarship (PwD)
AICTE
Amount: ₹50,000/year
Deadline: November (AICTE portal)
Eligibility: Students with ≥40% disability in AICTE-approved programs; family income ≤ ₹8 lakh/year
Private & Foundation Scholarships
Offered by corporate CSR initiatives and private foundations. Selection is highly competitive.
Tata Scholarship (Cornell University)
Tata Trusts
Amount: Full tuition + living expenses (for Cornell, US)
Deadline: As per Cornell application deadlines
Eligibility: Indian citizen admitted to Cornell University; family income ≤ ₹5 lakh/year; JEE/board merit
Reliance Foundation Undergraduate Scholarships
Reliance Foundation
Amount: ₹4 lakh/year (top 100 scholars)
Deadline: January–February (RF portal)
Eligibility: JEE Advanced rank within 10,000 or 75%+ in Class 12 boards; family income ≤ ₹15 lakh/year
Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY)
Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
Amount: ₹5,000–₹7,000/month + annual contingency ₹20,000–₹28,000
Deadline: July–August (KVPY portal)
Eligibility: Class 11–UG (Science) students; KVPY aptitude test + interview; 75% in Class 10/12
INSPIRE Scholarship (SHE)
Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India
Amount: ₹80,000/year (₹60,000 scholarship + ₹20,000 mentorship grant)
Deadline: October–November
Eligibility: Top 1% in Class 12 boards OR top 10,000 in JEE/NEET; pursuing BSc/BS in Natural Sciences
IIT Institute Scholarships
Scholarships awarded directly by IITs to their own students.
Institute Free Missionship (IFM)
IITs (all campuses)
Amount: Full tuition fee waiver + ₹1,000/month stipend
Deadline: Automatic at admission
Eligibility: Family income ≤ ₹5 lakh/year; automatically considered at time of JEE Advanced rank declaration
Merit-cum-Means (MCM) Scholarship
IITs (all campuses)
Amount: ₹1,000/month + full tuition waiver for lowest income students
Deadline: Each semester at the institute
Eligibility: Good CGPA (typically 6.5+) + family income ≤ ₹4.5 lakh/year; applied each semester
Application Tips
- Apply on the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) — most government scholarships are centralised here
- Keep income certificates and caste certificates ready before application season (Sep–Nov)
- Register your Aadhaar-linked bank account before applying — most scholarships require direct bank transfer
- Apply for multiple scholarships simultaneously — there is no restriction unless explicitly stated
- Renew on time every year — missing renewal deadlines causes cancellation
Important Points
- NSP portal is the single gateway for Central and most State government scholarships
- KVPY / INSPIRE are specifically for science stream — do not apply as an engineering student without checking eligibility
- Private scholarships often have earlier deadlines (January–March) than government ones (October–November)
- IIT fee waivers are income-based and happen at admission — no separate application needed
Apply via National Scholarship Portal
Central government scholarships are available at scholarships.gov.in. Application season is typically September–November. Register early to avoid last-minute issues.
Preparing for Engineering?
A SkillMonster Guide will help you build a study plan, hit your target score, and advise on scholarship eligibility alongside your preparation.