Complete Guide — MBA Scholarships in India (Central + State-wise)
Everything MBA aspirants need: scholarship options, who’s eligible, how to apply, direct links and a ready checklist.
Quick summary: Most central scholarships and many state schemes accept applications via the National Scholarship Portal (NSP / scholarships.gov.in) — but some schemes (AICTE, UGC, state portals) have their own application pages. Use NSP as the first stop; then follow scheme-specific links below. Scholarships.gov.in+1
Table of contents
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Central (National) scholarships relevant to MBA students
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How & where to apply (process overview)
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State scholarship portals — single table with direct links (all states & UTs)
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Eligibility checklist for MBA applicants (common conditions)
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Step-by-step application checklist & tips (for faster approval / DBT)
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Useful links & resources
1) Central scholarships relevant to MBA students (summary table)
Note: A number of central schemes are administered through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). Others are run by separate Central bodies (AICTE, UGC, Ministry of Education). Below are the most relevant schemes MBA / PG management students should check. Always confirm scheme deadlines on the official page before applying. Scholarships.gov.in+1
| Scholarship / Scheme | Who it’s for (short) | Typical benefit | How to apply (link) |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Scholarship Portal (various Central schemes) — umbrella | Many central scholarships (pre/post-matric, top-class, minority, reserved categories) — portal houses scheme list | Varies by scheme; DBT to bank account | Apply via NSP: https://scholarships.gov.in/ (Portal landing & schemes list). Scholarships.gov.in+1 |
| Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College & University Students | Meritorious students from low-income families (UG/PG) | Financial assistance (varies) | NSP / scheme page on NSP. VNIT+1 |
| AICTE Pragati (for girl students) & Saksham (for differently-abled) | Students in AICTE-approved institutions — Pragati (girl students); Saksham (differently-abled) | One-time / annual support for tuition/expenses | AICTE Pragati / Saksham portal: https://www.aicte-pragati-saksham-gov.in/ and AICTE scheme page. aicte-pragati-saksham-gov.in+1 |
| UGC Post-Graduate Scholarships / PG Merit Schemes | Specific UGC PG scholarship categories (e.g., Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child; PG Merit for rank holders) — check eligibility per scheme | Fixed stipend / yearly amount (scheme dependent) | UGC official site (list/guidelines) + scheme pages. https://www.ugc.gov.in/ ugc.gov.in+1 |
| Top Class Education Scheme (for students with disability / reserved categories) | Students with disabilities / reserved categories who meet merit criterias | Fee support, maintenance allowance | NSP or Ministry pages — see NSP schemes list. Scholarships.gov.in+1 |
| Department / Ministry Fellowships & Category Scholarships (SC/ST/OBC/Minority) | Category-based (SC/ST/OBC/Minorities) post-matric & postgraduate scholarships | Variable (tuition / maintenance) via NSP | NSP (Post Matric / Minority schemes) or respective ministry portal. Scholarships.gov.in |
Notes:
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Not every “MBA-specific” scholarship is labelled “MBA” — many central schemes are for any higher education (UG/PG/professional). If your MBA college is AICTE-approved, you may be eligible for AICTE student schemes (Pragati/Saksham) if you meet the criteria. AICTE
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For Merit-based national awards, also check UGC/central ministries for occasional scholarships/fellowships that apply to PG professional courses. ugc.gov.in
2) How & where to apply — process overview (step-by-step)
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Start at the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) — it lists many central schemes and acts as a single sign-on (One Time Registration / OTR). Create OTR using Aadhaar / Aadhaar EID. Scholarships.gov.in+1
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Check scheme eligibility & documents on the scheme page (income limits, domicile, course-level, institution approval like AICTE/UGC). If the scheme is run outside NSP, follow the scheme link (AICTE / UGC run their own portals). AICTE+1
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Fill application (fresh/renewal) → upload scanned documents: Aadhaar, degree/marksheet, admission/fee receipt/bonafide certificate, bank details (pre-validated), and caste / minority / disability certificates if applicable. Scholarships.gov.in
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Institute verification → District / State / Central Nodal verification (NSP workflow). Keep contact with college’s scholarship nodal officer. Scholarships.gov.in
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Funds transferred via DBT to student’s bank account (PFMS/DBT systems used). Ensure bank A/C is active and Aadhaar seeded to bank account to avoid delays. Scholarships.gov.in
3) State scholarship portals — official government links (all states & UTs)
Below is the updated table of official state portals. If your state doesn’t have a separate portal, applications are usually routed through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) → https://scholarships.gov.in/.
4) Common eligibility rules for MBA students (what to check)
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Admission & enrollment: You must be admitted to a recognized / approved institution (UGC/AICTE recognized where applicable). Many schemes require institution approval. AICTE+1
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Course-level requirement: Schemes differ — some only for students in regular full-time courses (not distance) or for PG/Professional courses. Confirm before applying. Scholarships.gov.in
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Marks / Merit / Income: Some central schemes require minimum % (merit) and/or family income ceiling (e.g., Central Sector Scheme or minority scholarships). Check exact numbers on the scheme page. VNIT+1
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Category proofs: SC/ST/OBC/minority/differently-abled candidates must upload valid certificates. Scholarships.gov.in
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Domicile / State residency: For state scholarships, you often must be domicile of that state (or the family must be). Check state portal rules. Scholarships.gov.in+1
5) Step-by-step application checklist (documents & tips)
Documents to keep scanned and ready (PDF/JPG)
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Aadhaar card (or Aadhaar Enrolment ID) — for OTR on NSP. Scholarships.gov.in
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Bank passbook / canceled cheque (account must be in student’s name; if joint account, check scheme rules). Scholarships.gov.in
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Admission / fee receipt / bonafide certificate from college. Scholarships.gov.in
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Mark sheets (last qualifying exam) & degree certificates. Scholarships.gov.in
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Caste / minority / disability certificate (if applicable). Scholarships.gov.in
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Income certificate (if scheme has income limit). Scholarships.gov.in
Application tips
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Use NSP One Time Registration (OTR) — it’s valid across many central schemes. Scholarships.gov.in
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If your institution is private, ensure the college nodal officer validates your application on NSP rapidly (delays often happen at institute verification step). Scholarships.gov.in
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Ensure Aadhaar is linked to bank (many DBT transfers fail without Aadhaar seeding). Scholarships.gov.in
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Keep copies of application/acknowledgement numbers; follow up with institute nodal officer if institute verification is delayed. Scholarships.gov.in
6) Useful official links & resources (quick list)
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National Scholarship Portal (NSP) — central hub & list of schemes: https://scholarships.gov.in/ . Start here for most central schemes. Scholarships.gov.in
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NSP — Schemes list: https://scholarships.gov.in/All-Scholarships. Scholarships.gov.in
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AICTE — Pragati / Saksham scholarship portal: https://www.aicte-pragati-saksham-gov.in/ and AICTE scheme pages. (If your MBA institute is AICTE-approved, check eligibility.) aicte-pragati-saksham-gov.in+1
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UGC (Higher education / PG scholarships & fellowship pages): https://www.ugc.gov.in/ — check PG scholarship schemes. ugc.gov.in
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Ministry of Education — national scholarships overview: https://www.education.gov.in/ (schemes & portals). Education Ministry
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State scholarship listings & quick navigator: Buddy4Study state scholarship index (consolidated): Scholarships.gov.in+1 Good for quick state-wise links. Scholarships.gov.in+1
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Official example (Odisha state portal): https://scholarship.odisha.gov.in/ — check your own state’s official portal. scholarship.odisha.gov.in
Final tips & next steps (actionable)
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Open NSP and complete One Time Registration (OTR) using your Aadhaar/EID. (This opens most central scheme doors.) Scholarships.gov.in
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Check AICTE & UGC pages if your MBA institute is AICTE-approved or if you meet PG-specific UGC scholarship conditions. AICTE+1
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Visit your State portal (table above / Buddy4Study index) to check state-funded MBA/postgraduate scholarships and domicile-based benefits. Scholarships.gov.in+1
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Gather documents now — Aadhaar, bank details, admission/fee receipts, last marksheets — then apply early to avoid institute verification bottlenecks. Scholarships.gov.in
Scholarships in India: Complete Guide (2025–26) with Official Links
Scholarships in India are designed to support students at every stage of their education – from school to higher studies, in India and abroad. Both the Central Government and State Governments run multiple scholarship schemes. This guide covers state-wise scholarships, class-wise scholarships, type-based scholarships, and special category scholarships, with official application links.
📌 Table of Contents
1. State-Wise Scholarships
Each state has its own set of scholarships based on domicile, caste, category, and income.
🔹 Top Scholarships of Uttar Pradesh
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UP Pre-Matric & Post-Matric Scholarships – https://scholarship.up.gov.in/
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Categories: SC/ST/OBC/Minorities/General (EWS)
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Benefits: Tuition fee + allowance
🔹 Top Scholarships of Maharashtra (MahaDBT)
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Post-Matric Scholarship (SC/ST/OBC/SBC/VJNT/EBC/Minorities) – https://mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in/
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Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj Merit Scholarship
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Government of India Post-Matric Scholarship
🔹 Top Scholarships of Bihar
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Bihar Post Matric Scholarship – https://pmsonline.bihar.gov.in/
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Chief Minister Kanya Utthan Yojana (Girls)
🔹 Top Scholarships of West Bengal
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Oasis Scholarship (SC/ST/OBC) – https://oasis.gov.in/
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Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means Scholarship – https://svmcm.wbhed.gov.in/
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Aikyashree Scholarship (Minorities) – https://wbmdfcscholarship.in/
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Kanyashree Scholarship (Girls) – https://wbkanyashree.gov.in/
🔹 Top Scholarships of Madhya Pradesh
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MP Post Matric Scholarship (SC/ST/OBC) – https://scholarshipportal.mp.nic.in/
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Mukhya Mantri Medhavi Vidyarthi Yojana (MMVY)
🔹 Top Scholarships of Tamil Nadu
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BC/MBC/DNC Scholarships
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Adi Dravidar & Tribal Welfare Department Scholarships
🔹 Top Scholarships of Rajasthan
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Rajasthan Post Matric Scholarship (SC/ST/OBC/EBC/Minorities)
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Portal: https://sje.rajasthan.gov.in/
🔹 Top Scholarships of Karnataka
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SSP Karnataka (Pre-Matric & Post-Matric) – https://ssp.postmatric.karnataka.gov.in/
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Vidyasiri Scholarship
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Fee Concession Schemes for OBC & Minorities
2. Current Class Scholarships
Scholarships are also categorized based on the current level of study.
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Top Scholarships for Class 1 to 10
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NMMS (National Means-cum-Merit) – NSP
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Pre-Matric State Scholarships (SC/ST/Minorities)
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Top Scholarships for Class 11, 12
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CBSE Merit Scholarship
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State Pre-Matric & Minority Schemes
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Top Scholarships for Class 12 Passed Students
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Central Sector Scholarship Scheme – NSP
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State-level Post-Matric Scholarships
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Top Scholarships for Graduation
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UGC/AICTE scholarships for degree students
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State Post-Matric schemes
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Top Scholarships for Post-Graduation (MBA, M.Tech, etc.)
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UGC Merit Scholarship – https://www.ugc.gov.in/
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AICTE Pragati/Saksham – https://www.aicte-pragati-saksham-gov.in/
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Top Scholarships for Diploma/Polytechnic Students
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AICTE scholarships (technical education)
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State polytechnic support schemes
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Top Scholarships for ITI Students
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NCVT/State ITI Scholarships
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SC/ST/OBC fee reimbursement
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Top Scholarships for Girls/Women
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Pragati Scholarship (AICTE – Girls)
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Kanyashree (West Bengal)
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Ladli Lakshmi (MP)
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3. Type-Based Scholarships
Scholarships are also classified by merit, need, community, and talent.
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Merit-Based
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National Talent Search Examination (NTSE)
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State toppers’ scholarships
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Means-Based (Income Criteria)
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NSP Post-Matric Scholarship (SC/ST/OBC/Minorities)
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State Fee reimbursement schemes
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Minority Scholarships
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Maulana Azad Fellowship
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Aikyashree Scholarship (West Bengal)
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Post-Matric Minority Scholarships (NSP)
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Talent-Based
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INSPIRE Scholarship for innovation/research
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Cultural & sports scholarships
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Disability Scholarships
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AICTE Saksham (Differently-abled)
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NSP schemes for PwD students
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4. Top Government Scholarships
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Central Sector Scholarship Scheme – For meritorious students (via NSP)
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AICTE Pragati & Saksham – For girls & differently-abled
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UGC Scholarships – For postgraduate and research students
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PM Scholarship Scheme (PMSS) – For children of ex-servicemen & CAPF
5. Top Scholarships for Engineering Students
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AICTE Pragati/Saksham
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ONGC/OIL/NTPC corporate scholarships
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State engineering fee reimbursement schemes
6. Scholarships for Study Abroad
Indian students planning to study abroad can apply for:
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National Overseas Scholarship (SC/ST) – NSP
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Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship – https://www.usief.org.in/
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Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarships – http://www.inlaksfoundation.org/
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Chevening Scholarships (UK) – https://www.chevening.org/
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DAAD (Germany) – https://www.daad.de/
7. Useful Links & Conclusion
📌 Important Portals:
👉 With so many state-wise, class-wise, and type-based scholarships, students can easily find support for their education. Always apply only through the official portals and keep track of deadlines.