PM-USP-CSSS

Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University students

5.9/10

The Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme provides essential financial support to meritorious students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, helping them cover their higher education costs. Scholarships are awarded based on the results of the Class 12th Board Exam, with amounts set at ₹12,000 per annum for undergraduate studies and ₹20,000 per annum for postgraduate studies. Additionally, students enrolled in professional courses that extend to five years can receive ₹20,000 per annum during their fourth and fifth years. The funds are directly transferred to the beneficiaries' Aadhaar-linked bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), ensuring a seamless disbursal process. To qualify, applicants must be among the top 80th percentile in their Class 12th examinations, pursue regular degree courses at recognized institutions, and have a family income not exceeding ₹4,50,000 per annum. Renewal of the scholarship requires maintaining at least 50% marks and 75% attendance in subsequent years. This initiative aims to empower students across India by alleviating financial burdens and promoting access to higher education.

Central Cash

States / UT: All India

Ministry / nodal: Ministry of Education

Nodal department: Department Of Higher Education

Scheme for: Individual

Scheme profile

DBT (direct benefit transfer): Yes

Categories: Education & Learning

Sub-categories: Scholarships and student finance

Target beneficiaries: Individual

Tags: Scholarship, Student, Financial Assistance, College, University

Details

"Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students" is a Scholarship Scheme by the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education. The primary objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to meritorious students from poor families to meet a part of their day-to-day expenses while pursuing higher studies. The scholarships are awarded based on the results of the Higher Secondary/ Class 12th Board Examination. A maximum of 82,000 fresh scholarships per annum are provided for pursuing Graduate/ Postgraduate degrees in colleges and universities and for professional courses, such as Medical, Engineering etc.

Benefits

Rate of Scholarship
₹12,000/-per annum at the Graduation level for the first three years of College and University courses
₹20,000 per annum at the Post-graduation level
₹20,000/-per annum in the 4th and 5th year to the Students pursuing professional courses, in case, where the duration of the course is five (5) years/Integrated course
Students pursuing technical courses such as B.Tech, B.Engg. will get scholarship up to graduation level only i.e. ₹12,000 p.a. for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year and ₹20,000 in the 4th year. Mode of Disbursal The scholarship will be disbursed directly into the Aadhar seeded bank accounts of the beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)

Rate of Scholarship

₹12,000/-per annum at the Graduation level for the first three years of College and University courses.
₹20,000 per annum at the Post-graduation level.
₹20,000/-per annum in the 4th and 5th year to the Students pursuing professional courses, in case, where the duration of the course is five (5) years/Integrated course.
Students pursuing technical courses such as B.Tech, B.Engg. will get scholarship up to graduation level only i.e. ₹12,000 p.a. for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year and ₹20,000 in the 4th year.

Mode of Disbursal
The scholarship will be disbursed directly into the Aadhar seeded bank accounts of the beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

Eligibility

The applicant must be above the 80th percentile of successful candidates in the relevant stream from the respective Board of Examination in Class 12th of 10+2 pattern or equivalent.
The applicant must be pursuing regular degree courses.
The applicant must be pursuing courses at colleges/ institutions recognized by the All India Council for Technical Education and the respective Regulatory Bodies concerned.
The gross parental/ family income of the applicant should not exceed ₹4,50,000/- per annum.
For renewal of scholarship in each year of study, besides getting at least 50% marks in the Annual Examination, maintenance of adequate attendance should be at least 75%.
The students are required to have Aadhaar seeded bank accounts opened in their name.

Exclusions

Students who are pursuing correspondence or distance mode or pursuing Diploma courses are not eligible.
Students who are already availing the benefit from any other scholarship schemes including State-run scholarship schemes/ fee waiver & reimbursement schemes are not eligible.

How useful is this scheme?

Public benefit analysis

A practical look at this scheme for citizens

AI-generated insights showing how useful, accessible, and practical this scheme may be — combining deterministic scoring rules with a public-policy LLM analyst.

5.9

/ 10

Public Benefit Score

Accessibility 6.0/10 Moderate

Rural usefulness 3.0/10 Challenging

Application complexity 6.5/10 Moderate

Financial impact 6.0/10 Moderate

Literacy barrier 6.0/10 Moderate

Women inclusivity 7.0/10 Good

Awareness 8.5/10 Good

Implementation reliability 8.0/10 Good

Bigger shape means a better fit for citizens

Accessibility6.0
Financial impact6.0
Rural utility3.0
Awareness8.5
Simplicity3.5
Inclusivity7.0

What problem does this scheme solve?

The scheme provides essential financial support to meritorious students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, facilitating access to higher education.

Key challenges addressed

Financial assistance for higher education
Support for students from poor families

Most beneficial for

Students from low-income families
Meritorious students pursuing higher education

Likely challenges

Complex application process for first-time applicants
Digital dependency may hinder access for some

Practical insights for citizens

While the scheme is beneficial, its effectiveness is hampered by application complexity and digital barriers.

Rural challenges

Limited internet access
Lack of awareness about the scheme

Digital challenges

Dependence on digital literacy for application
Need for Aadhaar-linked bank accounts

Implementation bottlenecks

Verification delays
Potential issues with Direct Benefit Transfer

Awareness challenges

Limited outreach in rural areas
Need for better communication strategies

Application analysis

Application mode: Online portal
Documents burden: Minimal, primarily educational and income-related documents
Verification complexity: Moderate, involves multiple levels of verification
Office dependency: Low, primarily online
DBT dependency: High, relies on Aadhaar-linked bank accounts
CSC support: Limited
Estimated citizen effort: Moderate, requires navigating online processes

Estimated beneficiary reach

Rural / urban reach Moderate
Gender reach Balanced
Target income group Families with income not exceeding ₹4,50,000 per annum
Occupation reach Students in higher education

Benefit analysis

Benefit type: Cash
Benefit frequency: Annual
Benefit practicality: Practical for students in need of financial support for education
Financial meaningfulness: Significant, especially for low-income families
Long-term impact: Positive, as it promotes higher education and skill development

Plain-language guidance

This scholarship helps students from low-income families pay for college and university. To apply, you need to be among the top performers in your Class 12 exams.

Who should apply: Students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds pursuing higher education.
Who may struggle: First-time applicants and those with limited digital skills.
Best application route: Apply via the National Scholarships Portal with your Aadhaar details.

This intelligence section is generated by an AI policy analyst combined with rule-based scoring. Scores and narrative are estimates derived from the publicly available scheme information shown on this page; actual experience may vary by state, district, and department. Always confirm details on the official portal before you apply.

Application Process

Online

One Time Registration (OTR)
Step 1: Visit the National Scholarships Portal (NSP) One Time Registration page and Click on “Apply for OTR”
Step 2: Guidelines for OTR will appear. Scroll to the bottom. Read carefully the undertaking. Accept the Terms. Click “Next”.
Step 3: Register your active mobile number in the OTR registration form. All correspondence/communication will be done on the submitted mobile/e-mail only.
Step 4: Complete Aadhaar e-KYC by entering Parent/Legal Guardian/Student Aadhaar number. Submit the OTP received and Click “verify”
Step 5: Enter details on the next page and click “Finish”. You will receive a Reference Number. Download the NSP OTR App and the Aadhaar FaceRD App from Google Play Store and complete face authentication for generating OTR.
Step 6: On successful face authentication, your 14-digit OTR number will be generated and sent via SMS.

Fresh Application
Step 1: Visit the Applicant Login page of the National Scholarships Portal. Select “OTR Login” and enter your OTR number and password.
Step 2: Type the Captcha and click “Login”.
Step 3: On the next screen, provide the OTP received on your registered mobile number. You will be directed to the Password Reset screen. Create a new password and confirm.
Step 4: Click “Submit”. You will be directed to the “Applicant’s Dashboard”.
Step 5: On the left pane, click “Application Form”. The fields marked as * are compulsory. Fill in the details and upload the documents. The verification of credentials of the students (caste, educational qualifications etc.) will be done through the DIGILOCKER facility of the MeitY, Govt. of India.
Step 6: You can either click on “Save as Draft” to complete the application later. Else, click “Final Submit” to apply.

Track Payment Status
The student can track their payment status from the template “Know Your Payment” in the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) Portal either by indicating their Aadhaar Number, Bank Account number or NSP Application ID.
NOTE 1: The National Scholarships Portal will provide the timelines for opening & closing of the portal.
NOTE 2: Online applications will be verified at two levels i.e. by the Institute, where the student is studying and thereafter by the concerned State Higher Education Department or any other Agency/ Official nominated by the State as State Nodal Agency (both for fresh and renewal applicants).
NOTE 3: Students will not be permanently debarred for scholarships due to delay in renewal or verification. However, students will have to submit renewal applications within a cut-off date. Renewal for that year will not be allowed if an applicant misses this deadline. However, students can apply for renewal in the following year if they meet the eligibility conditions.

Grievance Redressal
In case of any grievances/complaints regarding the above scheme, the same may be registered to the following link: http://pgportal.gov.in/grievancenew.aspx other than to the Nodal Officer whose email is available on the NSP portal (Services Tab).

Clarifications

Additional points from the scheme information published on myScheme (not legal advice).

What is the methodology adopted for generating merit list for selecting the beneficiaries under the scheme?: From the eligible applicants, merit list is drawn based on gender (50 boys: 50 girls), stream (3-Science: 1-Commerce: 3-Humanities), Category (SC-15 %, ST-7.5 % and OBC-27 %), and 5 % horizontal reservation is provided for students with Benchmark Disabilities (Disability of 40% or more) from the allocated slots of respective State Education Boards. In case of shortfall in the number of applications, the scholarship slots shall be interoperable among categories (Gen, OBC, SC & ST), gender (Female, Male) and State Quota to maximize use of slots for fresh scholarships with effect from academic year 2022-23, subject to the condition that guidelines of Ministry of Finance and NITI Aayog regarding SC/ST fund allocation of the schemes are adhered to.
What is the rate of scholarship under the scheme?: The rate of scholarship is Rs. 12,000/- per annum at Graduation level for first three years of College and University courses and Rs. 20,000/- per annum at Post-Graduation level. Students pursuing technical courses are paid Rs. 20,000/- per annum in the 4th and 5th year. Students pursing B.Tech/ BE would get scholarship for 4 years only i.e Rs. 12000 per annum for first three years and Rs. 20,000 per annum in the 4th year.
What is the duration of scholarships and criteria for renewal under the scheme?: A student will be eligible for the scholarship for a total duration not exceeding 5 years. A scholarship under the scheme is renewable on year-to-year basis up to Post Graduate level (except for the students pursuing technical courses leading to degree at graduation level). Student must secure at least 50% marks and maintain adequate attendance of at least 75%.
What is the methodology for disbursement of scholarship under the scheme?: Scholarship is disbursed through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode i.e. directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiary. The scholarship amount will be disbursed in the Aadhaar Seeded Bank Account. To have seamless disbursal of scholarships, students are required to seed the Aadhaar with the bank account as mentioned in the application form. The student can track his/her payment status from the template “Know Your Payment” in the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) portal and can also check status on NSP with their login credentials. If the PFMS status is shown as “Success”, then the student is required to check the status of the bank account which was seeded with Aadhaar at the time of transaction.
What precautions are to be exercised while selecting the institution from the drop down menu?: While selecting the course, where he/she is studying, if there are similar courses with difference in course duration, student need to ascertain that they are selecting the right course from their Institute Nodal Officers. If the duration of course is not selected appropriately, then the students will face error during Renewal of application.
What are the documents that are required to be uploaded for applying and verification?: The following documents need to be uploaded on the Portal at the time of application: a. FRESH: 12th Mark Sheet, Family Income Certificate, Category/ caste Certification for reserved category students, Disability Certificate (if applicable) b. RENEWAL: Previous Year Mark Sheet The copy of above-mentioned documents must be provided to the institutes at the time of verification, if sought for by the Institute Nodal Officer (INO).
What is the UID number/ Aadhaar number?: UID number otherwise known as ‘Aadhaar’ number is Unique Identification Number given by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). The Aadhaar Number should be seeded with the Bank Account in which Scholarship Amount is desired to be transferred.
How should I check the status of my application online?: You have to login under the option ‘Student Login’ by entering your Aadhaar number/ OTR number. After login, under the option ‘My Application’, you will be able to view the option ‘Check Your Status’ against your Application ID. Under this option you can check your online application status.
How do I know the name and address of nodal officers at my State Education Board/CBSE/ CISCE?: The name and contact details of the Nodal Officer of the State Education Boards/CBSE/CISCE are available in the Nodal Officers (Scheme Wise) option available under the Public Corner on the home page of National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
Where to lodge complaints/ queries/ grievances regarding scholarship application?: The grievances need to be register on the Grievance Registration Tab available in their Login. All the technical complaints regarding working of the portal/ processing of online application/ verification status, etc. may be addressed to the National Scholarship Portal. Grievances regarding “PM-USP Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students” may be addressed to Department of Higher Education, MoE.
Can students who missed the renewal application deadline on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) still apply for renewal in subsequent years if they meet the eligibility conditions?: Yes, students can apply for renewal in the following year if they meet the eligibility conditions.
How are the total number of scholarships distributed among the State Education Boards?: The total number of scholarships are divided amongst the State Education Boards based on the State’s population in the age group of 18-25 years, after segregating share of CBSE and ICSE on the basis of number of students passing out from various Boards in the country.
How are students from reserved categories, weaker sections, and minorities eligible for reservation benefits in the context of the Central Reservation Policy: Students belonging to reserved categories/weaker sections /minorities etc. are eligible to get benefit of reservation on the basis of merit, subject to Central Reservation Policy [i.e. 15% seats are earmarked for SCs, 7.5% for STs and 27 % for OBCs and 5% horizontal reservation for students with Benchmark Disabilities (Disability of 40% or more) in all the categories].

Official links

References

Guidelines (2024): https://scholarships.gov.in/public/schemeGuidelines/CSSS_GUIDLINES_07022024_updated.pdf
FAQs: https://scholarships.gov.in/public/schemeGuidelines/FAQ_DOHE_CSSS.pdf
User Manual: https://scholarships.gov.in/public/FAQ/training_of_users_nsp.pdf

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Frequently asked questions

What is the purpose of Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University students?: Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University students is a government welfare initiative designed to support Individual, Individual through benefits related to Education & Learning, financial assistance, subsidies, social welfare, healthcare, education, or livelihood support.
Who can apply for Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University students?: Eligibility for Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University students may depend on factors such as income category, age, gender, occupation, state of residence, social category, and government-defined beneficiary criteria.
What benefits are offered under Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University students?: Benefits under Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University students may include financial assistance, subsidies, scholarships, insurance support, healthcare benefits, pension support, training assistance, or welfare services depending on the scheme guidelines.
Which department manages Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University students?: Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University students is managed by Department Of Higher Education and may be implemented through district offices, online portals, CSC centres, banks, or authorised government agencies.
Can users apply online for Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University students?: Yes, eligible applicants may be able to apply online for Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University students through official government portals, authorised service centres, or digital application systems depending on the implementation process.
Is Aadhaar mandatory for Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University students?: Many government schemes may require Aadhaar verification, identity proof, or linked bank account details for beneficiary validation and direct benefit transfer processing.
Where can users apply for Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University students?: Applications for Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University students may be submitted through government departments, official scheme portals, CSC centres, district offices, welfare departments, or authorised service centres.
What documents may be required for Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University students?: Applicants may need Aadhaar card, income certificate, residence proof, bank account details, caste certificate, photographs, educational records, or occupation-related documents depending on scheme eligibility requirements.
Is income certificate required for Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University students?: Income certificate requirements may vary depending on beneficiary category, subsidy eligibility, and financial assistance criteria defined under Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University students.
Is Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University students a central government scheme?: Yes, Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University students is a central government welfare initiative that may be implemented across multiple states through authorised departments and agencies.
Can students apply for Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University students?: Eligible students studying in recognised institutions may apply for Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University students depending on educational qualification, category, income limit, and academic eligibility.
Is scholarship amount provided under Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University students?: Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University students may provide scholarship assistance, tuition support, educational reimbursement, or financial aid for eligible students.
Can CSC centres help users apply for Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University students?: Many government schemes may be accessible through nearby CSC centres, authorised digital service centres, or welfare facilitation offices.
How can users check the latest updates for Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University students?: Users should verify official notifications, department announcements, application deadlines, and eligibility updates through authorised government portals or implementing agencies.
Can beneficiaries track application status for Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University students?: Certain schemes may provide online application tracking, beneficiary verification systems, or status-check facilities through official portals.
Where can users get help for Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University students in All India?: Users in All India may seek assistance through CSC centres, district welfare offices, government departments, agriculture offices, social welfare departments, or authorised facilitation centres.
Which nearby public services may help with Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University students applications?: Depending on the scheme, users may require support from Aadhaar centres, CSC centres, banks, hospitals, post offices, or government welfare offices for document verification and application assistance.