National Scholarship Portal (NSP) 2026-27: Last Dates, OTR, Schemes
by National Scholarship Portal, Government of India
- Register by
- 31 Oct 2026
- Where
- Online
- Prizes
- Varies by scheme; paid by DBT
- Who can join
- Students from Class 9 to PhD; criteria vary by scheme; Aadhaar-based OTR needed
The National Scholarship Portal (NSP, scholarships.gov.in) is the Government of India's single portal for central scholarship schemes, from Class 9 to PhD. It has been open for academic year 2026-27 since 1 June 2026. As of 24 October 2026, the student application last date for most central schemes, including AICTE Pragati, Saksham and Swanath, PM YASASVI Top Class (college) and CSSS renewals, is 31 October 2026.
Key dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| NSP open for academic year 2026-27 | 1 June 2026 | Announced |
| Student application last date (most central schemes) | 31 October 2026 | Announced |
| Defective application re-submission and institute verification | 15 November 2026 | Announced |
| District/State/Ministry nodal officer verification | 30 November 2026 | Announced |
| PM YASASVI Top Class Education in Schools: applications | 22 October to 30 November 2026 | Announced |
| PM YASASVI Top Class in Schools: institute verification / nodal verification | 15 December 2026 / 31 December 2026 | Announced |
Schemes for college students with last date 31 October 2026
| Scheme | Ministry / body | Opened |
|---|---|---|
| AICTE Pragati (girls, technical degree and diploma) | AICTE | 1 June 2026 |
| AICTE Saksham (specially-abled, degree and diploma) | AICTE | 1 June 2026 |
| AICTE Swanath (degree and diploma) | AICTE | 1 June 2026 |
| PM YASASVI Top Class Education in College for OBC, EBC and DNT students | Department of Social Justice and Empowerment | 1 June 2026 |
| Top Class Education for SC Students | Department of Social Justice and Empowerment | 1 June 2026 |
| PM-USP Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship (CSSS), renewal only | Department of Higher Education | 1 June 2026 |
| National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies | UGC / Department of Higher Education | 16 September 2026 |
| Pre-Matric, Post-Matric and Top Class scholarships for students with disabilities | Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities | 25 July 2026 (pre/post-matric); 1 June 2026 (top class) |
| ICAR National Talent Scholarship (UG and PG) | Department of Agricultural Research and Education | 1 June 2026 |
| Prime Minister's Scholarship Scheme (CAPF and Assam Rifles; Railways; martyred state police) | MHA / Ministry of Railways | 1 June 2026 |
| National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (school students) | Department of School Education and Literacy | 1 June 2026 |
As of 24 October 2026, fresh applications for CSSS are not yet open on NSP; only renewals are. Minority Affairs scholarship schemes do not appear in NSP's 2026-27 central scheme list.
One Time Registration (OTR)
- OTR is a unique 14-digit number based on your Aadhaar or Aadhaar Enrolment ID (EID). It is valid for your whole academic career.
- OTR has been required to apply on NSP since academic year 2024-25.
- OTR is generated with face authentication through the NSP OTR app on the Google Play Store. You need an active mobile number and the mobile number linked with Aadhaar.
- If face authentication fails with error 904, update the UIDAI AadhaarFaceRD app. If your Aadhaar biometrics are locked, unlock them through mAadhaar or the myAadhaar portal before trying again.
- Common Service Centres (CSCs) can do the whole process for you, including OTR and the application form, for a fixed total charge of ₹30.
New rule from 2026-27: how many scholarships you can apply for
From academic year 2026-27, NSP says a student may apply for one merit-based scheme and one or more welfare-based schemes, as per each scheme's eligibility. Individual scheme guidelines can still restrict this. For example, the CSSS guidelines exclude students already getting a state scholarship or fee reimbursement. Check the guideline of each scheme you choose.
How to apply on NSP
- Generate your OTR using the NSP OTR app (Aadhaar or EID, face authentication).
- Log in at scholarships.gov.in with your OTR number. Your personal details are fetched from OTR.
- Select your domicile state and the category of scholarship (for example, Post-Matric) to create an Application ID.
- Fill in academic, category and bank details, select the scheme, upload the documents and click Final Submit.
- Ask your institute to verify the application before 15 November 2026. After that, the state or district nodal officer verifies it by 30 November 2026.
- Track payment through "Know Your Payment" on the PFMS portal using your Aadhaar, bank account or NSP Application ID.
Students with disabilities must first log in to the UDID portal and consent to share their UDID details. Otherwise, NSP will not accept their application.
Tips for Maharashtra students
- Maharashtra's own post-matric scholarships and fee schemes (SC, OBC, VJNT, SBC, EBC, Panjabrao Deshmukh hostel allowance) are applied for on MahaDBT 2.0, not NSP.
- Choose your institute carefully by its AISHE code. A wrong selection can lead to non-verification, and that cannot be corrected later.
- Your name and your father's name must match exactly across Aadhaar, your marksheet and NSP. A mismatch can stop the scheme from appearing for you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the NSP last date for 2026-27?
For most central schemes on NSP, including AICTE Pragati, Saksham and Swanath, PM YASASVI Top Class (college) and CSSS renewals, the student application last date is 31 October 2026. Institute verification closes on 15 November 2026.
What is OTR on the National Scholarship Portal?
OTR (One Time Registration) is a 14-digit number generated from your Aadhaar or Aadhaar Enrolment ID. You need it to apply for any scholarship on NSP, and it stays valid for your whole academic career.
Can I apply for more than one scholarship on NSP?
From 2026-27, NSP allows one merit-based scheme plus one or more welfare-based schemes, subject to each scheme's own eligibility rules.
Can a CSC fill my NSP form?
Yes. NSP services are available at Common Service Centres for a total charge of ₹30, which covers OTR generation with biometric authentication and filling the full application.
How do I check if my NSP scholarship has been paid?
Use "Know Your Payment" on the PFMS portal with your Aadhaar number, bank account number or NSP Application ID. You can also check the status after logging in to NSP.
Official sources
- National Scholarship Portal: home and announcements
- NSP: Schemes on NSP with 2026-27 timelines
- NSP: student announcements
- Ministry of Education: CSSS FAQs (OTR and application steps)
- PFMS: Know Your Payment
Last checked 24 October 2026. Dates can change; always confirm on the official website.