Online applications for the Central Sector Scholarship for College and University Students are open for the year 2023-24, as well as renewals for previous years. You can apply on the National Scholarship Portal for both fresh applications and renewals.

As per the official circular released on the CBSE website, the last date for submitting your online application, whether it’s for a renewal or a fresh scholarship for the year 2023-24, is December 31, 2023.

If you want to learn more about this scholarship, check out the article below. It will give you all the details you need to know about the Central Sector Scholarship Scheme, including the scholarship’s aim, important dates, eligibility, award, and how to apply.

What is the Central Sector Scholarship Scheme?

The “Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students” has been aiding students since 2008. Its goal is to provide financial aid to bright students to help with their everyday expenses while they’re in college or university.

Every year, around 82,000 graduate and postgraduate students get this scholarship. They can receive up to INR 20,000 each year until they finish their studies.

Central Sector Scholarship at Glance

Advantages & Duration

If you are pursuing a graduation course and in the first three years of college or university for regular courses, you’ll receive Rs. 12,000 per year as the Central Sector Scholarship. At the post-graduate level, the scholarship award will be Rs. 20,000 per year.

If you’re in a professional course lasting five years or an integrated course, you will be awarded Rs. 20,000 per year in the fourth and fifth year. But if you are pursuing a technical course like B.Tech or B.E., you will receive the scholarship only up to graduation level – Rs. 12,000 per year for the first three years and Rs. 20,000 in the fourth year.

Eligibility Criteria – Who Can Apply for the Central Sector Scholarship?

To be eligible for this scholarship:

1. You have scored 80% or more in your relevant stream (like science, commerce, or humanities) in your Class 12 board exams.
2. You must be enrolled in a regular course, not a correspondence or distance learning program.
3. Your family’s yearly income must be below Rs. 4.5 lakh.
4. You should not be already receiving any other scholarships or fee reimbursements.
5. Diploma students are not qualified for this scholarship.
6. The bank account you provide should be in your name.

Renewal Criteria for the Central Sector Scholarship

1. To renew your scholarship each year, you must not only score at least 50% in your annual exams of the course but also maintain a minimum attendance of 75%.
2. Any complaints about your behavior, like undisciplined actions or criminal conduct, including involvement in ragging, can result in losing the scholarship.
3. To apply for fresh or renewal scholarships, you should do it online at the National Scholarships Portal (www.scholarships.gov.in). 
4. Sending fresh or renewal applications directly to the Ministry of Education won’t be accepted.

How Do You Get Selected for the Central Sector Scholarship?

Gender: The merit list aims for a balance of 50% boys and 50% girls. (50 boys : 50 girls)

Stream: It considers the educational stream, with a ratio of 3 Science students to 1 Commerce student to 3 Humanities students.  (3-Science : 1-Commerce : 3-Humanities)

Category: The list of selected students maintains diversity by allocating 15% to SC (Scheduled Caste), 7.5% to ST (Scheduled Tribe), and 27% to OBC (Other Backward Classes).

Persons with Disabilities: 5% of the scholarships are reserved for individuals with disabilities (PwDs) from the allocated quota of individual State Education Boards.

In case there’s a shortage of applications in a particular category, scholarship slots may be shifted to balance the distribution.

Documents Required for Registration

There are a few required documents that the applicants must keep with them at the time of the application process. The needed documents for the Central Sector Scholarship for students are mentioned below.

• A Bank passbook issued in the name of the applicant for submitting bank details.
• Aadhaar card number. In case an Aadhaar is not yet assigned, alternatives like Aadhaar enrollment ID slip, voter ID card, driving license, PAN, passport etc. can be used.
• Income certificate issued by the competent authority.
• Disability certificate, if applicable.
• Class 12 mark sheet.
• Class 10 mark sheet.

How to Apply for the Central Sector Scholarship? A Step-by-Step Process

• Visit the official website of National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
• If you’re applying to NSP for the first time, you’ll need to register. Fill in all the required information and click “Register.” This generates a student application ID and password, sent to your registered mobile number.
• Use your newly generated ID and password to log in to NSP. You’ll receive an OTP on your registered mobile number, which you’ll use to change your password.
• After successful login, you’ll reach the Applicant’s Dashboard. Click on the Application form to start your scholarship application.
• Fill in all the necessary details, including registration, academic background, personal information, contact details, and scholarship-related information.
• Don’t forget to upload all required documents to prove your identity and academic eligibility.
• Once you’ve double-checked everything, click “Submit” to send your completed scholarship application.
• Following these steps, you can easily complete your Central Sector Scholarship application via the National Scholarship Portal.
  
  

Please note that the online scholarship applications submitted by candidates undergo two levels of verification. The first level happens at the candidate’s institute, where they are currently studying. The second level of verification takes place at the education board that conducts the candidate’s class 12 exams.

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