Dr Ambedkar Scholarship 2026-27: Scheme List, Eligibility, Award Amount and How to Apply

Dr Ambedkar Scholarship is not a single scheme. Several central schemes run under this name. Check the complete scheme list, eligibility, award amount and the correct application route for each one.

Dr Ambedkar Scholarship 2026-27: Scheme List, Eligibility, Award Amount and How to ApplyDr Ambedkar Scholarship 2026-27 is a group of central schemes, not one single scholarship.  Dr Ambedkar Foundation, which works under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, runs most of these schemes. Two of them are cash awards for toppers in 10th Class and 12th Class. One offers free coaching for exams like JEE, NEET and CLAT. One is a national essay competition with prize money. Many students look for one form and one last date. There is no such form.

A separate scheme pays loan interest for students going abroad. Two older schemes with the same name have moved into PM YASASVI. Every scheme has its own category rule, its own amount and its own way of applying. In a few of them, you do not apply at all. Here is a scheme by scheme breakdown, with eligibility, award amount, the exact application steps and the helpline numbers.

Dr Ambedkar Scholarship Latest Updates

Dr Ambedkar Foundation presented the Dr Ambedkar National Merit Award on 2 September 2025. The awards covered the 2022 and 2023 board examination years. So there is a gap of two to three years between the exam and the award ceremony. Students should not treat the delay as a rejection.

Dr Ambedkar Post Matric Scholarship for EBC students and the Dr Ambedkar Pre Matric and Post Matric Scholarship for DNT students no longer run under their old names. Both were merged into PM-YASASVI from the 2021-22 session. Fresh applications under the Dr Ambedkar interest subsidy scheme are on hold. Canara Bank has confirmed this on its official page.

What is the Dr Ambedkar Scholarship

Dr Ambedkar Scholarship is a group of schemes named after Dr B R Ambedkar. Dr Ambedkar Foundation runs most of them. The Foundation is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It was set up on 24 March 1992.

There is no single Dr Ambedkar Scholarship application form. Each scheme has its own rules. Some need no application at all. Students can check with institutions such as University of Delhi, Banaras Hindu University and Aligarh Muslim University whether a particular scheme applies to their course.

Dr Ambedkar Scholarship Scheme List

Four Dr Ambedkar schemes are open to students right now. A fifth one is not taking new applications. The table below sets them out clearly.

Many students confuse these with older schemes. Teachers at Jawaharlal Nehru University, University of Mumbai and University of Calcutta often get the same query.

Schemes Merged into PM-YASASVI

Two schemes once carried the Dr Ambedkar name. Both were merged into PM-YASASVI from 2021-22. PM-YASASVI now has five sub-schemes. Applications for these go through the National Scholarship Portal. For the 2026-27 session, the last date for student applications is 31 October 2026.

Which Dr Ambedkar Scholarship Should You Apply For

Your class and your category decide the scheme. Use the table below as a quick filter.

Dr Ambedkar National Merit Award for 10th Class

This award goes to SC and ST students who score the highest marks in the 10th Class board exam. Separate awards are given for SC and for ST.

Eligibility

The student must belong to the SC or ST category. The student must have scored at least 50% marks in aggregate. The exam must be from a recognised State or Central Board. The Foundation counts 29 Boards and Councils for this purpose.

Dr Ambedkar Scholarship Amount for 10th Class

Number of Awards

There are four awards for each of 26 Boards for SC students. That comes to 104 awards. The same count applies for ST students. If two students score the same marks, the number of awards goes up to cover both. Another 250 special merit awards of INR 10,000 each go to students who score next after the top three. Career counselors at Jamia Millia Islamia, Savitribai Phule Pune University and Osmania University often point students to this award after board results.

Dr Ambedkar National Merit Award for 12th Class

This award is only for SC students. ST students are not covered at the 12th Class level.

Eligibility

The student must belong to the SC category. The student needs at least 50% marks in aggregate in the Senior Secondary exam. The exam can be from a recognised State or Central Board, CISCE or NIOS.

Stream Wise Dr Ambedkar Scholarship Award Amount

Awards are given in four streams. These are Arts, Science with Mathematics, Science with Biology, and Commerce.

There are 12 awards for each of the 29 Boards. Three of these are all-India Boards.

Special Award for Girl Students

After the top three positions, the next girl student with the highest marks in each stream gets INR 20,000. This is over and above the main awards. Students heading to Panjab University, Anna University or University of Madras after 12th Class can still claim the award later, since the money is not tied to any course.

Dr Ambedkar Centre of Excellence Free Coaching Scheme

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment runs a free coaching scheme for SC students, OBC students and PM CARES Children Scheme beneficiaries. Dr Ambedkar Foundation has been the implementing body since 2023-24. The coaching centres are called Dr Ambedkar Centre of Excellence, or DACE. They run inside empanelled Central Universities. Around 3,500 students are selected every year.

Exams Covered

Coaching is offered for a wide set of exams.

• Group A and B exams of UPSC, SSC, State Public Service Commissions and Railway Recruitment Boards

• Officers' grade exams of banks, insurance companies and public sector undertakings

• Entrance exams such as IIT-JEE, NEET, CAT and CLAT

• SAT, GRE, GMAT, IELTS and TOEFL

• NDA, CDS and commercial pilot licence courses

Eligibility

SC and OBC students with family income up to INR 8 lakh a year can apply. PM CARES beneficiaries face no income or caste condition. For exams where the qualifying exam is 12th Class, students who scored below 50% in 10th Class are not considered. For exams where the qualifying exam is at graduation level, students who scored below 50% in 12th Class are not considered. A student can take this benefit twice at most. A valid Aadhaar number and a linked bank account are needed. Coaching runs at centres such as University of Allahabad, Central University of Gujarat, Central University of Tamil Nadu and Central University of Rajasthan.

Course Fee and Duration

The Foundation pays the course fee up to a fixed ceiling. The student pays nothing.

Stipend and Incentive

Every selected student gets INR 4,000 per month. This runs for the full course, up to 12 months. Students who clear the Mains stage of Central or State Civil Services exams for Class 1 and Class 2 posts get another INR 15,000. This is meant for interview preparation. Each centre runs at least 16 hours of classroom coaching per week.

Dr Ambedkar Foundation National Essay Competition

This competition is open to school and college students. It is held every year. There is no entry fee.

Who Can Take Part

Students of recognised schools from Class 9th to 12th Class can enter. Students of colleges, universities and institutions can also enter. Essays can be written in Hindi, English or other recognised Indian languages. School students write around 2,000 words. College students write around 3,500 words. Entries are routed through the Dr Ambedkar Chairs, which are set up in 25 institutions. Students at Kurukshetra University, Bangalore University and Gujarat University can ask their department about the Chair nearest to them.

Prize Money

There are three prizes in each language category.

Entry Rules

Each student can send only one entry. Two typed copies are needed. One copy carries the student's name and details. The other copy carries none. A certificate of original work is needed. A bonafide student certificate from the school or college is also needed. Copied work leads to disqualification. Essays are marked on content, analysis, presentation and writing skill. The topic changes every year and is set by the Chairs.

Dr Ambedkar Interest Subsidy for Overseas Studies

This scheme is separate from the Foundation schemes. It is a central sector scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Canara Bank is the nodal bank.

Current Status

Fresh applications are not being accepted. Canara Bank has said this on its official page, quoting an instruction dated 9 May 2023. Only existing beneficiaries with a cutoff date of 31 March 2022 are being processed. Students should check the bank portal before planning around this scheme.

Eligibility and Income Limit

The scheme is for OBC and EBC students. The student must have secured admission abroad for a Masters, M.Phil or PhD course. The loan must be taken under the IBA education loan scheme. The income limit is INR 8 lakh a year for OBC students. For EBC students it is INR 5 lakh a year.

What the Subsidy Covers

The government pays the interest during the moratorium period. The moratorium is the course period plus one year. It can also be six months after the student gets a job, whichever comes first. The eligible loan amount is capped at INR 20 lakh. Half the assistance is reserved for girl candidates. A student can use this benefit only once.

Dr Ambedkar Scholarship Eligibility Criteria

The rules differ sharply from scheme to scheme. The table below puts them side by side.

Income Limits Scheme Wise

The two merit awards have no income condition at all. This surprises many families. A student from University of Rajasthan, Andhra University or Utkal University can win the award regardless of family income. Only the coaching scheme and the subsidy scheme check income.

How to Apply for the Dr Ambedkar Scholarship

There is no common portal. Each scheme follows its own route.

Merit Award Needs No Direct Application

Students do not apply for the merit awards. The board does it. The process runs in a fixed order.

• The board declares the 10th Class or 12th Class result.

• Within 15 days, the board sends the details of top scoring SC and ST students to Dr Ambedkar Foundation.

• The board also sends a copy to the state education department.

• The state government verifies the list and forwards it within the next 15 days.

• If the state does not respond in time, the Foundation acts on the board's list.

DACE Free Coaching Application Steps

• Wait for the advertisement issued by the empanelled Central University.

• Apply online on that university's portal. Offline forms are rejected.

• Fill in caste, income, Aadhaar and bank details.

• Declare your 10th Class or 12th Class marks in the form.

• Submit before the closing date. Incomplete forms are rejected.

• Check the merit list published by the university.

Essay Competition Submission

Write the essay on the announced topic. Print two clean typed copies. Attach the originality certificate and the bonafide student certificate. Send the entry to the designated Dr Ambedkar Chair or the organising body. Students at Guru Nanak Dev University, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda and Patna University can ask their college office for the correct address.

Documents Required

Keep these ready before you start.

• Caste certificate from the competent authority

• Income certificate, where the scheme asks for it

• Mark sheet of the qualifying class

• Aadhaar card

• Bank passbook copy with the account linked to Aadhaar

• Bonafide student certificate, for the essay competition

• Admission letter and loan sanction letter, for the subsidy scheme

Payment, Awardee Lists and Delays

Money never goes through school or college. It reaches the student directly.

How the Money Is Paid

Merit award money is sent as an account payee bank draft by registered post. It can also be transferred to the student's bank account. Winners are sometimes invited to Delhi for a felicitation. In that case, the awardee and one escort get sleeper class train or bus fare both ways. Essay prize money is sent through ECS. DACE payments go by DBT in two installments of 50% each. The first comes when the course starts. The second comes after 75% of the course is over.

Where to Check Awardee Lists

Dr Ambedkar Foundation publishes awardee lists and disbursement details on its website. These lists are uploaded board wise and year wise. Students should search their own board and exam year.

Why a Claim Gets Held Up

Dr Ambedkar Scholarship Contact and Helpline

Here are details below.

Things to Check Before You Apply

• Confirm which scheme actually fits your class and category.

• Check that your caste certificate is from a competent authority.

• Confirm your board is on the list of 29 recognised Boards.

• Make sure your aggregate is at least 50% for the merit awards.

• Link your bank account with Aadhaar before applying.

• For DACE, check your 10th Class marks against the 50% rule.

• Apply online only where the scheme says online.

• Keep a copy of every document you upload or post.

• Do not pay any agent for these schemes.

• Save your board's result declaration date for follow-up.