Scholarship for 10th Class Students 2026-27: Pre-Matric Schemes, Eligibility, Amount and How to Apply

Scholarship for 10th Class students covers central pre-matric schemes, state portals and merit awards. Check the full scheme list, eligibility, amount, documents and application steps below.

Scholarship for 10th Class Students 2026-27: Pre-Matric Schemes, Eligibility, Amount and How to ApplyScholarship for 10th Class students 2026-27 covers the pre-matric schemes open to children studying in Class 9 and Class 10. These are the years when many students stop studying. Not because they want to. School fees, books, uniform and travel add up. A family under pressure often pulls the child out just before the board exam year. Pre-matric scholarships exist to stop exactly this. Pre-matric means before matriculation. Matriculation is Class 10. So these schemes cover Class 9 and Class 10 only. The money is not a loan. Nothing has to be paid back.

Most of these schemes come from the government. Central ones are filed on the National Scholarship Portal. State ones run on state portals. If you have already passed Class 10 and are moving to Class 11, a different set of schemes applies to you, and our Scholarship for 12th Class Students guide covers those. Below you will find the full list, who can apply, how much you get, what papers you need and how to fill the form.

Types of Scholarship for 10th Class Students

Scholarships at this level fall into three groups. Knowing your group saves time.

Government Scholarship for 10th Class Students

These are the biggest source of money. The Central government runs category based pre-matric schemes for SC, ST, OBC, EBC, DNT and students with disabilities. State governments run their own schemes on top of these. One more central scheme sits apart from the category schemes. It is a merit scheme. Students write an exam in Class 8, and the winners get paid from Class 9 right up to Class 12. Our NMMS Scholarship article covers that exam and its renewal rules in full.

Private and CSR Scholarship for Class 9 and 10

Companies and trusts also fund school students. These are fewer in number and the seats are limited. Most ask for a minimum percentage in the last class plus an income proof. Private schemes do not run on NSP. Each has its own website. Deadlines differ from scheme to scheme. One that covers school students is the HDFC Parivartan ECSS programme, which supports children from Class 1 right up to college.

Merit Based and Income Based Scholarship

This is the split that decides what you should apply for.

Most pre-matric schemes are income based. A student who scores well and also meets the income limit can apply under both. Good marks help in later years too, at places like Delhi University, Jadavpur University and Christ University.

Complete List of Scholarship for Class 9 and 10 Students

This is the working list. Find your category, note the route, then read the detail below. Central schemes are all filed on the National Scholarship Portal.

Every state also runs its own set. Which portal you use depends on where you live, and our State Scholarship guide carries the full portal list for all 36 states and union territories.

Central Government Pre-Matric Scholarship 2026-27

Five central schemes are open to Class 9 and Class 10 students. Four are category based. One is merit based.

Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC Students

This scheme is for Scheduled Caste students studying full time in Class 9 and Class 10. Family income from all sources must not cross INR 2,50,000 a year. The money comes as a single yearly academic allowance. A day scholar gets INR 3,500 a year. A hosteller gets INR 7,000 a year.

There is a second part to this scheme with different rules. It is for children of parents working as manual scavengers, tanners, flayers, waste pickers or in hazardous cleaning. That part covers Class 1 to Class 10 and has no income limit at all. Related central schemes for SC students are listed in our Dr Ambedkar Scholarship article.

Pre-Matric Scholarship for ST Students

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs runs this one for Scheduled Tribe students in Class 9 and Class 10. The income limit is the same, INR 2,50,000 a year. The rate is set by the Ministry and paid through your state. Day scholars and hostellers get different amounts. Check the current rate on your state portal or on NSP before you apply, because the state releases the money.

This scheme is shared between the Centre and the state. Students who finish Class 10 under it often move on to post-matric support and later to institutions such as Banaras Hindu University, Tezpur University and Gauhati University.

PM-YASASVI Pre-Matric Scholarship for OBC, EBC and DNT Students

PM-YASASVI covers Other Backward Classes, Economically Backward Classes and De-notified Tribes students in Class 9 and Class 10. Income limit is INR 2,50,000 a year. Selected students get INR 4,000 a year as an academic allowance. The amount is the same for day scholars and hostellers.

One thing confuses students every year. PM-YASASVI has another part called Top Class Education in Schools, which pays a much larger amount but picks only a few students for selected schools. The INR 4,000 pre-matric allowance is the one most Class 9 and 10 students qualify for. Both parts are filed on NSP, the same portal used by applicants who later study at Jamia Millia Islamia, Savitribai Phule Pune University and Panjab University.

Pre-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities

This scheme is for students with benchmark disability, which means 40 per cent or more as defined under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. The student must be in Class 9 or Class 10. Income limit is INR 2,50,000 a year. The payment has three parts.

The scheme gives 25,000 scholarships a year. Half of these are reserved for girls. Seats are fixed, so meeting the rules does not guarantee selection. Students are picked on their marks in the last exam. If two students have the same marks, the one with the higher disability percentage is chosen first. A Unique Disability ID card helps at every step, including admission later at Anna University, Amity University and Manipal Academy of Higher Education.

NMMS Scholarship for Class 9 and 10 Students

NMMS is the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship. It works differently from the four schemes above. You write an exam in Class 8, and if you clear it, the money starts in Class 9. Selected students get INR 12,000 a year, paid as INR 1,000 a month. It continues from Class 9 to Class 12, which adds up to INR 48,000 over four years. Family income must be within INR 3,50,000 a year, and you need at least 55 per cent in Class 7.

Only students of government, government-aided and local body schools can apply. Private school students are not eligible. Renewal happens every year on NSP with the same registration number, and once you reach Class 11 the Post Matric Scholarship schemes open up alongside it.

State Government Scholarship for 10th Class Students

Every state runs pre-matric schemes of its own. The rules, the amount and the portal all change from state to state.

State-Wise Pre-Matric Scholarship Portal List

Find your state, note the portal, and confirm the route before you register anywhere.

States With Their Own Scholarship Portal

Seventeen states and union territories run a single portal for all their schemes. Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, Odisha, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Haryana, Jharkhand, Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland are in this group. Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab run a state portal but send some schemes to NSP too.

This is the easiest setup. One registration, one login, every scheme in one place.

States With More Than One Scholarship Portal

Seven states split their schemes across separate portals. These are Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Sikkim and Tripura.

The split is usually by category or by class level. School students and college students often use different sites. Applying on the wrong one does not delay your form. It usually means the form is never seen at all.

States Applying Through the National Scholarship Portal

Twelve states and union territories have no working state portal. Students there apply on scholarships.gov.in. The list covers Assam, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Meghalaya, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, plus six union territories. One warning for Uttarakhand students. The old state portal does not work any more, but many websites still list it.

UP Pre-Matric Scholarship

Uttar Pradesh runs one of the largest school scholarship programmes in the country. Class 9 and Class 10 students apply under the pre-matric category at scholarship.up.gov.in. Three departments share the work on the same portal. Samaj Kalyan Vibhag handles SC, ST and general category students. Backward Class Welfare and Minority Welfare handle their own groups. Full detail is in our UP Scholarship guide.

West Bengal Pre-Matric Scholarship

West Bengal runs separate portals for different categories. Minority community students apply under the state's minority scheme, while SC, ST and OBC students use a different portal. Check which one matches your certificate before you register. Our Aikyashree Scholarship article explains the minority route step by step.

Gujarat Pre-Matric Scholarship

Gujarat does not run a scholarship-only site. Scholarships sit inside a larger citizen services portal at digitalgujarat.gov.in. Students register on the main portal first, then move to the scholarship section and pick their scheme. That extra step confuses first-time applicants, so read our Digital Gujarat Scholarship guide before you start.

Chhattisgarh Pre-Matric Scholarship

Chhattisgarh splits its schemes by education level, not by category. School students use one portal and post-matric students use another. The Tribal and Scheduled Caste Development Department runs both. Class 9 and Class 10 students belong on the school portal. Our CG Scholarship article covers both routes and the state's own class-wise rates.

Madhya Pradesh Pre-Matric Scholarship

Madhya Pradesh uses three portals, split by department. School education, higher education and tribal affairs each run their own. Tribal and SC students in Class 9 and Class 10 are handled through MPTAAS. Our MPTAAS Scholarship guide explains registration and the profile approval step that confuses most applicants.

Odisha Pre-Matric Scholarship

Odisha runs one portal for everything at scholarship.odisha.gov.in. ST, SC, OBC, SEBC and EBC students in Class 9 and Class 10 all apply here. Registration is Aadhaar based and payment reaches the student account directly. In many schools the application is filed by the school itself, so ask your class teacher before assuming it is pending. Students who continue after Class 10 often head to state institutions such as University of Calcutta, Utkal University and Ravenshaw University.

Pre-Matric Scholarship Amount 2026-27

Amounts differ by scheme and by whether you stay in a hostel. This table covers the central schemes.

State schemes pay separately and the rate changes from state to state. Some states pay a few hundred rupees a year, some pay a few thousand. Check your state portal for the exact figure. The money is small compared to college fees later. Still, it covers books, uniform and exam fees at the stage where most dropouts happen. Students who stay in school through Class 10 keep the door open to institutions like Savitribai Phule Pune University, Fergusson College and Shivaji University.

Scholarship for 10th Class Eligibility Criteria

Four things decide whether you qualify. Class, category, income and school type.

Income Limit for Pre-Matric Scholarship

Four central schemes use the same income limit of INR 2,50,000 a year. These are the SC scheme, the ST scheme, PM-YASASVI and the scheme for students with disabilities. NMMS is the exception. Its limit is INR 3,50,000 a year.

The unclean occupation component has no income limit at all. State schemes set their own figures, and some are lower than the central limit.

Category and Domicile Rules

You must belong to the category the scheme is meant for. You also need a valid certificate to prove it. A caste certificate from the government office that issues it is the usual proof.

Domicile means the state you belong to. It matters for state schemes. You apply in the state where you live, even if you study somewhere else. For central schemes, your form is counted against your home state's share of seats.

Which Scholarship a Class 10 Student Should Apply For

Match your situation to the right scheme. Most students fit more than one row.

Read your state portal too. Many states run schemes that the Centre does not, especially for girls and for minority students.

Documents Required for Pre-Matric Scholarship

Keep scanned copies ready before you open the form. Most portals set a file size limit, usually well under 500 KB.

• Aadhaar card, with the number linked to your bank account

• Caste or category certificate from the government office that issues it

• Income certificate issued by the revenue office

• Domicile or residence certificate

• Marksheet of the last class you passed

• Bank passbook first page showing account number and IFSC

• Bonafide certificate or school verification proof

• Disability certificate or UDID card, if the scheme asks for it

• Recent passport size photograph and scanned signature

Names must match everywhere. A spelling difference between your Aadhaar and your marksheet is the single most common reason a form comes back. The same care is needed years later for admission papers at Aligarh Muslim University, Lucknow University and Patna University.

How to Apply for Scholarship for 10th Class Students

The route depends on your state. Central schemes go through NSP. State schemes go through the state portal, unless your state has none.

NSP OTR Registration for Class 9 and 10 Students

OTR means One Time Registration. It is a number you create once and use for the rest of your student life.

• Open scholarships.gov.in and choose the OTR option.

• Enter your Aadhaar number and the mobile number linked to it.

• Complete face authentication through the NSP OTR mobile app.

• Save the OTR number that is generated.

• Use the same OTR every year. Do not create a second one.

Apply Through the National Scholarship Portal

• Log in on scholarships.gov.in with your OTR number.

• Fill your personal, school, address and bank details.

• Pick the pre-matric scheme that matches your category.

• Upload the documents in the size and format asked for.

• Check every field once, then submit the form finally.

• Save the application ID and print a copy for your school.

Apply Through the State Scholarship Portal

• Open your state portal from the table above. Confirm the address.

• Register as a new user and note the login details sent to your mobile.

• Complete your profile and select the pre-matric scheme.

• Fill the form and upload the documents.

• Submit, then give the printed form to your school if your state asks for it.

In many states the school files the form for the whole class. Ask your class teacher first, so you do not file twice.

How to Check Pre-Matric Scholarship Status

Every portal has a status link on the home page. Log in with your application ID or registration number and the current stage will show.

Scholarship Status and What It Means

Pre-Matric Scholarship Payment Through DBT

Payment is made by Direct Benefit Transfer. The money goes straight into the student bank account. No cash, no cheque, no agent. For this to work your account must be open and linked with Aadhaar. An account you have not used for a long time is the most common reason an approved scholarship never arrives. If the status says payment released and nothing has come in a few weeks, visit your bank branch.

Common Reasons Pre-Matric Scholarship Applications Get Rejected

Most rejections come from small mistakes, not from failing the rules.

Fixing these takes ten minutes. Losing the scholarship costs a year. The same habit of checking paperwork carefully helps later at Osmania University, Andhra University and Kakatiya University.

Applying for More Than One Scholarship in Class 9 and 10

You cannot take two scholarships for the same class at the same time. Almost every scheme has this rule. If you qualify for two, pick the one that pays more and inform your school. Filing both usually gets one cancelled, and sometimes both. There is one common exception worth knowing. A state scheme and a central scheme are sometimes allowed together, if the state notice says so. Read that notice on the portal before you apply for a second one.

Scholarship for 10th Class Passed Students: What to Apply for Next

Pre-matric support stops after Class 10. A new set of schemes opens once you enter Class 11.

Post-Matric Scholarship for Class 11 and 12

The same four ministries run post-matric versions of the schemes above. SC, ST, OBC, EBC, DNT and disability students can all continue. The amounts are higher than at the pre-matric stage, and tuition fees are covered separately in some schemes.

The application route stays the same. Same OTR, same portal, different scheme name.

Private Scholarships After Class 10

Several private and CSR programmes open only after Class 10. One of the better known ones is the LIC Golden Jubilee Scholarship, which has a category for students who have just passed Class 10. Tata Capital Pankh Scholarship  and a few other company programmes start from Class 11 as well. These ask for a minimum percentage in the Class 10 board exam. So your board result decides what you can apply for. Start collecting your documents as soon as the result comes.

Things to Check Before Applying for a Class 10 Scholarship

Run through this list before you open the form.

1. Your category certificate is valid and the name matches your Aadhaar.

2. Your income certificate is recent and within the scheme limit.

3. Your bank account is open and linked with Aadhaar.

4. You are on the correct portal for your state and category.

5. Your school is registered on that portal.

6. Your last class marksheet is scanned and under the size limit.

7. You have only one OTR number, not two.

8. You are not already receiving another scholarship for this class.

9. Your school knows you have applied, so verification is not missed.

10. You have saved the application ID and a printed copy of the form.

Pre-Matric Scholarship Helpline and Contact Details

Contact the body that runs your scheme, not a general number.

Helpline numbers change between sessions. Always take the current number from the official portal, not from a search result.