AICTE Pragati Scholarship 2026: Eligibility, Benefits and NSP Application Process

Last Updated: May 2026

The All India Council for Technical Education Pragati Scholarship Scheme is a government-supported financial assistance programme for girl students pursuing technical education in India. Administered by AICTE under the Ministry of Education framework, the scheme is intended to support eligible candidates enrolled in AICTE-approved diploma and degree institutions across the country.

The scholarship provides annual financial assistance to help manage academic expenses such as tuition fees, books, software, laptops, and other educational requirements. Applications are processed through the National Scholarship Portal, while approved funds are transferred directly through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.

Based on the latest available AICTE Pragati Scholarship guidelines, FAQs, and NSP instructions retrieved in May 2026, the scheme continues to remain relevant in the current academic cycle as technical education costs increase across many professional institutions.

Scholarship Amount and Duration

Course Type

Duration

Annual Assistance

Degree (1st Year)

Up to 4 Years

₹50,000

Degree Lateral Entry

Up to 3 Years

₹50,000

Diploma (1st Year)

Up to 3 Years

₹50,000

Diploma Lateral Entry

Up to 2 Years

₹50,000

The assistance amount may be used for:

  • Tuition fees
  • Books and stationery
  • Laptops or computers
  • Software and academic equipment
  • Competitive examination expenses

Separate support for hostel and medical expenses is generally not included under the current scheme framework.

Scholarship Allocation and Reservation

According to the latest available AICTE scheme framework for the academic cycle, 10,000 scholarships are allocated annually.

Programme Category

Seats

Degree Courses

5,000

Diploma Courses

5,000

Reservation provisions follow standard government norms.

Category

Reservation

SC

15%

ST

7.5%

OBC

27%

AICTE guidelines also mention special provisions for eligible applicants from certain North Eastern states and Union Territories.

Eligibility Criteria

Requirement

Details

Gender

Female candidates only

Family Limit

Maximum two girl children per family

Institution

AICTE-approved institution

Admission Type

Centralised admission/counselling process

Income Limit

Annual family income below ₹8 lakh

Academic Gap

Maximum two-year gap permitted

Other Scholarships

No simultaneous government scholarship benefit

Candidates admitted through management quota are not eligible under current guidelines.

For married applicants, the higher income between parents and in-laws may be considered during verification.

Selection Process

Selection is based on academic merit.

  • Degree applicants are evaluated using Class 12 marks
  • Diploma applicants are evaluated using Class 10 marks

Tie-Breaking Criteria

For degree courses:

  1. Higher Class 10 marks
  2. Older candidate preference

For diploma courses:

  1. Older candidate preference
  2. Lower family income preference

Application Process and Required Documents

Applications must be submitted online through the National Scholarship Portal after completing the One-Time Registration (OTR) process.

Required Document

Purpose

Aadhaar Card

Identity verification

Income Certificate

Income verification

Academic Marksheets

Educational verification

Admission Letter

Admission proof

Tuition Fee Receipt

Institution verification

Passport-size Photograph

Profile upload

Aadhaar-linked Bank Passbook

DBT transfer

Applications generally undergo institution-level and State Department verification before final approval.

Joint accounts, FRILL accounts, and non-compliant bank accounts may lead to rejection during scrutiny.

Renewal, Safety Advisory and Important Notes

Candidates are required to renew the scholarship annually through NSP by submitting promotion and bonafide certificates issued by the institution.

The scholarship may be discontinued if:

  • The candidate fails academically
  • The course is discontinued
  • Incorrect information or invalid documents are submitted

Applicants are advised to use only official government portals for registration and verification. AICTE and NSP authorities do not request payment for scholarship approval.

Candidates should avoid:

  • Sharing OTPs or banking credentials
  • Responding to suspicious calls or links
  • Uploading documents on unofficial portals
  • Making payments to agents or intermediaries

Suspicious activity may be reported through official NSP or AICTE support channels.

Verification Note and Disclaimer

The 2026 application schedule, verification timeline, and portal activity remain subject to official AICTE and NSP notifications. Readers are advised to verify all updates through official government sources before applying.

Official Reference Context: AICTE Pragati Scholarship Guidelines (Degree and Diploma), AICTE FAQ documents, NSP instructions, and institutional notices retrieved in May 2026.

Editorial Disclaimer: Scholarship rules, reservation policies, eligibility criteria, and application timelines may change through official notifications. In case of any discrepancy, official AICTE guidelines, NSP updates, and government notifications will take precedence over this article.

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