How to Apply on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP)

What the National Scholarship Portal is

The National Scholarship Portal (NSP) is the Government of India's single online platform that hosts scholarship schemes from several central ministries and many state governments. Instead of applying to each scheme separately, eligible students register once and apply to the schemes they qualify for from a single dashboard.

NSP covers both merit-based scholarships (awarded mainly on academic performance) and welfare-based scholarships (awarded on eligibility criteria such as family income). Schemes, eligibility rules, amounts and timelines are set by the sponsoring ministry or department and can change each year, so always read the live scheme guidelines on the official portal before you apply.

Step 1 — Complete your One-Time Registration (OTR)

Most applicants must first generate a One-Time Registration (OTR) number — a unique ID linked to your Aadhaar that stays valid through your academic life, so you do not re-register every year. You begin OTR from the 'Students' section on scholarships.gov.in.

The registration flow asks you to verify your mobile number with an OTP, enter Aadhaar details, and may require face authentication through the official NSP OTR mobile app. Use only the apps and links indicated on the official portal, and keep your OTR number and login details private.

• Keep a working mobile number linked to your Aadhaar for OTP verification.
• Note down your OTR number after generation — you reuse it every year.
• Confirm your personal details (name, parents' names, date of birth) match your Aadhaar exactly.

Step 2 — Log in, choose a scheme and fill the form

After OTR, log in to NSP and browse the schemes you are eligible for. The portal generally lets you apply to one merit-based scheme and one or more welfare-based schemes, but the exact rule and the list of open schemes are shown on the live portal — check there before selecting.

Fill the application carefully with your academic, institute and bank details. A small mismatch in your name, course or bank information can delay or reject the application, so review every field before final submission.

Step 3 — Upload documents and submit

Each scheme lists its own required documents. Commonly requested papers include identity and academic proof, an income certificate where the scheme is means-based, a bank passbook, and a current student/enrolment proof. The exact document list and acceptable formats are stated in the scheme guidelines on the portal.

• Scan documents clearly within the size and format limits shown on the form.
• Use an income certificate from the competent authority only where the scheme requires it.
• Submit before the scheme's deadline — exact dates are published on scholarships.gov.in and vary by year and scheme.

Step 4 — Institute verification and tracking

After you submit, your school, college or university verifies your application as the next-level officer, followed by district/state and ministry-level checks depending on the scheme. Your application is not complete until your institute verifies it, so follow up if it stays pending.

Use the 'Track Application Status' option on NSP to monitor progress at each level. Scholarship amounts are disbursed directly to the verified bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer once approvals are complete.

Staying safe from scholarship scams

NSP is a free government service. No genuine scholarship asks you to pay a fee to apply, to 'guarantee' selection, or to share your OTP, password or banking PIN. Selection depends entirely on the scheme's published eligibility and merit rules.

• Apply only through the official portal — type scholarships.gov.in yourself rather than following unknown links.
• Never pay anyone who promises a scholarship in return for money.
• Never share your OTP, NSP password, or bank OTP/PIN with any caller or agent.
• Verify every scheme's rules on the official portal — eligibility and amounts change by year.