Post-Matric Scholarship for students with disabilities: apply by 30 November 2026
This central scholarship helps students with a benchmark disability study after Class 10. You apply on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). Before you submit, you must give consent on the UDID portal. Student applications close on 30 November 2026.
Scoped update: 2 November 2026. The live NSP scheme list now shows this scheme with student applications till 30 November 2026, defective application and institute verification till 15 December 2026 and nodal verification till 31 December 2026. Our earlier version said 31 October, 15 November and 30 November. Original publication date unchanged.
Official publisher artwork, cropped by AiCoN to omit the national emblem. Original: https://scholarships.gov.in/. Independent guide, not affiliated or sponsored.
What is it?
The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities runs a scheme of scholarships for students with benchmark disabilities. Its post-matric part covers Class XI up to post-graduate degree or diploma. The scholarship pays allowances and course fees under the scheme rules.
The earlier AiCoN post said there are 17,000 scholarships a year. We did not find that number in the guidelines we read, so we do not repeat it.
Who can apply?
- The student must have a benchmark disability. The guidelines use the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016: not less than 40 percent of a specified disability.
- Parents or guardians' income from all sources must not exceed Rs 2,50,000 a year for post-matric (official guidelines).
- The student studies a course covered by the scheme at a recognised institution. A 2025 revision of the guidelines adds that courses must be approved by bodies such as UGC, State or UT governments and councils like NMC, RCI and AICTE.
Important dates for 2026-27
| Scheme opened | 25 July 2026 |
|---|---|
| Last date for students | 30 November 2026 |
| Defective application and institute verification | till 15 December 2026 |
| DNO/SNO/MNO verification | till 31 December 2026 |
Dates are from the NSP "All Scholarships" page, 6 October 2026.
How to apply on NSP: step by step
Checked on the live National Scholarship Portal and its announcements on 19 October 2026. NSP now uses One Time Registration (OTR) - do this first if you have never registered.
- UDID consent first (required for disabled students): log in to the UDID portal (swavlambancard.gov.in) and give consent to share your UDID details. The NSP announcement says disabled students cannot submit their NSP application without this step.
- Open scholarships.gov.in (Academic Year 2026-27 is live), click Students → Apply now, then Register. Registration is free - no fee is required.
- Read the OTR guidelines, tick the consent boxes and click Next. Register your active mobile number and verify it with the OTP; a reference number is sent to your mobile.
- Complete eKYC: install the NSP OTR app and the Aadhaar Face RD app on an Android phone and do face authentication with the reference number. Your OTR ID is then generated. Aadhaar is required; a minor without Aadhaar can register with a parent's or legal guardian's Aadhaar.
- Log in on NSP with your OTR ID, open Fresh Application for Academic Year 2026-27 and choose the Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities from the scheme list.
- Fill the application form and upload the documents it lists.
- Submit before 30 November 2026. Track the application in the same dashboard; institute and district/state verification happen after you submit.
Steps 5-7 happen inside your own NSP login, so they are not shown as screenshots. Generating an OTR alone is not an application - you must still log in and submit the scholarship application.
Video guides
We searched YouTube on 19 October 2026 for a step-by-step application video for this scheme on the current NSP OTR portal in English and in Malayalam. The videos we found cover older portal versions or could not be verified to match the current portal, so we are not linking any rather than risk outdated or unrelated instructions.
Cost, eligibility and limits
| Cost to apply | Free. |
|---|---|
| Who | Students with benchmark disability (40% or more), family income up to Rs 2.5 lakh a year. |
| Where | All of India. Kerala students apply on the same NSP. |
| Limits | The UDID consent step is a must. Institute verification is needed. |
Stay safe
- Use only scholarships.gov.in and the UDID portal.
- No one can guarantee a scholarship for money.
Frequently asked questions
What is the last date?
30 November 2026 for students.
What is the income limit?
Rs 2,50,000 a year, from the official guidelines.
Do I need a UDID?
The NSP announcement says disabled students must give consent on the UDID portal before applying.
What disability level is needed?
Benchmark disability, which means 40 percent or more of a specified disability.
Is there a fee?
No.
Sources: National Scholarship Portal, NSP All Scholarships (dates), Scheme guidelines (DEPD), 2025 guideline revision. Checked 6 October 2026; application steps and video search re-checked 19 October 2026.