The National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students, earlier known as the Top Class Education for Scheduled Tribe Students, is one of the Government of India’s most significant educational support initiatives dedicated exclusively to Scheduled Tribe (ST) students. Designed and fully funded by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, this scheme empowers meritorious ST students to pursue higher education at premier institutions across the country. It supports undergraduate and postgraduate programs in professional fields such as engineering, medicine, management, law, humanities, social sciences, and technology. With 100% financial coverage, structured eligibility criteria, and a transparent online verification process, the scheme helps address financial constraints and ensures that ST students can focus on academic excellence without the burden of educational expenses.

Important Dates for the 2025 Cycle

These dates apply strictly to the 2025 session. Applications or verifications completed after the deadline will not be considered.

Objectives of the Scheme

The primary objective of the National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students is to increase access to quality higher education for Scheduled Tribe students by providing complete financial support. The specific goals include:

• Encouraging meritorious ST students to pursue graduate and postgraduate studies in premier institutions of national importance.
• Providing full financial assistance so that eligible students can pursue professional courses without financial barriers.
• Promoting participation of ST youth in fields such as management, engineering, medical sciences, humanities, law, and social sciences.
• Ensuring uninterrupted education by offering financial support for the entire duration of the enrolled course, subject to satisfactory academic performance.
• Eliminating duplication by ensuring students do not receive benefits from multiple scholarship schemes simultaneously.
• Empowering ST communities by enabling their youth to gain advanced skills, professional qualifications, and higher employability.

Key Features of the Scheme

The scheme includes several important features that make it one of the most comprehensive support systems for Scheduled Tribe students in India:

Central Sector Scheme

The scheme is fully funded by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, with 100% financial support for eligible students.

Premier Institution Coverage

Students admitted on merit into 252 notified premier institutions are eligible. These include top engineering colleges, medical colleges, management institutes, universities, and specialized institutions.

Full Duration Coverage

Once awarded, the scholarship continues for the entire duration of the course, provided academic performance remains satisfactory.

No Cap on Number of Beneficiaries

There is no limit on the number of students receiving the scholarship from any state, institution, or course stream.

Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)

Scholarship benefits are transferred directly into the student’s Aadhaar-seeded bank account or to the institute, ensuring transparency.

Income-Based Eligibility

Family income must not exceed ₹6 lakh per annum, making the scheme accessible to financially disadvantaged ST families.

Complete Fee Coverage

Tuition, admission fees, non-refundable charges, books, stationery, computer assistance, and stipend are included.

Robust Verification System

The scheme features a multi-level verification process involving:

• Institute verification
• Ministry verification
• State/District/Ministry nodal officer approvals

Grievance Redressal

A dedicated grievance redressal system of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs handles applicant queries.

Scholarship Amount and Financial Assistance

The scheme offers comprehensive financial coverage divided under several components:

1. Tuition and Admission Fees

• Government Institutions: Full fee coverage, including admission fee, tuition fee, and all non-refundable charges.
• Private Institutions: Capped at ₹2.50 lakh per student per year.

2. Books and Stationery

• ₹5,000 per annum (without requiring bills).

3. Monthly Stipend

• ₹3,000 per month, released annually.

4. Computer and Accessories

• ₹45,000 (one-time assistance), without needing bills.
• Can be used to purchase a desktop, laptop, or related accessories.

This comprehensive financial package ensures that students do not face academic disruption due to financial constraints.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the scholarship, a student must meet the following conditions:

1. Community Eligibility

• The student must belong to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category.
• Valid ST or PVTG certificate issued by a competent authority is mandatory.

2. Academic Eligibility

• Student must have secured admission on merit in one of the notified 252 premier institutions.
• Eligible levels:
  • Graduate level (course duration as per institute norms)
  • Postgraduate level

3. Family Income Limit

• Total annual family income must not exceed ₹6 lakh.
• Family income is computed as:
  • If both parents work: combined income is considered.
  • If one parent works: only that income is counted.
  • Income of siblings or other family members is not included.
  • For married students, spouse income is included.
  • For orphans, income criteria do not apply.

4. No Other Scholarship

• Students already receiving financial support from any other central or state scholarship schemes for the same course are not eligible.

5. Course Duration

• The scholarship remains valid for the entire course duration, subject to academic performance and institute certification.

Reservation Policy

Although the scheme does not follow a specific numerical reservation system, it inherently reserves 100% of slots exclusively for ST students, ensuring that the benefits are completely dedicated to Scheduled Tribe applicants.

Important points regarding allotment:

• No state-wise, institute-wise, or course-wise cap on the number of scholarships.
• All eligible ST students who secure admission on merit and meet the income criteria are considered.
• Management quota admissions in private institutions are not eligible.

Distribution of Scholarships

The scholarship distribution system is divided into two main components:

Component I: Direct Benefit Transfer to Students

Transferred directly to the student’s Aadhaar-linked bank account:

• Stipend
• Books and stationery allowance
• Computer and accessories allowance
• Any non-refundable institutional fee already paid (after verification)

Component II: Direct Payment to Institutes

Paid directly to the educational institution:

• Tuition fee
• Admission fee
• Other non-refundable institutional charges

The institute must submit:

• Utilization Certificate (GFR-12A)
• Details of student expenditure
• Unspent balance, if any, with accrued interest

Institutes must also remain onboarded on PFMS and update expenditure regularly for timely continuation of scholarships.

Application Process (Step-by-Step)

The entire application is conducted online on the national scholarship platform. Below is the detailed procedure:

Step 1: Admission in Notified Institution

• Secure admission on merit in one of the 252 premier institutions recognized under the scheme.
• Obtain all necessary documents for scholarship application.

Step 2: Registration on the Scholarship Portal

Before applying, students must register:

• Create a new student account.
• Provide basic details such as:
  • Name
  • Date of birth
  • Mobile number
  • Email ID
  • Aadhaar number
• Validate mobile and email using OTP.

Step 3: Filling the Application Form

After registration:

• Log in using student credentials.
• Select the National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students (Scholarship Component).
• Fill in all required fields:
  • Academic details
  • Institute details
  • Course information
  • Income details
  • Personal information

Step 4: Upload Required Documents

The following documents must be uploaded:

1. ST/PVTG Certificate – fresh applicants only
2. Income Certificate – for the financial year preceding selection (for fresh applicants)
3. Fee Receipt – for fresh and renewal candidates
4. Scanned Bank Passbook – showing student name and account details
5. Qualifying Examination Marksheet (12th for UG, Graduation for PG)
6. Bona Fide Certificate issued by the institute
7. Last semester marksheet – for renewal applicants

Documents must be clear, valid, and readable.

Step 5: Institute Verification

The institute’s nodal officer will:

• Verify physical and uploaded documents.
• Confirm course details and student admission.
• Ensure there are no discrepancies.
• Approve or mark applications as defective.

If marked defective:

• Student must correct errors and resubmit.
• Institute re-verifies after correction.

Step 6: Ministry Verification

After institute approval:

• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs verifies each application.
• If discrepancies are found, the application is marked defective.
• Students must correct and resubmit within the deadline.

Step 7: Final Selection List

Once verification is complete:

• The Ministry publishes the final list of selected students.
• Decision of the Ministry is final.

Step 8: Scholarship Disbursement

Disbursement occurs in two ways:

• Directly to student (stipend, books, computer assistance, non-refundable fees already paid)
• Directly to institute (tuition fee, admission fee)

Students must ensure:

• Aadhaar-seeded bank account
• Accurate bank details
• Timely correction of any banking issues

Grievance Redressal

Students and institutes may register grievances through the Ministry of Tribal Affairs’ dedicated grievance portal. Queries may relate to:

• Application issues
• Verification delays
• Payment discrepancies
• Documentation problems