AICTE Swanath Scholarship Scheme 2025-26: Empowering Students from Vulnerable Backgrounds

Education is the cornerstone of development and social mobility. Recognizing the financial and emotional challenges faced by students who have lost parents due to COVID-19, children of martyrs, wards of persons with disabilities, or students whose parents suffer from critical life-threatening diseases, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has introduced the Swanath Scholarship Scheme. This initiative aims to provide financial assistance to deserving students pursuing higher education at AICTE-approved institutions across India. By alleviating financial constraints, the scheme ensures that deserving students continue their academic journey and achieve their professional aspirations.

The AICTE Swanath Scholarship Scheme 2025-26 is an opportunity for students from vulnerable and economically weaker sections to access higher education without the burden of financial stress. This scholarship not only supports tuition fees but also helps students acquire necessary academic resources, including computers, books, and software. The scheme is designed to encourage academic excellence, resilience, and holistic development among students facing extraordinary personal challenges.

Key Dates

The AICTE Swanath Scholarship Scheme 2025-26 opens its application process to eligible students with a deadline set for 31st October 2025. Students are advised to complete their applications well in advance to avoid last-minute issues.

Objectives of the Scheme

The primary objectives of the AICTE Swanath Scholarship Scheme include:

1. Financial Support to Vulnerable Students: To provide monetary assistance to students whose education may be disrupted due to loss of parents, critical illnesses in the family, or other adverse circumstances.
2. Promote Access to Higher Education: To ensure that students from economically weaker and vulnerable backgrounds can continue their education in technical institutions without hindrance.
3. Encourage Academic Excellence: To motivate students to maintain high academic standards by reducing financial stress, allowing them to focus entirely on learning and skill development.
4. Support Holistic Growth: To facilitate access to necessary academic resources such as computers, books, software, and other educational tools, ensuring overall academic development.
5. Reduce Socio-Economic Disparities: To bridge the gap between financially privileged and disadvantaged students in technical education institutions.

Key Features of the Scheme

The AICTE Swanath Scholarship Scheme incorporates several important features to make it accessible and impactful:

• Targeted Beneficiaries: The scheme is aimed at orphans, students who have lost a parent due to COVID-19, wards of martyred Armed Forces personnel, and students whose parents suffer from critical illnesses or severe disabilities.
• Annual Financial Assistance: Selected students receive a lump sum amount of ₹50,000 per year to cover tuition fees, purchase of computers, stationery, books, academic software, and other educational expenses.
• Mode of Payment: Scholarship amounts are transferred directly to the bank accounts of beneficiaries through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode, ensuring transparency and timely receipt.
• Duration of Scholarship: Degree students can avail of the scholarship for a maximum of four years, whereas diploma students are eligible for up to three years. Students already in the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year will receive support only for their remaining years of study.
• National Coverage: The scholarship is available to students enrolled in AICTE-approved institutions across India, ensuring wide accessibility.
• One-Time Registration System: Applicants are required to complete a one-time registration (OTR) process, followed by face authentication through a mobile application, to ensure authenticity and prevent fraud.

Scholarship Amount

The AICTE Swanath Scholarship provides a lump sum of ₹50,000 per year. This financial support is comprehensive and intended to cover:

• Tuition fees
• Purchase of computers and academic software
• Stationery and books
• Equipment required for practical and project work

It is important to note that hostel fees, medical charges, and other personal expenses are not covered under this scheme. The financial support aims to mitigate the educational burden while encouraging students to continue their studies without financial obstacles.

Eligibility Criteria

The scholarship targets students from specific vulnerable groups. The eligibility criteria are as follows:

1. Nationality: The applicant must be an Indian national.
2. Vulnerability: The applicant must belong to one of the following categories:
   • Lost one or both parents due to COVID-19.
   • Ward of Armed Forces or Central Paramilitary Forces personnel martyred in action (Shaheed).
   • Ward of a person with disability (PwD) with 80% or more disability caused by an accident.
   • Ward of a parent suffering from a critical life-threatening disease.
3. Enrollment Status: The student must be enrolled full-time in a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year of a degree or diploma program at an AICTE-approved institution.
4. Income Limit: The family’s annual income should not exceed ₹8,00,000.
5. Exclusivity: Applicants must not be receiving any other central/state government or AICTE-sponsored scholarship at the time of application.

Reservation Policy

While the scheme does not explicitly state category-wise reservations, students from reserved categories (SC, ST, OBC) are required to provide valid category certificates for consideration. This ensures that eligible students from all sections of society are accommodated fairly and transparently.

Distribution of Scholarships

The distribution of scholarships under the AICTE Swanath Scheme is structured to ensure equity and efficiency:

• Priority to Vulnerable Groups: Students who have lost parents due to COVID-19, wards of martyrs, or children with critically ill parents are given priority.
• Merit and Need-Based Assessment: The scheme primarily considers financial need and personal circumstances. Academic performance and enrollment in AICTE-approved institutions are verified during the application process.
• Annual Disbursement: The scholarship amount is disbursed annually in a single installment through the DBT system, ensuring timely availability of funds to support academic requirements.

Required Documents

Applicants must submit appropriate documentation depending on their eligibility category:

For Orphan Candidates:

• Death certificates of both parents, if available.
• Alternatively, a certificate issued by the Tehsildar/SDM in the prescribed format (Annexure I).
• Bonafide certificate from the institution.
• Academic marksheets: Class 12 and Class 10 for degree students, Class 10 for diploma students.
• Category certificate, if applicable.

For Candidates Who Lost a Parent Due to COVID-19:

• Death certificate explicitly mentioning COVID-19 as the cause of death.
• If one parent is alive: Income certificate of the current year stating family income below ₹8,00,000.
• Bonafide certificate from the institution.
• Academic marksheets: Class 12 and Class 10 for degree students, Class 10 for diploma students.
• Category certificate, if applicable.

For Wards of Martyred Armed Forces/Central Paramilitary Personnel:

• Death certificate of the martyred personnel.
• Shaheed certificate issued by the Armed Forces or Central Paramilitary Forces.
• Bonafide certificate from the institution.
• Academic marksheets: Class 12 and Class 10 for degree students, Class 10 for diploma students.
• Income certificate of the current year stating family income below ₹8,00,000.
• Category certificate, if applicable.

Application Process (Step by Step)

The application process for the AICTE Swanath Scholarship is designed to be systematic and transparent. Eligible students must follow these steps carefully:

1. Registration: Click on the ‘Apply Now’ option and then select ‘Register’ to fill in the required details. Existing users can log in using their email ID or mobile number.
2. Dashboard Navigation: On the dashboard, navigate to the ‘Students’ section and click on it.
3. One-Time Registration (OTR): Click the ‘Login’ button under the OTR option. New users should select ‘New User? Register Yourself’.
4. Verification: Read the information carefully, tick the agreement checkbox, and click ‘Next’. Enter a functional mobile number, captcha, and OTP to complete initial registration.
5. Complete OTR Details: Fill in the required information and click on ‘Save & Register’. This generates a temporary registration number. Applicants must download the OTR mobile application for face authentication to finalize registration.
6. Scholarship Application: After successful OTR completion, log in and navigate to ‘Apply for Scholarship’.
7. Fill Application Form: Select the AICTE Swanath Scholarship, provide all required personal, academic, and financial details, and upload necessary documents.
8. Submission: Review the application carefully and submit. Note that once submitted, no changes can be made, and multiple submissions may lead to disqualification.