Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (CSSS) 2025 – Complete Details

Education is the foundation of progress, both for individuals and for the nation. In a country like India, where millions of students come from economically weaker backgrounds, financial barriers often become the biggest hurdle in pursuing higher studies. To address this issue, the Government of India, through the Ministry of Education, has launched the Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (CSSS). The scheme aims to provide financial assistance to meritorious students from poor families so that they can continue their education without dropping out due to lack of resources.

This initiative is one of the largest scholarship programs in India, supporting nearly 82,000 fresh students every year across different states and union territories. The scheme covers both undergraduate and postgraduate studies, including professional courses such as Engineering, Medical, and Law, thereby ensuring that no talented student is deprived of higher education because of financial constraints.

Key Dates

For the academic year 2025-26, the Ministry of Education has announced the important deadlines for students who want to apply for CSSS through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP):

• Last date for online scholarship applications: 31st October 2025
• Institute level verification: 15th November 2025
• State Nodal Officer (SNO) verification: 30th November 2025

Students are advised to apply well before the last date to avoid last-minute technical issues.

Number of Scholarships

The scheme offers a maximum of 82,000 fresh scholarships every year. These scholarships are equally divided between boys and girls, meaning that 50% of the slots are reserved for female students.

The distribution of scholarships is based on several factors:

1. Population of each state/UT in the age group of 18–25 years.
2. Number of students passing Class XII from state boards, CBSE, and CISCE.
3. Special allocation for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, where 3% of the total slots are earmarked specifically for Ladakh.

To maintain fairness, the scholarships are further divided among students of different streams in the ratio of 3:3:1 (Humanities: Science: Commerce).

Reservation Policy

The CSSS follows the Central Government Reservation Policy to ensure inclusivity and equal opportunities:

• 15% scholarships are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC)
• 7.5% scholarships are reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST)
• 27% scholarships are reserved for Other Backward Classes (OBC)
• 5% horizontal reservation is available for students with Benchmark Disabilities (having 40% or more disability)

This ensures that students belonging to weaker sections of society also get a fair chance to benefit from the scheme.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for the Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship, students must fulfill the following conditions:

1. Educational Qualification:
   • Students must have passed Class XII / Higher Secondary Board Examination in the 10+2 pattern or equivalent from a recognized board.
   • The scholarship is awarded on the basis of merit in the Class XII examination.
2. Course Requirement:
   • The student must be pursuing regular (not correspondence or distance mode) courses in a recognized college, university, or professional institution.
3. Income Limit:
   • The annual family income should not exceed Rs. 4.5 lakh from all sources.
4. Scholarship Restrictions:
   • Students who are already availing benefits from any other scholarship scheme are not eligible.
5. Merit Distribution:
   • Scholarships are distributed based on merit lists prepared by different education boards.

Scholarship Amount

The financial assistance provided under the CSSS is quite significant and varies according to the level of education:

• Undergraduate level (First 3 years): Rs. 12,000 per year
• Postgraduate level (After graduation): Rs. 20,000 per year
• Professional/Integrated courses (5 years duration):
  • Rs. 12,000 per year for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd years
  • Rs. 20,000 per year for the 4th and 5th years

For example:

• A student pursuing B.Sc. + M.Sc. Integrated Course will get Rs. 12,000 per year for the first three years, and Rs. 20,000 per year for the last two years.
• A student pursuing B.Tech (4 years) will get Rs. 12,000 each in the first three years and Rs. 20,000 in the fourth year.

This structure ensures that as the academic level and financial requirements of students increase, the support from the government also increases.

Application Process

The application process for CSSS is fully online and students need to apply only through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).

Step-by-step application guide:

1. Visit the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
2. Register as a new user and create a login ID.
3. Fill in personal details, academic details, and income information.
4. Upload required documents such as:
   • Aadhaar card
   • Income certificate
   • Caste certificate (if applicable)
   • Disability certificate (if applicable)
   • Bank passbook (Aadhaar seeded)
   • Class XII mark sheet
5. Submit the application and take a printout for reference.
6. The application will then go through institute verification followed by state nodal officer verification.

Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)

Since January 1, 2013, the CSSS has been brought under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. This means that the scholarship amount is transferred directly to the student’s Aadhaar-linked bank account, ensuring transparency, reducing delays, and eliminating middlemen.

This has made the scheme more efficient and student-friendly.

Objectives of the Scheme

The CSSS has been designed with a clear set of objectives:

1. Promoting Higher Education: To ensure that talented students from economically weaker families are able to pursue higher studies.
2. Reducing Dropouts: Many students leave studies after Class XII due to financial problems. The scheme helps in reducing this dropout rate.
3. Encouraging Girl Students: With 50% of scholarships earmarked for girls, the scheme directly promotes gender equality in higher education.
4. Supporting Professional Education: By including medical, engineering, and other professional courses, the scheme ensures that the country produces skilled professionals.
5. Equitable Distribution: Through state quotas and reservation policies, the scheme ensures fair opportunities for all sections of society.

Benefits of the Scheme

• Large coverage: 82,000 fresh scholarships every year.
• Financial support: Reduces the burden of fees and living costs.
• Gender equality: Equal scholarships for boys and girls.
• Reservation benefits: SC, ST, OBC, and PwD students receive due representation.
• Transparent process: DBT ensures direct credit to students’ bank accounts.
• Merit-based selection: Encourages students to perform well in their Class XII exams.

Challenges and Improvements

While the scheme has been highly beneficial, certain challenges exist:

• Lack of awareness among students in rural areas.
• Technical difficulties during NSP application process.
• Delays in verification at the institutional or state level.

To improve the scheme, the government has:

• Simplified the application process.
• Allowed interoperability of slots between states and categories in case of shortfall.
• Strengthened grievance redressal mechanisms.