UGC – Indira Gandhi Single Girl Child Scholarship 2025

The UGC – Indira Gandhi Single Girl Child Scholarship 2025 is a flagship initiative of the University Grants Commission (UGC) under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. The scheme was introduced to promote higher education among single girl children and to strengthen the status of women in Indian society through education. It provides financial assistance to girls who are the only child of their parents, enabling them to pursue postgraduate studies without financial hardship. Every year, 3,000 meritorious girl students across the country are selected for this scholarship. It serves as an empowering step toward ensuring that being a single girl child becomes a source of encouragement rather than limitation.

Important Dates for 2025

• Scheme Opening Date: 17 June 2025
• Last Date for Student Application: 31 October 2025
• Defective Application Verification: up to 25 November 2025
• Institute Verification: up to 25 November 2025
• DNO/SNO/MNO Verification: up to 29 November 2025

These dates are released officially every year and may be revised by UGC as per administrative requirements.

Objectives of the Scheme

The Post-Graduate Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child has been established to meet several important educational and social goals:

1. To encourage higher education among girls who are the only child in their families.
2. To promote gender equality by supporting single girl children to pursue postgraduate education.
3. To provide financial assistance to deserving female students to cover academic expenses.
4. To recognize and reward single girl families that encourage the education of their daughters.
5. To empower women by making them self-reliant, confident, and capable contributors to the nation’s development.

This scholarship not only helps in reducing gender disparity but also motivates parents to prioritize their daughters’ education.

Key Features of the Scheme

The UGC – Indira Gandhi Single Girl Child Scholarship has several distinct features that make it an essential part of India’s educational framework:

1. Implementing Authority: University Grants Commission (UGC), Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.
2. Target Beneficiaries: Only girl students who are the sole child of their parents.
3. Level of Study: First year of a regular, full-time postgraduate course in any recognized university or college in India.
4. Total Number of Scholarships: 3,000 scholarships awarded annually.
5. Scholarship Duration: Two academic years (covering the full duration of the PG program).
6. No Income Limit: There is no income ceiling for applicants; the scheme is open to all eligible candidates.
7. Mode of Application: Entirely online through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
8. Disbursement of Scholarship: Through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into the beneficiary’s bank account.
9. Focus on Academic Continuity: Renewal of scholarship depends on satisfactory progress in the first year.

Scholarship Amount

Under this scheme, each selected student receives ₹36,200 per annum for a period of two years, covering the full duration of the postgraduate course.

• Annual Scholarship Amount: ₹36,200 per student
• Total Duration: Two years
• Total Value: ₹72,400 for the entire course

No additional allowances such as hostel fees, medical expenses, or other charges are provided. The scholarship is intended solely to support academic costs and ensure that financial constraints do not hinder the student’s studies.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements to apply for the UGC Indira Gandhi Single Girl Child Scholarship 2025:

1. Gender: Only girl students are eligible.
2. Single Girl Child: The applicant must be the only child of her parents. Girl students who are twin sisters or fraternal twins are also eligible.
3. Course Requirement: Must be admitted to the first year of a regular, full-time postgraduate course in a recognized university or college.
4. Age Limit: The applicant must not be more than 30 years old at the time of admission to the PG course.
5. Mode of Education: Candidates pursuing postgraduate studies through distance learning, correspondence, or online mode are not eligible.
6. Income Criteria: There is no income limit for this scholarship.
7. Institution Recognition: The institution must be recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and have a valid AISHE code.

Reservation Policy

The UGC Indira Gandhi Single Girl Child Scholarship does not follow any separate reservation policy. However, the scheme is open to all eligible single girl children across India, regardless of caste, religion, or economic background.

While there are no quotas, the UGC encourages applications from candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), Minority Communities, and Persons with Disabilities (PwD) to ensure equal representation and inclusivity.

Distribution of Scholarships

Each year, 3,000 scholarships are distributed among eligible candidates nationwide. The distribution process ensures fairness, transparency, and merit-based selection through the following steps:

1. Online Application: Candidates apply through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) by submitting accurate details and documents.
2. Institutional Verification: The institution where the student is enrolled verifies the application and confirms eligibility.
3. District/State/National Verification: Applications are verified by District Nodal Officers (DNOs), State Nodal Officers (SNOs), and Ministry/National Level Officers (MNOs).
4. Final Selection: UGC reviews verified applications and finalizes the list of awardees.
5. Disbursement of Funds: The scholarship amount is transferred directly to the student’s bank account through the PFMS (Public Financial Management System).

This transparent process ensures timely and accurate allocation of funds to deserving beneficiaries.

Documents Required

Applicants must upload clear and valid copies of the following documents while applying online:

1. Scanned copy of Aadhaar Card or Aadhaar Enrolment ID.
2. Recent passport-size photograph.
3. Self-attested mark sheet of the previous qualifying examination (undergraduate degree).
4. Fee receipt of the current postgraduate course.
5. Affidavit on ₹50 stamp paper, duly attested by a First-Class Magistrate/Gazetted Officer/SDM, confirming that the applicant is the only child of her parents.
6. Bank account details in the name of the applicant.

Applications submitted without complete or accurate documentation will be rejected.

Step-by-Step Application Process

The entire application process for the UGC Indira Gandhi Single Girl Child Scholarship 2025 is conducted through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). The process is simple and student-friendly.

Step 1: Registration on NSP

1. Visit the official National Scholarship Portal (NSP) website.
2. Click on New Registration under the Applicant Corner.
3. Read all guidelines carefully and accept the declaration by ticking the checkboxes.
4. Click Continue and fill in your details such as name, date of birth, gender, mobile number, email ID, Aadhaar number, and bank details.
5. Create a password and complete the registration.
6. Verify your mobile number using the OTP received.
7. After successful registration, a User ID and Password will be generated.

Step 2: Fill the Application Form

1. Log in to NSP using your User ID and Password.
2. Select Application Form from the dashboard.
3. Enter personal, academic, and contact details carefully.
4. Choose the scholarship scheme “Post-Graduate Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child.”
5. Upload all required documents in the prescribed format.
6. Review the filled form and click Final Submit.
7. Download and print a copy of the submitted form for your records.

Step 3: Renewal Application

For the second year of the scholarship:

1. Visit the NSP portal and click on Renewal Login.
2. Log in with your existing credentials.
3. Update your academic details and upload your Progress Report signed by your Head of Department and Registrar/Principal.
4. Review and submit the renewal form.

Step 4: Updating or Changing Mobile Number

If the registered mobile number needs to be updated:

1. Log in to NSP with your credentials.
2. Select Update Mobile Number or Change Mobile Number.
3. Enter both old and new numbers, verify via OTP, and save the changes.

Step 5: Institute and District Login (for Verification)

• Institute Login: Institutions log in to verify student data and validate eligibility.
• District Login: District Nodal Officers (DNOs) cross-verify applications before forwarding them for state-level approval.

This multi-level verification ensures authenticity and prevents fraudulent applications.

Step 6: Check Application Status

1. Log in to the NSP portal with your credentials.
2. Click Check Application Status from the dashboard.
3. Enter your details and click Get Status to view the progress of your application.

Step 7: Track Payment Status

1. Visit the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) portal.
2. Click Know Your Payment or Track NSP Payment Status.
3. Enter your Bank Name, Account Number, or NSP Application ID.
4. Verify via OTP and click Search to view payment details.

Progress Report and Continuation

After one year, the scholarship amount for the second academic year will be released only if the student submits a Progress Report confirming satisfactory academic performance. This report must be duly signed by the Head of Department and Registrar/Principal of the respective institution.

If a student discontinues her studies without informing UGC, she must refund the total amount received. Misconduct or submission of false documents will lead to immediate cancellation of the scholarship.