I am in Class 7. Why can't I apply for this scholarship on the NSP?

The Central Government restructured the scheme because elementary education (Class 1 to 8) is already provided free under the RTE Act. The central scheme now only supports Class 9 and 10.

Can two children from the same family get this scholarship?

Yes. The scholarship can be awarded to a maximum of two students from the same family.

Do I need a formal "Religion Certificate" from the Tehsildar?

For the Pre-Matric scholarship, a self-declaration of religion by the parent/guardian on plain paper is usually accepted. However, the Income Certificate must be an official document from the Revenue Authority.

What if I score 49% in my previous class?

You will not be eligible. The scheme mandates a strict minimum of 50% marks in the previous final examination.

I study in a private school. Am I eligible?

Yes, as long as the private school is officially recognized by the State/Central education board and is registered on the National Scholarship Portal.

Pre Matric Scholarship for Minorities

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Education & Scholarships

Researched by Abhijit ChowdhuryPublished: 29 Sept 2026Last verified: 1 Oct 2026

Quick Summary

Detail	Information
Scheme Name	Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Minorities
Ministry	Ministry of Minority Affairs
Beneficiaries	Minority students studying in Class 9 and Class 10
Benefit	Admission/Tuition fee reimbursement + Maintenance Allowance
Income Limit	₹1 Lakh per annum
Application Portal	scholarships.gov.in

About the Scheme

The Pre-Matric Scholarship for Minorities is a crucial welfare scheme designed to encourage parents from minority communities to send their children to school and reduce the financial burden of secondary education. Important Structural Change: Historically, this scheme covered students from Class 1 to Class 10. However, the Central Government has recently restructured the scheme. Because the Right to Education (RTE) Act and schemes like Samagra Shiksha already provide free education, uniforms, and meals for Classes 1 to 8, the Central Pre-Matric Minority Scholarship is now exclusively focused on students in Class 9 and Class 10.

Benefits & Financial Assistance

The scholarship provides financial assistance to cover the costs of attending secondary school, disbursed directly to the student's bank account via DBT:

Admission and Tuition Fees: Reimburses the actual admission fee and monthly tuition fee charged by the school (subject to a maximum cap defined by the Ministry, usually around ₹500/month).
Maintenance Allowance: Provides a monthly stipend (for 10 months in an academic year) to help with the costs of books, stationery, and travel.
Gender Equity: 30% of all scholarships are strictly reserved for girl students, ensuring that minority girls are not pulled out of school due to financial constraints.

Eligibility Criteria

Who can apply:

Community: Must belong to one of the six officially notified minority communities: Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, or Parsis (Zoroastrians).
Class Level: Must be studying in Class 9 or Class 10 in a government or recognized private school.
Academic Record: Must have secured at least 50% marks in the previous final examination (e.g., Class 8 exams for a Class 9 applicant).
Income Limit: The annual family income from all sources must not exceed ₹1 Lakh.

Who CANNOT apply:

Students studying in Class 1 to 8 (under the Central scheme).
Students whose family income is above ₹1 Lakh.
Students securing less than 50% in the previous exams.

Documents Required

Aadhaar Card
Minority Community Declaration: A self-declaration of minority community by the student/parent (in some states, a formal certificate is required).
Income Certificate: Issued by the competent state authority (Tehsildar/Revenue Officer).
Previous Year's Marksheet (Showing 50%+ marks).
Bank Passbook: Must be Aadhaar-seeded.
Bonafide Certificate / Fee Receipt from the current school.

How to Apply

Applications for the central scheme are processed exclusively online:

Visit the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) at scholarships.gov.in.
Complete the mandatory One-Time Registration (OTR) process (which requires Aadhaar and Face Authentication via the NSP OTR app).
Log in with your OTR ID.
The system will match your profile (Religion and Income) and display the "Pre-Matric Scholarship Schemes Minorities". Select it.
Fill the application form, upload your income and marksheet documents, and submit.
Provide a hard copy printout of the application to your school headmaster so they can log in and verify your application on the portal.

Latest Updates (2026)

Restriction to Classes 9 & 10: The Ministry of Minority Affairs strictly implements the rule that central funds for Pre-Matric are only for Classes 9 and 10. Note: Some individual state governments run their own funded schemes for minority students in Classes 1-8; check your state portal (like SSP in Karnataka or Digital Gujarat).
OTR is Mandatory: Just like all other NSP schemes this year, the OTR and face-authentication process is mandatory to filter out ghost beneficiaries.