Every Scholarship a Polytechnic Student Can Get in 2026: The SC/ST/OBC/EWS Master List (Central + State-Wise)

Don’t pay full polytechnic fees when you don’t have to. This 2026 master guide lists every Central and State scholarship for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and Minority diploma students — with exact amounts, income limits, portal links, and deadlines. One missed form can cost you ₹25,000+.

Author: Chinnagounder Thiruvenkatam, Founder & Chief Editor — Diviseema Polytechnic Hub

Last Updated: February 2026

TL;DR — The 60-Second Summary

• You can get ₹15,000 to ₹1,00,000+ per year in combined scholarships for a polytechnic diploma if you know which forms to fill.
• Three layers of funding exist: Central Government (NSP), State Government (ePASS / JnanaBhumi / state portals), and AICTE’s Tuition Fee Waiver (TFW) scheme. Most students only apply to one. Apply to all three.
• The National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) is the single most important website. If you haven’t registered yet, stop reading and do it now.
• Income certificate date matters more than the amount. AP requires certificates issued after January 1, 2026. Telangana requires certificates issued after April 1, 2026. Old certificates get auto-rejected. (Read our detailed guide on the Income Certificate Trap)
• The AICTE TFW Scheme gives 100% tuition fee waiver on supernumerary seats (5% extra seats above/income-certificate-polycet-2026-fee-reimbursement-trap/ intake). It applies to ALL categories — even General/EWS. Family income must be below ₹8 lakh/year. Most polytechnic students have never heard of it.
• Deadline alert: NSP applications for 2025-26 closed in November 2025. For the 2026-27 session (your upcoming admission), the NSP window is expected to open between August–October 2026. But state portals like ePASS and JnanaBhumi often open earlier. Prepare documents NOW.

Why This Article Exists

Every year, thousands of polytechnic students across India pay full tuition fees — not because they don’t qualify for scholarships, but because they didn’t know which forms to fill, which portal to visit, or which deadline they missed.

Here is the reality nobody tells 10th-pass students and their parents:

There is no single “polytechnic scholarship.” There are dozens of overlapping schemes run by different ministries, different state departments, and different portals. A single SC student in Andhra Pradesh, for example, could theoretically access the Central Post-Matric Scholarship (via NSP), Jagananna Vidya Deevena (RTF — full tuition reimbursement via JnanaBhumi), Jagananna Vasathi Deevena (₹15,000/year maintenance via JnanaBhumi), and the AICTE TFW scheme — if they knew all four existed.

This article is your master checklist. Bookmark it. Share it with your parents. Print it if you have to. One missed application can cost you ₹25,000 or more.

Part 1: Central Government Scholarships (Apply via NSP — All States)

These scholarships are funded by the Government of India and are available to eligible students in every state. All applications go through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) at scholarships.gov.in.

1.1 Post-Matric Scholarship for SC Students

• Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
• Who can apply: SC students enrolled in post-matric courses (polytechnic/diploma qualifies)
• Income limit: Family annual income up to ₹2,50,000
• What you get: Full tuition fee reimbursement + maintenance allowance (₹3,000–₹13,000/year depending on hosteller/day scholar status and course group)
• Portal: NSP (scholarships.gov.in)
• Renewal: Required every year; must maintain minimum attendance and passing grades

1.2 Post-Matric Scholarship for ST Students

• Ministry: Ministry of Tribal Affairs
• Who can apply: ST students in post-matric courses
• Income limit: Family annual income up to ₹2,50,000 (revised from ₹2,00,000 in some notifications — always verify on NSP)
• What you get: Full tuition fee + maintenance allowance + book grant
• Special note: One-Time Registration (OTR) is now mandatory for ST students on NSP. Without OTR, your application will not be processed.
• Portal: NSP

1.3 Post-Matric Scholarship for OBC Students

• Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
• Who can apply: OBC students in post-matric courses
• Income limit: Family annual income up to ₹1,00,000 (this is stricter than SC/ST — verify current year’s notification)
• What you get: Tuition fee reimbursement (full for government colleges, capped for private) + maintenance allowance
• Portal: NSP
• Important: OBC students must ensure their caste certificate is revalidated if issued before August 2025 (new rule in some states like West Bengal)

1.4 Post-Matric Scholarship for EBC (Economically Backward Classes)

• Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
• Who can apply: Students from General/EBC category with very low family income
• Income limit: Family annual income up to ₹1,00,000
• What you get: Tuition fee + maintenance allowance (lower than SC/ST amounts, but still significant)
• Portal: NSP

1.5 Post-Matric Scholarship for Minority Students

• Ministry: Ministry of Minority Affairs
• Who can apply: Students belonging to notified minority communities (Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi)
• Income limit: Family annual income up to ₹2,00,000
• What you get: Maintenance allowance + course fee (up to ₹10,000 for polytechnic in some cases)
• Portal: NSP

Critical NSP Tips for Polytechnic Students

Tip 1 — Create your OTR (One-Time Registration) ID immediately. This links your Aadhaar, mobile number, and bank account. Without it, you cannot apply for any scheme on NSP.

Tip 2 — Your bank account must be Aadhaar-seeded. The scholarship amount is paid via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). If your Aadhaar is not linked to your bank account, the payment will fail silently — you won’t even get an error message, just no money.

Tip 3 — Institute verification is mandatory. After you submit your application online, your polytechnic college’s Nodal Officer must verify it on the portal. Chase this actively. Many applications get stuck at this stage because the college clerk forgot to click “Verify.”

Tip 4 — Never apply for multiple overlapping scholarships that cover tuition fee. If one scheme already reimburses your full tuition, applying for another that also covers tuition can get both rejected. However, you CAN combine a tuition fee scheme with a maintenance/hostel allowance scheme (like combining Jagananna Vidya Deevena for fees + Post-Matric Scholarship for maintenance).

Part 2: State-Wise Scholarship Schemes (The Big Ones)

State-level schemes often provide MORE money than central schemes because they include full fee reimbursement. Here are the major state scholarship programs relevant to polytechnic students.

2.1 Andhra Pradesh — Jagananna Vidya Deevena & Vasathi Deevena

This is one of the most generous polytechnic scholarship systems in India.

Jagananna Vidya Deevena (Fee Reimbursement — RTF)

• What: 100% tuition fee reimbursement paid directly to the college
• Who: SC, ST, BC, EBC, Kapu, Minority, and Differently Abled students
• Income limit: Family annual income up to ₹2,50,000
• Courses: Polytechnic, ITI, Degree, and above
• Portal: jnanabhumi.ap.gov.in
• Attendance rule: 75% aggregate attendance is mandatory

Jagananna Vasathi Deevena (Maintenance Charges — MTF)

• What: ₹15,000/year for polytechnic students (paid in two installments — July and December)
• Paid to: Mother’s bank account (or natural guardian if mother is unavailable)
• Same eligibility as above

Critical AP Document Warning: Your income certificate MUST be issued on or after January 1, 2026 for the 2026-27 academic year. Older certificates are auto-rejected by the counseling software. (Full details in our Income Certificate Guide)

Who is NOT eligible in AP:

• Students in private universities or deemed universities
• Students admitted under Management Quota or Spot Quota
• Students pursuing correspondence/distance courses

2.2 Telangana — ePASS Post-Matric Scholarship

What: Full tuition fee reimbursement + monthly maintenance charges Who: SC, ST, BC, EBC, Minority, and Disabled students Portal: telanganaepass.cgg.gov.in

Income limits (vary by category):

• SC students: Up to ₹2,50,000/year
• ST students: Up to ₹2,00,000/year
• BC, EBC, Minority: Up to ₹1,50,000 (rural) / ₹2,00,000 (urban)

TS Document Warning: For the 2026-27 academic year, your income certificate should ideally be issued on or after April 1, 2026. Apply for a fresh certificate at your MeeSeva center well before counseling begins.

Special TS rule: Full fee reimbursement is available ONLY if you were admitted through the Convener Quota (i.e., through POLYCET counseling). If you took a management seat, you pay full fees.

2.3 Tamil Nadu — BC/MBC/SC/ST Scholarships

• BC/MBC Post-Matric Scholarship: Available through the Backward Classes Welfare Department
• SC/ST Scholarship: Through the Adi-Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department
• Special scheme: Tamil Nadu offers free education in government polytechnics for SC/ST/BC/MBC students (no tuition fee at all in government colleges)
• Portal: tngov.in and NSP

2.4 Uttar Pradesh — Post-Matric Scholarship via Saksham Portal

• Portal: scholarship.up.gov.in
• Who: SC/ST/OBC students enrolled in UP polytechnics
• Income limit: Varies — typically ₹2,00,000 for SC/ST, ₹1,00,000 for OBC
• What you get: Tuition fee reimbursement + maintenance allowance
• Important: UP has a separate scholarship portal (NOT NSP) for state-level schemes. You must apply on BOTH — NSP for central schemes and the UP portal for state schemes.

2.5 Maharashtra — Mahatma Phule Post-Matric Scholarship + TFWS

• Post-Matric Scholarship: For SC/ST/OBC/VJNT/SBC students via mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in
• TFWS seats in polytechnics: 5% supernumerary seats with 100% tuition fee waiver (see Part 3 below)
• Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Shikshan Shulkh Shishyavrutti: For OBC/EBC students — covers tuition and exam fees

2.6 Karnataka — SSP Scholarships

• Portal: Karnataka State Scholarship Portal (SSP)
• Key schemes: Post-Matric SC/ST Scholarship, BC Welfare Scholarship, Minority Welfare Scholarship
• Income limits: ₹2,50,000 (SC/ST), ₹1,00,000 (OBC)

2.7 West Bengal — OASIS Portal

• Portal: oasis.gov.in
• Key schemes: SC/ST/OBC Post-Matric Scholarship, SVMCM (Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means Scholarship — ₹1,500/month for polytechnic students)
• Critical rule: SVMCM is only for students who passed their qualifying exam in the current or immediately preceding year. Students with long study gaps are generally ineligible.
• OBC revalidation: OBC students whose caste certificates were issued before August 1, 2025 must revalidate at castcertificatewb.gov.in before applying.

2.8 Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bihar, Odisha, and Others

Most states follow a similar structure: Post-Matric Scholarships for SC/ST/OBC through NSP + a state-specific portal. Here is a quick reference:

Pro Tip: If your state is not listed above, go to scholarships.gov.in, click “New Registration,” and the portal will automatically show you all schemes you are eligible for based on your state, category, and course level.

Part 3: The AICTE Tuition Fee Waiver (TFW) Scheme — The One Nobody Talks About

This is the most underutilized scholarship for polytechnic students in India. Here is why.

What Is It?

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) mandates that every AICTE-approved institution — government, aided, or private — must reserve up to 5% of intake as supernumerary seats with 100% tuition fee waiver.

Who Can Apply?

Any student from ANY category — SC, ST, OBC, EWS, or even General category — as long as:

• Family annual income is below ₹8,00,000 (₹8 lakh)
• Student secured admission through centralized counseling (POLYCET, JEECUP, CET, etc.)
• Student is enrolled in an AICTE-approved polytechnic or engineering college

What Do You Get?

Complete 100% waiver of tuition fees for the entire duration of the diploma course. You only pay exam fees, library fees, and other non-tuition charges.

How to Apply?

This is NOT applied through NSP. Instead:

1. During your state’s POLYCET or diploma counseling process, look for the “TFW” or “Tuition Fee Waiver” option while filling your college preferences
2. A separate merit list is prepared for TFW applicants
3. If allotted a TFW seat, carry your income certificate and required documents to the verification center

Why Don’t Students Know About This?

Because most counseling guides focus on category-based reservations (SC/ST/OBC quotas) and forget to mention TFW. The seats are supernumerary — meaning they are EXTRA seats above the regular intake. They don’t reduce anyone else’s chances.

Example: If a government polytechnic has 60 seats in Mechanical Engineering, there will be approximately 3 additional TFW seats (5% of 60). These 3 seats are invisible to most applicants because they don’t know to ask.

Key Restrictions

• Tuition fee only — other fees (hostel, exam, library) must be paid by the student
• Once admitted under TFW, you CANNOT change your course or branch
• TFW seats are available only if at least 50% of the regular intake was filled in the previous year (this condition applies mainly to private colleges in some states)

Part 4: The Scholarship Stacking Strategy

Here is how a smart student can maximize their financial support by combining non-overlapping schemes. This is completely legal — the key is that each scheme must cover a DIFFERENT expense.

Example: SC Student in Andhra Pradesh (2026-27)

Warning: You cannot claim tuition fee reimbursement from BOTH the state scheme (JVD) and the central scheme (NSP) simultaneously. Choose one for tuition. Then use the other for maintenance/book allowances if the scheme permits.

Example: OBC Student in UP (2026-27)

Important: If you get a TFW seat with 100% tuition waiver, your state scholarship maintenance component may still be available. Verify with your college’s scholarship cell.

Part 5: Documents Checklist — Get These Ready NOW (February 2026)

Do not wait for the POLYCET notification or counseling dates. Gather these documents today. Every year, students lose scholarships because they couldn’t get a document in time.

Must-Have Documents (All States)

Pro Tips for Document Preparation

Tip 1: Get your income certificate in February or March 2026 itself — don’t wait for the notification. MeeSeva centers become flooded in April-May, causing 15-20 day delays.

Tip 2: Open a separate savings account in YOUR name at a nationalized bank (SBI, PNB, Bank of Baroda, etc.) and get Aadhaar seeded immediately. Private bank accounts sometimes cause DBT failures.

Tip 3: If your name on Aadhaar doesn’t match your SSC certificate (even a minor spelling difference like “Mohammed” vs “Mohammad”), fix it NOW. Aadhaar corrections take 15–30 days, and mismatches cause automatic scholarship rejection.

Tip 4: Scan ALL documents as clear PDFs (under 500 KB each). Most portals require PDF uploads, and blurry photos of certificates get rejected during verification.

Part 6: Application Timeline for 2026-27 Admissions

Part 7: Common Mistakes That Get Scholarships Rejected

Based on patterns we have observed across multiple admission cycles, here are the top reasons polytechnic students lose their scholarship money:

Mistake 1: Old Income Certificate. This is the single biggest rejection reason in AP and TS. Your 2024 or 2025 certificate will NOT work for 2026-27 admissions. Get a fresh one.

Mistake 2: Aadhaar-Bank Account Not Linked. DBT fails silently. You won’t get an error — you just won’t get the money. Visit your bank and confirm Aadhaar seeding.

Mistake 3: Not Following Up with College. After submitting your application on NSP or the state portal, your college must verify it. Many college clerks handle hundreds of applications and may miss yours. Follow up in person every week until the status shows “Verified by Institute.”

Mistake 4: Applying on Wrong Portal. Some students apply on NSP for a state scheme, or on the state portal for a central scheme. Know which scheme belongs to which portal.

Mistake 5: Management Quota Admission. If you took admission through management quota or spot admission (not through POLYCET counseling), you are generally NOT eligible for fee reimbursement in AP and TS. This catches many private college students off guard.

Mistake 6: Attendance Below 75%. Both AP’s Jagananna Vidya Deevena and TS ePASS require a minimum of 75% aggregate attendance. If you fall below this, your scholarship is suspended — no exceptions.

Mistake 7: Failing Exams Without Understanding Renewal Rules. Scholarships are renewed annually, but they are linked to passing. If you fail a semester, the scholarship pauses until you clear the backlog. Plan accordingly. (Read our guide on Practical Exam consequences)

Part 8: Quick Reference — All Major Portals at a Glance

Final Word: Don’t Let Money Be the Reason You Miss Out

Polytechnic education in a government college can cost as little as ₹10,000–₹35,000 per year. With the right combination of scholarships and fee waivers, your out-of-pocket cost can be reduced to almost zero.

But the system doesn’t come to you. You have to go to the system — fill the forms, gather the documents, chase the college clerk, check the portal status.

Start today. Not when the notification comes. Not when counseling starts. Today.

Your first step: Visit scholarships.gov.in and create your One-Time Registration (OTR) ID.

Disclaimer: This article is based on scholarship guidelines and government notifications as of February 2026. Scholarship amounts, income limits, and deadlines are subject to change with each academic year’s notification. Always verify the latest details on official portals (NSP, JnanaBhumi, ePASS, and your respective state scholarship portal) before taking action. Diviseema Polytechnic Hub is an independent educational publisher and is NOT affiliated with any government department or scholarship-granting authority.

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• TS POLYCET 2026: Application Guide & Photo Size Requirements
• Polytechnic Admission for Dropout Students (2026 Guide)
• Polytechnic Admission Age Relaxation 2026
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