The UGC Scholarship Eligibility 2026 guidelines have been released for students applying under the Ishan Uday Special Scholarship Scheme and the National Scholarship for Postgraduate Studies (NSPG) through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). The University Grants Commission (UGC) has detailed the eligibility criteria, scholarship benefits, and verification process for both schemes.
The Ishan Uday Special Scholarship Scheme supports students from the North Eastern Region (NER) pursuing regular undergraduate courses. Applicants must be permanent residents of any of the eight North Eastern states, have passed Class 12 from a recognised school in the region, and be enrolled in the first year of a full-time undergraduate programme.
The annual family income must be less than INR 4.5 lakh. Students admitted through the management quota or enrolled in distance or open learning programmes are not eligible. UGC offers 10,000 fresh scholarships annually under this scheme.
The National Scholarship for Postgraduate Studies (NSPG) is open to students (below 30 years) pursuing their first full-time postgraduate degree. Students enrolled in part-time, correspondence, or distance education programmes are not eligible.
Key Highlights
- Ishan Uday is available for eligible UG students from the Northeastern states.
- NSPG supports first-year regular postgraduate students across India.
- Applicants must study in UGC-recognised institutions with a valid AISHE code.
- Scholarship applications must be submitted through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
- Institutional Nodal Officers (INOs) are required to verify applications within 15 days.
Students should review the UGC Scholarship Eligibility 2026 criteria carefully and complete the application process on time to ensure smooth verification and disbursement of scholarships.
Students admitted to the first year of a regular postgraduate degree in a UGC-recognized institution and meeting the eligibility criteria can apply.
Students from the North Eastern Region enrolled in the first year of a regular undergraduate degree and meeting the prescribed income and eligibility criteria can apply.
Eligible students can submit their applications through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) when the application window opens.
