SC and ST students in Uttar Pradesh have access to more financial support than any other category. Yet most students only know about the scholarship portal. This guide lists every active government scheme available to SC and ST students in UP in 2026 — with exact amounts, income limits, portals, and deadlines.
Why SC and ST students get the most support
SC and ST students have the highest income limit for UP Scholarship — ₹2,50,000 per year for post-matric, compared to ₹2,00,000 for OBC and General. They receive full fee reimbursement rather than partial reimbursement. Additionally, several central government schemes are exclusively or primarily designed for SC and ST students. Understanding all of these is the first step to claiming every benefit you are entitled to.
Scheme 1 — UP Scholarship (Post-Matric) for SC/ST
Managed by: Social Welfare Department, UP
Portal: scholarship.up.gov.in → Social Welfare section
Who qualifies: SC/ST students in Class 9 onwards, income up to ₹2,50,000/year
Class 9-10 income limit: ₹1,00,000/year (stricter for Pre-Matric)
Benefit: Full tuition fee reimbursement paid to college + maintenance allowance
Maintenance allowance 2025-26: Class 9-10 up to ₹7,000/year (hosteller), Class 11-12 up to ₹9,200/year, UG up to ₹9,600/year, BTech/MBBS up to ₹13,500/year
Deadline 2025-26: Class 9-12 — October 31. UG/PG/Diploma — December 20.
Calculate your amount: UP Scholarship Amount Calculator
Scheme 2 — DigiShakti Free Tablet/Smartphone
Managed by: UPDESCO, UP Government
Portal: digishakti.up.gov.in
Who qualifies: All UP students enrolled in recognised institutions — no income limit, no category restriction
Benefit: Free tablet or smartphone with educational content
What to do: Complete eKYC on digishakti.up.gov.in using Aadhaar OTP. No separate application required.
Status 2026: Active, eKYC ongoing
Check your eligibility: DigiShakti Eligibility Checker
Scheme 3 — Post-Matric Scholarship for SC (Central Government)
Managed by: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India
Portal: scholarships.gov.in (National Scholarship Portal)
Who qualifies: SC students in Class 11 and above, income up to ₹2,50,000/year
Benefit: Maintenance allowance + compulsory non-refundable fee reimbursement
Important: This is a central scheme — separate from the UP state scholarship. SC students can apply for both state and central but cannot receive both simultaneously for the same expenses. Consult your college nodal officer.
Apply: scholarships.gov.in → Schedule Caste section
Scheme 4 — Mukhyamantri Abhyudaya Yojana (Free Coaching)
Managed by: Government of UP
Portal: abhyuday.up.gov.in
Who qualifies: All UP students — no income limit, all categories
Benefit: Free coaching for UPSC, UPPSC, NDA, CDS, JEE, NEET in all 75 districts. IAS/IPS officers as guest faculty. Free study material and mock tests.
Why SC/ST students should prioritise this: Private coaching for UPSC costs ₹1 to ₹5 lakh. Abhyudaya Yojana provides the same quality free. SC/ST students have additional age relaxation in UPSC and UPPSC — making this scheme especially valuable.
Scheme 5 — National Fellowship for SC Students (UGC)
Managed by: University Grants Commission (UGC)
Who qualifies: SC students admitted to MPhil or PhD in recognised universities
Benefit: ₹31,000/month (JRF) rising to ₹35,000/month (SRF) + contingency grant
Apply through: Your university after admission to MPhil/PhD
Income limit: No income limit for PhD/MPhil fellowship
Note: This is one of the highest-value schemes for SC students in higher education.
Scheme 6 — Top Class Education Scheme for SC Students
Managed by: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
Who qualifies: SC students admitted to premier institutions (IITs, IIMs, NLUs, AIIMS, and other notified institutions)
Benefit: Full tuition fee + living expenses + books allowance
Income limit: Family income up to ₹6,00,000/year for full benefit, up to ₹8,00,000/year for partial
Apply through: scholarships.gov.in → Top Class Education section
Scheme 7 — Kanya Vidya Dhan (Girls only)
Managed by: UP Government
Who qualifies: Girl students who pass Class 12 from UP Board, CBSE, or ICSE schools in UP
Benefit: ₹30,000 one-time financial assistance
Apply through: School or district education officer after Class 12 results
Note: SC/ST girl students often have priority consideration alongside merit-based selection.
All schemes — summary table for SC/ST students
| Scheme | Benefit | Income Limit | Where to Apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| UP Scholarship (State) | Full fee + maintenance ₹3,500–₹13,500/yr | ₹2,50,000/yr | scholarship.up.gov.in |
| DigiShakti | Free tablet/smartphone | None | digishakti.up.gov.in |
| Post-Matric SC (Central) | Fee + maintenance | ₹2,50,000/yr | scholarships.gov.in |
| Abhyudaya Yojana | Free competitive exam coaching | None | abhyuday.up.gov.in |
| UGC National Fellowship | ₹31,000–₹35,000/month | None | Via university (PhD/MPhil) |
| Top Class Education | Full fee at premier institutes | ₹8,00,000/yr | scholarships.gov.in |
| Kanya Vidya Dhan (girls) | ₹30,000 one-time | None stated | Via school/DEO |
Which schemes to apply for first — priority order
Complete DigiShakti eKYC immediately — takes 10 minutes, no deadline. Apply for UP State Scholarship before October 31 (Class 9-12) or December 20 (UG/PG). Register on NSP at scholarships.gov.in for central schemes. Apply for Abhyudaya Yojana if preparing for competitive exams. For PhD/MPhil students, check UGC National Fellowship eligibility through your university.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Can SC students receive both UP State Scholarship and Central Government Post-Matric Scholarship?
A: Generally not simultaneously for the same expenses. The UP state and central schemes both cover fee and maintenance — receiving both for the same purpose is not permitted. Consult your college scholarship nodal officer for guidance on which to prioritise for your specific course.
Q: Is there a separate scholarship for ST students or is it combined with SC?
A: UP state scholarship is combined SC/ST with the same income limit of ₹2,50,000/year. At the central level, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs runs separate Post-Matric Scholarship for ST students — apply at scholarships.gov.in under ST category specifically.
Q: What documents are specific to SC/ST scholarship applications?
A: You need a valid SC/ST caste certificate issued by a UP Tehsildar. SC/ST certificates are lifetime valid — but many exam notifications ask for a fresh digital certificate issued after 2018. Get your digital certificate from edistrict.up.gov.in even if you have an old one. See UP Certificate Guide.
Q: I am in a private engineering college. Can I get full fee reimbursement as an SC student?
A: Yes, if your college is affiliated to a UP university and recognised by the state government. Full fee reimbursement means the government pays your actual tuition fee directly to the college. The amount is not capped — it covers whatever fee your college charges (within government norms).
