OBC students form the largest scholarship beneficiary group in Uttar Pradesh — over 4.83 lakh OBC students received scholarships in the 2026-27 second phase alone. Yet many OBC students miss out simply because they apply on the wrong portal or do not know all the schemes available to them. This guide covers every active government scheme for OBC students in UP in 2026.
What makes OBC schemes different from SC/ST and General?
OBC students have a post-matric income limit of ₹2,00,000/year — lower than SC/ST (₹2,50,000) but the same as General/EWS. The key difference is the portal — OBC students must apply through the Backward Class Welfare section at scholarship.up.gov.in. Applying on the Social Welfare or Minority portal causes automatic rejection. Additionally, OBC Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) status is required — family income must be below ₹8,00,000/year for central reservation benefits, but only ₹2,00,000/year for the UP state scholarship.
Scheme 1 — UP Scholarship (Backward Class Welfare)
Managed by: Backward Class Welfare Department, UP
Portal: scholarship.up.gov.in → Backward Class Welfare section
Who qualifies: OBC students in Class 9 and above, income up to ₹2,00,000/year
Class 9-10 income limit: ₹1,00,000/year
Benefit: Partial fee reimbursement + maintenance allowance
Maintenance allowance 2026-27: Class 9-10 up to ₹2,000/year, UG up to ₹6,000/year, BTech up to ₹9,000/year, PG up to ₹7,500/year
Budget 2026-27: The Backward Class Welfare Department budget increased to ₹3,124.45 crore in 2026-27 — more than 2.5 times from 2016-17. Scholarship distribution in 2026-27 began in September itself — earlier than previous years.
Deadline: 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
Who qualifies: All UP students in recognised institutions — no income limit, no category restriction
Benefit: Free tablet or smartphone
Action needed: Complete eKYC on digishakti.up.gov.in. No form, no application.
Status 2026: Active
Eligibility check: DigiShakti Eligibility Checker
Scheme 3 — PM YASASVI (Central Government)
Full name: PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India
Managed by: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India
Portal: scholarships.gov.in (NSP)
Who qualifies: OBC, EBC, and DNT students in Class 9-12, income up to ₹2,50,000/year
Benefit: ₹75,000/year for residential school students, ₹25,000/year for day scholars
Selection: Through a national level test (YASASVI Entrance Test — YET)
Note: This is one of the highest-value central scholarships for OBC students. The Budget 2026 allocated over ₹1,000 crore additional funding to OBC/EBC/DNT scholarships.
Scheme 4 — Post-Matric Scholarship for OBC (Central Government)
Managed by: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
Portal: scholarships.gov.in
Who qualifies: OBC students in Class 11 and above, income up to ₹2,50,000/year for central benefit
Benefit: Maintenance allowance + compulsory fee reimbursement
Important: OBC students can apply for both UP state scholarship (Backward Class Welfare portal) and NSP central OBC scholarship — but not receive both for the same expenses simultaneously. Declare all scholarships received.
Scheme 5 — Mukhyamantri Abhyudaya Yojana
Who qualifies: All UP students preparing for competitive exams — no income limit
Benefit: Free UPSC, UPPSC, JEE, NEET coaching in all 75 UP districts
Portal: abhyuday.up.gov.in
Why it matters for OBC students: OBC students have reservation in UPSC and UPPSC civil services. Abhyudaya Yojana provides free coaching from IAS/IPS officers — effectively removing the financial barrier to competitive exam preparation.
Scheme 6 — Top Class Education for OBC/EBC/DNT Students
Managed by: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
Who qualifies: OBC/EBC/DNT students in premier institutions (IITs, IIMs, AIIMS, NLUs)
Benefit: Full tuition + accommodation ₹3,000/month + books ₹5,000/year. One-time laptop grant up to ₹45,000.
Income limit: ₹2,50,000/year for OBC/DNT. ₹1,00,000/year for EBC.
Apply: scholarships.gov.in
All schemes — summary table for OBC students
| Scheme | Benefit | Income Limit | Portal |
|---|---|---|---|
| UP Scholarship (OBC) | Partial fee + maintenance ₹2,000–₹9,000/yr | ₹2,00,000/yr | scholarship.up.gov.in (OBC section) |
| DigiShakti | Free tablet/smartphone | None | digishakti.up.gov.in |
| PM YASASVI (Central) | ₹25,000–₹75,000/yr | ₹2,50,000/yr | scholarships.gov.in |
| Post-Matric OBC (Central) | Fee + maintenance | ₹2,50,000/yr | scholarships.gov.in |
| Abhyudaya Yojana | Free competitive coaching | None | abhyuday.up.gov.in |
| Top Class Education OBC | Full fee + laptop grant | ₹2,50,000/yr | scholarships.gov.in |
The Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) rule — understand this
OBC students must be Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) to access most OBC reservation benefits. For UP state scholarship — family income must be below ₹2,00,000/year. For central government OBC reservations and central scholarships — family income must be below ₹8,00,000/year. Your OBC certificate must indicate Non-Creamy Layer status. If your family income has increased above ₹8,00,000/year, you are in the Creamy Layer and not eligible for OBC central reservation benefits — though you may still qualify for state scholarship at ₹2,00,000 limit. OBC certificate is valid for 3 years. Renew before expiry.
Frequently asked questions
Q: I applied on the Social Welfare portal for OBC scholarship. What happens?
A: Your application will be rejected. OBC students must apply exclusively on the Backward Class Welfare section at scholarship.up.gov.in. You need to reapply on the correct portal before the deadline.
Q: My OBC certificate expired 6 months ago. Can I still apply?
A: No. An expired OBC certificate is not accepted for scholarship applications. Apply for renewal immediately at edistrict.up.gov.in. Processing takes 15–30 days. Apply well before the October 31 or December 20 deadline.
Q: What is the difference between state OBC scholarship and PM YASASVI?
A: State OBC scholarship (Backward Class Welfare) covers Class 9 to PG with income limit ₹2,00,000/year and provides partial fee reimbursement plus maintenance. PM YASASVI is a central scheme for Class 9-12 only, income limit ₹2,50,000/year, and provides ₹25,000 to ₹75,000/year — often higher than state maintenance allowance. Apply for both to maximise benefit.
Q: Is there a scholarship for OBC students in IIT or IIM?
A: Yes. The Top Class Education Scheme for OBC covers full tuition fee, accommodation allowance, and a one-time laptop grant of up to ₹45,000 for OBC students admitted to premier institutions. Apply through scholarships.gov.in.
