UP students in 2026 have access to more government schemes than ever — but most students only know about the scholarship portal. This guide maps every major UP government scheme available to students by category, benefit type, and how to apply. Bookmark this page before you miss a deadline.
Overview — how many schemes are available?
The Uttar Pradesh government runs over 20 active schemes specifically for students. These span scholarships, free devices, free coaching, fee reimbursement, and career guidance. Additionally, central government schemes available at the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) at scholarships.gov.in are accessible to UP students. This guide covers the major state schemes that UP students can actually apply for right now.
Scheme 1 — UP Scholarship (Pre-Matric, Post-Matric, Dashmottar)
Who it is for: SC, ST, OBC, General/EWS, and Minority students from Class 9 to PhD level.
Benefit: Fee reimbursement + maintenance allowance (₹1,000 to ₹13,500/year depending on category and course).
Income limit: ₹1,00,000/year for Class 9-10 (all categories). ₹2,50,000/year for SC/ST post-matric. ₹2,00,000/year for OBC/General/Minority post-matric.
Portal: scholarship.up.gov.in
Deadline 2025-26: Pre/Post-Matric — October 31. Dashmottar — December 20.
Category tool: Check your eligibility and calculate your amount on this site.
Scheme 2 — DigiShakti (Free Tablet / Smartphone)
Who it is for: All UP students enrolled in recognised colleges — UG, PG, Diploma, ITI, Skill Development, Class 9-12. No income limit.
Benefit: Free tablet or smartphone with pre-loaded educational content.
How it works: Your college uploads your data to the UPDESCO portal. You complete eKYC on digishakti.up.gov.in using Aadhaar OTP. No separate application needed.
Status: Active in 2026. eKYC ongoing.
Check eligibility: DigiShakti Eligibility Checker.
Scheme 3 — Mukhyamantri Abhyudaya Yojana (Free Coaching)
Who it is for: All UP students preparing for UPSC, UPPSC, NDA, CDS, JEE, NEET, and other competitive examinations.
Benefit: Free offline and online coaching in all 75 districts. IAS and IPS officers as guest faculty. Free study material and mock tests.
Portal: abhyuday.up.gov.in
No income limit. Available to all categories including General.
Note: This scheme is especially valuable for SC/ST and OBC students who cannot afford private coaching fees of ₹1 to ₹5 lakh.
Scheme 4 — Kanya Vidya Dhan Yojana
Who it is for: Girl students from UP who pass Class 12 from a UP Board, CBSE, or ICSE school.
Benefit: ₹30,000 one-time financial assistance.
Purpose: To encourage girls to pursue higher education after Class 12.
Apply through: Your school or district education officer after Class 12 results.
Scheme 5 — Rani Laxmi Bai Scooty Yojana
Who it is for: Meritorious girl students in UP colleges. Priority given to SC/ST/OBC girl students.
Benefit: Free scooty to enable girls to reach college.
Eligibility: Must have secured high marks in Class 12. Must be enrolled in a government or government-aided college.
Note: Scheme is active but application windows open annually through the state education department. Watch your college notice board for announcements.
Scheme 6 — UP Pankh Career Guidance Portal
Who it is for: Class 9 to Class 12 students in UP.
Benefit: Free career counselling, aptitude tests, college discovery, and course guidance.
Portal: uppankh.in
No registration fee. No income limit. Available to all students regardless of category.
Best use: Students unsure about which stream or course to choose after Class 10 or 12.
Scheme 7 — National Scholarship Portal (Central Schemes)
Who it is for: All category students — SC, ST, OBC, Minority, General.
Key central schemes available to UP students:
- PM YASASVI — for OBC, EBC, DNT students in Class 9-12. ₹75,000/year (residential) or ₹25,000/year (day scholar).
- Post-Matric Scholarship for SC (Central) — for SC students in Class 11 and above.
- Post-Matric Scholarship for OBC (Central) — for OBC students with income below ₹2,50,000/year.
- Merit-cum-Means Scholarship — for Minority students in professional and technical courses.
- National Means Cum Merit Scholarship (NMMS) — for Class 9 students with family income below ₹3,50,000/year. ₹12,000/year.
Portal: scholarships.gov.in — separate from the UP state scholarship portal.
All schemes — quick comparison table
| Scheme | Category | Benefit | Income Limit | Portal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UP Scholarship | All | Fee + maintenance | ₹1L–₹2.5L | scholarship.up.gov.in |
| DigiShakti | All | Free device | None | digishakti.up.gov.in |
| Abhyudaya Yojana | All | Free coaching | None | abhyuday.up.gov.in |
| Kanya Vidya Dhan | Girls only | ₹30,000 | None stated | Via school/DEO |
| Rani Laxmi Bai Scooty | Girls (SC/ST/OBC priority) | Free scooty | Merit-based | Via college |
| UP Pankh Portal | All (Class 9-12) | Career guidance | None | uppankh.in |
| PM YASASVI (NSP) | OBC/EBC/DNT | ₹25K–₹75K/year | ₹2.5L/year | scholarships.gov.in |
Can you apply for multiple schemes together?
Yes for most combinations. DigiShakti and UP Scholarship are completely independent — receive both. Abhyudaya Yojana coaching and UP Scholarship are independent — receive both. However, you cannot receive two government scholarships from the same level simultaneously. For example, if you receive PM YASASVI from NSP, you cannot also receive UP OBC Scholarship for the same year. Declare all scholarships honestly in your application to avoid rejection.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Which is the best scheme for SC students in UP?
A: SC students should prioritise UP Scholarship (highest income limit of ₹2.5 lakh, full fee reimbursement) and DigiShakti (free device, no income limit). Additionally, Abhyudaya Yojana for competitive exam coaching is available free of cost to all categories including SC.
Q: I am a General category student. What schemes am I eligible for?
A: UP Scholarship with income below ₹2,00,000/year. DigiShakti free tablet (no income limit). Abhyudaya Yojana free coaching (no income limit). Kanya Vidya Dhan ₹30,000 if you are a girl who passed Class 12. UP Pankh career guidance (all students). EWS certificate holders additionally get 10% reservation benefits in admissions.
Q: Is there a separate scheme for ITI and Diploma students?
A: Yes. UP Scholarship Dashmottar scheme covers ITI and Diploma students. DigiShakti also covers ITI and Diploma students. Both are active in 2026.
Q: Where do I apply for all these schemes?
A: UP Scholarship → scholarship.up.gov.in. DigiShakti → digishakti.up.gov.in (no application, just eKYC). Abhyudaya → abhyuday.up.gov.in. NSP schemes → scholarships.gov.in. UP Pankh → uppankh.in.
Q: Which scheme should I apply for first?
A: Complete DigiShakti eKYC first — it takes 10 minutes and has no deadline. Then apply for UP Scholarship before October 31 (Class 9-12) or December 20 (UG/PG/Diploma). Register on NSP for central schemes. Apply for Abhyudaya Yojana coaching if you are preparing for competitive exams.
