UP Scholarship eligibility 2026 confuses millions of students every year. The income limits differ by category. The course requirements differ by scholarship type. And a single wrong detail in your application causes rejection months later. This guide explains every eligibility rule clearly — so you know exactly where you stand before you open the portal.
What is UP Scholarship and who runs it?
UP Scholarship is a state government financial aid programme managed by the Uttar Pradesh Social Welfare Department. It runs through the official Saksham Portal at scholarship.up.gov.in. The scheme covers approximately 8.4 million students annually from Class 9 through postgraduate level. It provides two types of support — fee reimbursement paid directly to your college and a maintenance allowance deposited into your Aadhaar-linked bank account via DBT.
Basic eligibility criteria — applies to all categories
Every UP Scholarship applicant must meet these four conditions regardless of category. First, you must be a permanent resident of Uttar Pradesh with a valid UP domicile certificate. Second, you must be enrolled in a recognised school or college in Uttar Pradesh or studying outside UP under the Dashmottar Outside State scheme. Third, you must have passed your previous year exam or be a first-year student in a new course. Fourth, your Aadhaar card must be seeded to your personal bank account before you apply — payments fail without this.
Income limits by category — 2025-26
The income limit is the most commonly misunderstood rule. Many students apply on the wrong portal because they do not know their exact limit. Here are the confirmed income limits for 2025-26.
| Category | Pre-Matric (Class 9-10) | Post-Matric (Class 11 onwards) |
|---|---|---|
| SC / ST | ₹1,00,000/year | ₹2,50,000/year |
| OBC | ₹1,00,000/year | ₹2,00,000/year |
| General / EWS | ₹1,00,000/year | ₹2,00,000/year |
| Minority | ₹1,00,000/year | ₹2,00,000/year |
Income means total family income from all sources combined — salary, agriculture, business, rent, pension, and any other source. Your income certificate must come from a Tehsildar and must not be older than three years.
Which scholarship portal applies to your category?
UP Scholarship runs through four separate portals based on category. Applying on the wrong portal results in automatic rejection. Use this as your reference.
- SC / ST / General (EWS): Social Welfare Department portal — scholarship.up.gov.in → Social Welfare section
- OBC: Backward Class Welfare portal — scholarship.up.gov.in → OBC Welfare section
- Minority (Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi): Minority Welfare portal — scholarship.up.gov.in → Minority Welfare section
Course and institution eligibility
Your course must be a recognised programme in a government or government-aided institution affiliated to a UP university. Private unaided colleges are eligible only if affiliated and recognised. Distance learning and correspondence courses are generally not covered under post-matric scholarship. The following course levels are covered.
- Pre-Matric: Class 9 and Class 10
- Post-Matric Intermediate: Class 11 and Class 12
- Dashmottar: UG, PG, Diploma, ITI, Polytechnic, BEd, BTech, MBBS, LLB, and all other post-Class 12 courses
Additional eligibility rules you must know
You cannot receive two government scholarships simultaneously. If you receive any central government scholarship, UP Scholarship is not payable at the same time. You must declare this honestly in your application. Additionally, OTR (One Time Registration) with Aadhaar is mandatory from 2026-27 onwards. Complete it at scholarship.up.gov.in before the portal opens in July. Students who applied in previous years must also complete OTR when prompted during their renewal application.
Documents required
- Aadhaar card (with Aadhaar-linked mobile number active)
- Income certificate from Tehsildar — not older than 3 years
- Caste certificate — SC/ST/OBC/Minority as applicable (must be valid)
- Previous year marksheet
- College fee receipt (non-refundable fee amount must match exactly)
- Bonafide certificate from college
- Bank passbook (Aadhaar-seeded, in student’s own name)
- Passport size photograph
Application deadlines 2025-26
Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Intermediate applications closed October 31, 2025. Dashmottar (UG, PG, Diploma, ITI) applications closed December 20, 2025. For 2026-27, the portal is expected to open in July 2026. Apply as early as possible — your hard copy must reach your college before their internal deadline, which is usually 7 to 10 days before the portal deadline.
Check your eligibility instantly
Use the UP Scholarship Eligibility Checker on this site to get your result in seconds based on your category, course, income, and previous year result. Once you confirm eligibility, use the UP Scholarship Amount Calculator to find out exactly how much maintenance allowance you will receive.
Frequently asked questions
Q: I am in Class 9 from an SC family with income of ₹1.5 lakh. Am I eligible?
A: No. For Pre-Matric scholarship (Class 9-10), the income limit is ₹1,00,000/year for all categories including SC/ST. Your income of ₹1.5 lakh exceeds this limit. You would be eligible for Post-Matric scholarship when you reach Class 11 since the SC/ST limit rises to ₹2,50,000.
Q: My OBC certificate expired last year. Can I still apply?
A: No. An expired OBC certificate is not accepted. Apply for renewal immediately at edistrict.up.gov.in. Allow 15 to 30 days for processing. Apply well before the scholarship portal deadline.
Q: Can I apply if I failed one subject but was promoted?
A: Generally no. UP Scholarship requires passing your previous year exam. Compartment or back paper cases are typically rejected. Contact your college scholarship nodal officer to confirm your specific situation.
Q: Is UP Scholarship separate from DigiShakti free tablet?
A: Yes, completely. These are separate schemes managed by different departments. Receiving the DigiShakti tablet has no effect on your scholarship eligibility. Apply for both if you qualify. Check DigiShakti Eligibility Checker to verify your tablet eligibility.
Q: What is OTR and is it mandatory?
A: OTR is One Time Registration with your Aadhaar — a one-time process you complete once and use every year. It is mandatory from 2026-27 onwards. Complete it at scholarship.up.gov.in before the portal opens in July 2026.
Q: My Aadhaar address is not UP. Can I still apply?
A: Yes. What matters is your domicile certificate showing UP residency, not your Aadhaar address. Attach your valid UP domicile certificate when applying.
Q: How do I check if my scholarship money has arrived?
A: Check your application status on scholarship.up.gov.in. For payment confirmation, visit pfms.nic.in and enter your bank account number under Know Your Payment. Also use the UP Scholarship Status Checker on this site.
