When people search for the ‘Prime Minister Scholarship Scheme’, they usually mean the PM Scholarship Scheme (PMSS) for wards of central armed police forces (CAPF) and Assam Rifles personnel, run by the Ministry of Home Affairs. It pays Rs 2,500 a month to boys and Rs 3,000 a month to girls for a first professional degree. A few other ‘PM’ schemes share similar names, so this guide also clears up the confusion.
Which PM scholarship do you mean?
| Name people search | Actual scheme | For whom |
|---|---|---|
| Prime Minister Scholarship Scheme / PMSS | PM Scholarship Scheme for CAPF and Assam Rifles (and wards of martyred state police) | Children and widows of central police personnel |
| PMSSS | Earlier name of the special scholarship for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh students, now called SSSJKL under PM-USP | J&K and Ladakh domicile students for degree courses outside the UTs |
| PM YASASVI | Scholarships for OBC, EBC, DNT students | Students from those groups |
| PM scholarship for Railways | Scheme for the Ministry of Railways, listed on NSP | Wards of railway staff (check NSP guidelines) |
Last checked October 2026. The rest of this guide covers PMSS for CAPF and Assam Rifles wards.
Who is eligible?
As per the Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines, the scholarship goes to dependent wards and widows of CAPF and Assam Rifles personnel, in this order of preference:
- Wards or widows of personnel killed in action
- Wards of ex-personnel disabled in action
- Wards or widows of personnel who died because of causes attributable to government service, including election duty
- Wards of ex-personnel disabled in service
- Wards of ex-personnel with gallantry awards
- Wards of ex-personnel below officer rank
- Wards of serving personnel below officer rank, subject to availability
Since 2019-20 the scheme also covers wards of state and union territory police personnel martyred in terror or Naxal attacks. Other conditions from the guidelines:
- The course must be a first professional degree such as engineering, medicine, dental, veterinary, BBA, BCA, B.Pharma, nursing, agriculture, MBA or MCA at an approved institution.
- New applicants need at least 60 percent in the qualifying exam (Class 12, diploma or graduation). Renewal needs at least 50 percent each year.
- Two children per family at most.
- Diploma-only courses, distance learning, study abroad and unapproved colleges are excluded.
- Wards of civilian employees are not covered.
How much do you get?
| Student | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Girls | Rs 3,000 | Rs 36,000 |
| Boys | Rs 2,500 | Rs 30,000 |
The scholarship runs for up to five years, depending on the length of the course. The guidelines set 2,000 new scholarships a year for CAPF and Assam Rifles wards (half for boys, half for girls) plus 500 for wards of martyred state police personnel. These figures are from the 2023-24 guidelines; confirm the latest on the portal.
Documents
- Service certificate from the head of office (for serving personnel)
- Attested marksheet of the qualifying exam
- PPO or discharge certificate for ex-personnel
- Disability certificate, death certificate or gallantry award certificate depending on your category
- State government certificate for state police wards
- Aadhaar-seeded bank account in your name (a savings, PMJDY or BSBD account; PPF, loan, FD and RD accounts are not accepted)
How to apply
- Register and apply on scholarships.gov.in (National Scholarship Portal). Create your OTR first.
- Choose the PM Scholarship Scheme for CAPF and Assam Rifles, fill the form and upload scanned documents.
- Give a working mobile number and email; notifications go there.
- Keep your registration number safe.
- Your college verifies first, then your CAPF or Assam Rifles unit or the state government verifies through a board.
- Selected students are ranked by category and marks, and money goes to your bank account through PFMS.
Deadline
The guidelines I read gave 1 October to 31 December as the window for 2023-24, and an earlier cycle closed in April. The window changes by year, so check the portal for the current deadline and do not rely on old dates. For the CAPF and Assam Rifles wards scheme, one listing (IndiaScholarships) reports that 2026-27 applications run from 1 June to 31 October 2026 on the National Scholarship Portal; confirm this on scholarships.gov.in.
Common mistakes
- Changing course or college after selection, which can lead to permanent rejection.
- Applying in a diploma or non-professional course, which is not covered.
- Bank account not Aadhaar-linked or in a parent’s name.
- Missing the unit verification step.
- Giving wrong information. The guidelines warn of cancellation, repayment with interest and a blacklist.
If you meant the J&K scheme (PMSSS)
The special scholarship for students from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh (now SSSJKL under PM-USP) is a different scheme. Eligibility: J&K or Ladakh domicile, Class 12 from JKBOSE or CBSE schools in those UTs, family income up to Rs 8 lakh, admission through AICTE counselling. The brochure lists maintenance of Rs 1 lakh a year plus an academic fee up to Rs 30,000 for general degrees, Rs 1.25 lakh for professional degrees and Rs 3 lakh for medical courses. Applicants must first create an NSP OTR and then register on the AICTE portal. Admission is only through the AICTE portal, never through agents.
In short, PMSS is a merit-and-service-based scholarship for the children of central police personnel. If you belong to that group, prepare your service and marks documents early, apply on NSP, and follow up with your unit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the Prime Minister Scholarship Scheme?
Most often it means PMSS for wards of CAPF and Assam Rifles personnel, run by the Ministry of Home Affairs. It supports first professional degrees.
How much is the PM scholarship amount?
Rs 3,000 a month for girls and Rs 2,500 a month for boys, per the Home Affairs guidelines.
What marks are needed for PMSS?
At least 60 percent in the qualifying exam for new applicants and at least 50 percent in each following year for renewal.
Where do I apply for the PM scholarship?
Online at scholarships.gov.in, the National Scholarship Portal.
Is PMSSS the same as PMSS?
No. PMSSS (now SSSJKL) is a separate special scholarship for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh students studying outside their UTs.
