Engineering students can combine several scholarships: the AICTE Pragati scholarship for girls (about Rs 50,000 a year including incidental charges), category-based schemes such as PM YASASVI (up to Rs 20,000 a year for OBC professional degrees), the West Bengal SVMCM (Rs 5,000 a month for engineering), the PMSS for wards of central police personnel, and state schemes. You can usually hold only one scholarship at a time, so pick the one that pays most for your situation.
Quick facts
| Scheme | For whom | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| AICTE Pragati | Girl students admitted in 1st year of AICTE-approved degree/diploma through centralised admission; family income up to Rs 8 lakh | Tuition reimbursement up to Rs 30,000 plus Rs 2,000 per month for 10 months |
| AICTE Saksham and Swanath | Specially abled students (Saksham); other eligible groups per AICTE guidelines (Swanath) | See AICTE guidelines for current amounts and criteria |
| PM YASASVI post-matric | OBC, EBC, DNT; income up to Rs 2.5 lakh | Rs 20,000 a year for degree and PG professional courses |
| SVMCM (West Bengal) | Domicile of West Bengal; 60% marks; income up to Rs 2.5 lakh | Rs 5,000 a month for engineering degree |
| Aikyashree MCM (West Bengal) | Minority students; 50% marks; income up to Rs 2.5 lakh | Rs 27,500 (day scholar) or Rs 33,000 (hosteller) a year, per scheme summary |
| PM Scholarship Scheme (MHA) | Wards of CAPF and Assam Rifles personnel; 60% marks | Rs 2,500/month (boys), Rs 3,000/month (girls) |
Last checked October 2026.
AICTE Pragati scholarship for girls
The official AICTE document says Pragati is for girls admitted to the first year of a degree or diploma at an AICTE-approved institute through a state or central centralised admission process. Up to two girls per family can apply, and family income must not exceed Rs 8 lakh a year. There are 4,000 scholarships a year, split equally between degree and diploma, and selection is by merit in the qualifying exam. Reservation is 15 percent for SC, 7.5 percent for ST and 27 percent for OBC.
The benefit is a tuition fee reimbursement of up to Rs 30,000 (or the actual fee, whichever is less) and Rs 2,000 a month for ten months as incidental charges. If your tuition is already waived, you may get Rs 30,000 for books, equipment, a computer or competitive exam fees. Documents listed by AICTE include mark sheets, an income certificate for the previous financial year issued by an officer not below Tahsildar rank, the admission letter, the institute head’s certificate, the fee receipt, an Aadhaar-seeded passbook and a signed parental declaration.
Saksham and Swanath
These two AICTE schemes appear on the National Scholarship Portal alongside Pragati. Saksham is for specially abled students in technical degree and diploma courses. Swanath is another AICTE scheme with degree and diploma versions. I could not open their current guideline text, so read the 2025 guidelines on aicte-india.org before you apply.
Category and state scholarships
- SC/ST students: the post-matric scholarship covers compulsory fees and an allowance; see our SC scholarship guide. ST students can look at the Ministry of Tribal Affairs scheme on NSP.
- OBC/EBC/DNT: PM YASASVI post-matric pays Rs 20,000 a year for degree and PG professional courses.
- West Bengal: SVMCM pays Rs 5,000 a month for engineering and AICTE professional courses (with 60% marks for UG, 55% in graduation for PG engineering, income up to Rs 2.5 lakh).
- Wards of armed forces: PMSS needs 60 percent marks and covers engineering as a first professional degree.
- J&K and Ladakh students: the special scholarship scheme (SSSJKL, earlier PMSSS) pays a maintenance of Rs 1 lakh a year and an academic fee up to Rs 1.25 lakh for professional degrees such as engineering, with family income up to Rs 8 lakh and admission through AICTE counselling.
- Other states: most states have their own fee reimbursement or merit scholarship; check your state portal.
Documents engineering students usually need
- Class 12 marksheet and entrance rank or allotment letter
- Admission letter and fee receipt from the college
- Income certificate
- Category certificate if applicable
- Aadhaar and an Aadhaar-seeded bank account in your name
- Domicile certificate where your state needs it
How to apply
- Make a list of schemes you may qualify for using the income, marks and category rules above.
- Create your OTR at scholarships.gov.in for AICTE and central schemes, or register on your state’s portal.
- Fill in the form, upload documents and submit. Keep your application ID.
- Contact your college nodal officer for verification.
- Track the status and payment online.
Deadline
Each scheme has its own window, and AICTE has extended dates in earlier years. Reports for 2026-27 mention 31 October 2026 for many NSP schemes, but I could not confirm it for each. Check the portal for the current deadline.
Common mistakes
- Applying to Pragati after first year; it is for first-year (or lateral-entry) admissions per AICTE.
- Admission through management quota when a scheme needs a centralised process.
- Holding two scholarships for the same course.
- Income certificate not in the prescribed format or not from the right officer.
- Skipping college verification.
For engineering, the best approach is to shortlist two or three schemes, apply on time on the right portal, and always keep the college nodal officer in the loop.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Which scholarship is best for engineering students?
It depends on category, gender, state and income. AICTE Pragati for girls, PM YASASVI for OBC, SVMCM for West Bengal students and PMSS for wards of police personnel are well-known options.
How much is the AICTE Pragati scholarship?
Up to Rs 30,000 tuition reimbursement plus Rs 2,000 a month for 10 months, per AICTE’s scheme document.
What is the income limit for AICTE Pragati?
Rs 8 lakh per year.
Can I take two scholarships together?
Generally no; most schemes allow only one scholarship for the same course.
Where do engineering students apply?
On scholarships.gov.in for central and AICTE schemes, and on state portals for state schemes.
