Where to Apply for Scholarships in India: 7 Portals Every Student Should Know (2026-27)

Where to Apply for Scholarships in India: 7 Portals Every Student Should Know (2026-27)

Students are losing money if they are not applying for a scholarship that they are eligible for. Many end up applying on the wrong platform, and some are too late to even register before the deadline. But all these problems can be resolved simply by knowing which platform is the right one for scholarship applications. This guide will fix the problem by providing students with a list of the top 10 scholarship platforms in India to find scholarships, exams and required financial aid. Many deadlines are in October, so check out the blog post and find the best scholarships fitting your demand.

Quick Comparison Table

1. SooperChamp

If you are looking for a scholarship, Olympiad, sports championships, or hackathons for your child, then SooperChamp is the right platform for you. It covers scholarship exams, Olympiads, coding challenges, art competitions, international competitions and more. 

Why it ranks first:

• All you have to do is enter the student’s age, class, city, and interests, and you will find the matching opportunities that fit. They follow a student-first approach to ensure that their interests are kept as the priority. 

• Every listing has a clearly mentioned application and closing date. 

• Both government and private scholarship exams are covered here. 

How to use it:

1. Visit sooperchamp.com and open the Discover page.

2. Create a profile with class, age, city and interests.

3. Browse the recommended scholarships and filter by category.

4. Open a listing and read the eligibility and closing date.

5. Apply through the official link given on that page

2. National Scholarship Portal (NSP)

The national scholarship portal is the central government's main website for scholarships. The NSP scholarship schemes cover pre-matric, post-matric scholarship and merit-cum-means schemes for SC, ST, OBC and minority students. You need to get a One Time Registration (OTR) done first, which will give you the 14-digit ID that you can use every year. You can apply for one merit-based scheme and more than one welfare-based scheme. It's mandatory for your Aadhaar card to be linked to your bank account. 

Portal: https://scholarships.gov.in 

How to use it:

1. Go to scholarships.gov.in and click "Apply for OTR".

2. Log in with your OTR and choose the 2026-27 session.

3. Pick the scheme that fits you and fill in the form.

4. Upload your documents and submit.

5. Note your application ID. Your school or college must then verify the form.

3. UP Scholarship Portal

The UP scholarship portal is for students in Uttar Pradesh. It covers pre-matric, post-matric and Dashmottar scholarships. You can also search for it as scholarship UP gov in. It's best for class 9 to postgraduate students in Uttar Pradesh looking for financial help for their studies. 

Portal: https://scholarship.up.gov.in 

How to use it:

1. Go to scholarship.up.gov.in and complete One Time Registration.

2. Log in and choose your category: pre-matric, post-matric or Dashmottar. Then choose fresh or renewal.

3. Fill in your details and upload your documents.

4. Lock and submit the form. Save a copy.

5. Your school or college will verify it. Ask them if they need a printed copy.

6. Check your status on the portal using your registration details.

4. MahaDBT (Maharashtra)

MahaDBT is Maharashtra's main scholarship portal. The scholarship here covers tuition fee waivers, exam fee support and maintenance allowances. This portal is best for post-matric, degree, diploma, medical, engineering and polytechnic course students in Maharashtra. If you are an SC, ST, VJNT, OBC, SEBC and EWS student with a Maharashtra domicile certificate, then you are eligible to apply. 

Portal: https://mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in/ 

How to use it:

1. Create an account on the MahaDBT website.

2. Complete Aadhaar verification with an OTP.

3. Enter your personal, academic and course details.

4. Choose the scholarship scheme you are eligible for.

5. Upload your income certificate, domicile certificate, fee receipts and bank details.

6. Submit and give a copy to your college.

5. State Scholarship Portal (SSP), Karnataka

The SSP scholarship portal is run by the Karnataka government. Many states have their own state scholarship portal, so the one you need depends on where you live. The portal provided below is for Karnataka students. 

Portals: https://ssp.karnataka.gov.in for pre-matric and https://ssp.postmatric.karnataka.gov.in for post-matric.

How to use it:

1. Use the right website for your class.

2. Get your SATS ID from your school or college.

3. Create an account if you are new.

4. Choose your scholarship and fill in the form.

5. Upload your caste and income certificates, Aadhaar and marksheet.

6. Submit, then check your status with your SATS ID.

6. Buddy4Study

Buddy4Study is a private platform that lists scholarships from governments, companies and foundations in one place. It is useful if you are looking for financial help options apart from government schemes. Being a private platform, it has features like class, course, gender and category filter. It will also send you email, SMS and Whatsapp alert for any scholarship that matches your needs. 

How to use it:

1. Sign up with your email, mobile number or Google account.

2. Fill in your profile with class, marks, income and category.

3. Search for scholarships or use the filters.

4. Open a scholarship and read the eligibility and last date.

5. Fill in the form, upload documents and submit.

7. Vidyasaarathi

Vidyasaarathi is run by NSDL e-Governance and hosts scholarships from company CSR programs. It supports students in diploma, ITI, undergraduate and postgraduate courses. It offers corporate scholarships for college and diploma students. 

Portal: https://vidyasaarathi.co.in 

How to use it:

1. Create an account with your name, mobile number, email and password.

2. Log in and complete your profile.

3. Search for schemes that match your course.

4. Upload your documents (Aadhaar, income certificate, marks, admission proof, bank details).

5. Review and submit.

6. Track your status on your dashboard.

Documents to Keep Ready For a Smooth Scholarship Process

• Aadhaar card

• Income certificate

• Caste certificate (if applicable)

• Domicile certificate (for state portals)

• Marksheets of the previous class

• Bank passbook with an Aadhaar-linked account

• Passport-size photo

• Bonafide certificate or fee receipt from your school or college

Conclusion

Being a financially struggling student can benefit quite a lot from a scholarship that can cover most of their fees and other study-related expenses. To find scholarships, scholarship exams and competitions that match your class and interests, you can take the help of SooperChamp. To get your hands on government scholarship schemes, you can go to the national scholarship portal or your state scholarship portal, such as the UP portal, MahaDBT or SSP. If you prefer private opportunities, then platforms like Buddy4Study and Vidyasaarathi should be your go to financial aid option. 

F.A.Q.

1. How do I check my scholarship application status?

Log in to the portal where you applied. On the NSP, use your login. On the UP portal, use your registration number and date of birth. On the Karnataka SSP, use your SATS ID. If nothing changes for a long time, ask your school or college if they have verified your form.

2. What if my scholarship application is rejected?

Check the reason on your dashboard. Common reasons are a name mismatch, an unclear document, a bank account not linked to Aadhaar, or a form your institute did not verify. If the window is still open, you may be able to correct and resubmit. If not, keep your documents ready for the next opportunity.

3. When should I apply for a scholarship?

Apply as soon as the portal opens. Servers often slow down close to the deadline, so do not wait for the last day.

4. Can I apply on more than one scholarship portal?

Yes, in most cases. But some schemes do not allow more than one benefit for the same expense, so read each scheme's rules first. If you are not sure, ask your school or college.