NSP Scholarship 2026: OTR and Face Authentication Guide

Every student applying for a central scholarship on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) must first get a One Time Registration (OTR) number. It's a 14-digit ID based on your Aadhaar, and you keep it for your whole student life — from Class 9 to PhD. This guide explains the OTR process, the face authentication step that confuses many students, and the mistakes that get applications rejected.

What is the NSP OTR?

The OTR is a unique registration number for each student on NSP. Instead of registering again every year, you use the same OTR for fresh and renewal applications for any scheme on the portal. It's linked to your Aadhaar (or Aadhaar enrolment ID), which helps stop duplicate and fake applications.

Before you start: keep these ready

• Aadhaar number (or enrolment ID) and the mobile number registered with it
• An active mobile number for OTPs (yours or a parent's)
• A smartphone with the NSP OTR app and the AadhaarFaceRD app (both official)
• Bank account seeded with your Aadhaar for DBT
• Caste, income, disability or other certificates the scheme needs

Step 1: Register for OTR

1. Go to scholarships.gov.in and click Apply for OTR (or "Student → OTR").

2. Read the instructions and enter your mobile number. Verify with the OTP.

3. Enter your Aadhaar number, name (as in Aadhaar) and other basic details.

4. Submit. You'll get a reference number on your mobile.

Step 2: Face authentication

NSP uses Aadhaar face authentication to confirm it's really you.

1. Install the NSP OTR app and the AadhaarFaceRD app from the Play Store.

2. Open the NSP OTR app and log in with your reference number and mobile OTP.

3. Choose Face authentication. The phone camera opens.

4. Look straight at the camera in good light, without glasses or a mask. Blink when asked.

5. When it succeeds, your 14-digit OTR number is generated and sent by SMS.

If face authentication fails several times, try in daylight, clean the camera, and remove anything covering your face. Some institutes also help students do it on their phones.

Step 3: Apply for your scholarship

1. Log in to NSP with your OTR number and password.

2. Complete your profile — personal, academic and bank details.

3. Choose the scheme you're eligible for. NSP shows schemes based on your category, class and state.

4. Fill in the course and institution details. Your institute must be registered on NSP.

5. Upload documents and submit.

After submission, your application goes to your Institute Nodal Officer (INO) for verification, then to the district or state, and finally to the ministry for payment.

Fresh vs renewal

• Fresh application: your first year in a scheme, or a new level (for example moving from Class 12 to college).
• Renewal: later years in the same course and scheme. You enter your new marks and attendance, but most details carry forward.

Choosing "fresh" when you should renew (or the reverse) is a common mistake that delays payment.

Why NSP applications get rejected

• Name mismatch between Aadhaar, marksheet and bank account
• Institute didn't verify before the INO verification deadline
• Income above the limit or an old income certificate
• Wrong scheme chosen (for example the wrong state or category)
• Duplicate application for two schemes that can't be combined
• Bank account not seeded, so DBT fails

How to track your NSP payment

• Log in to NSP and check Application status.
• Use PFMS → Know Your Payments with your bank name and account number.
• Watch for an SMS from your bank when DBT arrives.

Central scholarships are paid through Aadhaar-based DBT, so the money goes to the account your Aadhaar is mapped to in the NPCI mapper.

When does NSP open?

NSP usually opens for fresh and renewal applications around June–July and closes around October–November, with separate, later deadlines for institute and district verification. Exact dates change every year, so check scholarships.gov.in. Apply early — the last week is always slow and crowded.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a new OTR every year?

No. You use the same OTR number for all years and schemes.

Can a parent's mobile number be used for OTR?

Yes, any active mobile can receive OTPs. But your Aadhaar details (name, date of birth) must be your own.

I don't have Aadhaar — can I apply?

You can register with an Aadhaar enrolment ID if you've applied for Aadhaar, as the portal allows. Get your Aadhaar as soon as possible, because payments use Aadhaar-based DBT.

Can I hold two scholarships on NSP?

It depends on the schemes. NSP's combination rules decide which schemes can be held together; some schemes, like INSPIRE, require you to give up others.

Who is my Institute Nodal Officer?

A staff member at your school or college appointed to verify NSP applications. Ask your scholarship section or principal's office.