PM-USP Central Sector Scholarship (College/University, ex-CSSS)
The main central merit scholarship for first-year UG students with 80%+ in Class 12.
Last verified: 2026-10-03 · Yearly renewal required · Applies in: All India (Central) (state domicile usually required; central schemes apply across states)
How to apply
Apply on NSP → PM-USP CSSS. Board verifies top-cut-off; 50% earmarked for girls. Renewal needs 50%+ marks + 75% attendance.
Deadline: Applications close ~31 October; institute verification ~15 Nov (verify fresh vs renewal windows on NSP)
Wait after verification: 3–8 months after two-level verification via DBT
Documents you need
- • Class 12 marksheet
- • Income certificate
- • Admission proof
- • Aadhaar-seeded account
- • Bonafide certificate
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Why your scholarship money might not arrive (DBT/Aadhaar explainer)
Almost every scholarship is paid via DBT/PFMS straight to the student's bank account — not in cash, not to the school. The #1 reason money gets stuck is the bank account not being Aadhaar-seeded/NPCI-mapped. Check with your bank: 'Is my account DBT-enabled?'
Name mismatch is the #2 reason: the name on Aadhaar, bank account and application must match letter-by-letter. A single spelling difference (Kumar vs Kumaar) can hold payment for months.
Track on PFMS Know Your Payments or the NSP payment board.
Quick answers
Can I hold two scholarships together?
It depends on the schemes. From AY 2026–27, NSP allows one merit-based scholarship plus one or more welfare-based schemes (subject to each scheme's rules). Some schemes forbid combining benefits — always check the specific scheme conditions. (INSPIRE explicitly requires surrendering the other.)
Do I need to reapply every year?
Yes — this scheme needs yearly renewal with passing marks + attendance.
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Source: NSP (https://scholarships.gov.in) · Last verified: 2026-10-03. Amounts and dates change yearly — confirm on the official portal.