Scholarships for Girl Students in India: Complete List

India offers more than 20 government and private scholarships for girl students to fund school, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate studies. Amounts range from ₹1,000 per year to ₹50,000 per annum, with some covering full tuition plus hostel fees. Eligibility typically depends on family income (up to ₹6 lakh per year), caste category and academic performance of at least 50 %. Most schemes open applications between June and September for the academic year starting July–August. Deadlines for 2026 awards are already announced for several programmes, while others accept applications on a rolling basis.

Top scholarships for girl students in India 2026

Three flagship centrally sponsored programmes target girl children directly.

• National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education (NSIGSE) – ₹3,000 at the time of passing Class 8 and a fixed deposit of ₹11,000 on admission to Class 9; released only if the girl passes Class 12.
• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scholarship component – state-level top-up amounts that vary by state; in Delhi girls receive ₹11,000 on Class 12 pass, in Uttar Pradesh ₹30,000 for engineering/diploma admission.
• Post-Graduate Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child – ₹36,200 per year for two years of PG courses; family income cap ₹6 lakh per year; only one girl child in the family.

All three are administered through the Government of India Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in).

State-level scholarships for girl students you should know

Almost every state has its own programme; key examples for 2026:

• Mukhyamantri Rajshree Yojana (Rajasthan) – ₹50,000 distributed in six instalments from Class 1 to graduation; family income cap ₹2.5 lakh per year.
• Kanyashree Prakalpa (West Bengal) – annual scholarship of ₹1,000 for girls aged 13–18 and a one-time grant of ₹25,000 on completion of Class 12.
• Maharashtra State Board Girls’ Higher Secondary Scholarship – ₹600 per month for girls in Class 11 & 12 with ≥50 % in SSC; family income ≤₹75,000 per year.
• Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojana (Bihar) – ₹15,000 one-time for Class 10 pass, ₹25,000 for graduation pass; family income ≤₹2.5 lakh per year.

Private scholarships for girl students with the highest awards

The top private awards for 2026 are:

• HDFC Bank Parivartan’s ECSS Scholarship – ₹35,000–₹75,000 per year for UG/PG studies; family income ≤₹2.5 lakh per year.
• Scholarship for Young Women by L’Oréal India – ₹2.5 lakh one-time for STEM UG programmes; minimum 85 % in Class 12.
• Tata Capital Pankh Scholarship – ₹12,000–₹20,000 per year for diploma and degree courses; family income ≤₹4 lakh per year.
• G.P. Birla Scholarship – ₹54,000 per year for top 50 girls in Class 12 board exams (ISC/CBSE); family income ≤₹3 lakh per year.

Private awards are merit-cum-means, so keep Class 12 marks and family income documents ready.

Best scholarships for girl students in STEM courses

Girls aiming for engineering, medicine, AI, data science or pure sciences can apply to:

• Vijayalakshmi R. Chinoy Scholarship (Astronomical Society of India) – ₹1 lakh for women pursuing astronomy or physics; minimum 70 % in Class 12.
• Women Scientist Scheme-A (DST) – up to ₹25,000 per month stipend plus ₹1 lakh research grant for PG-level research in S&T; age limit 28 years.
• Google India Women in Engineering Scholarship – ₹1 lakh for UG girls in CSE/ECE; must be enrolled in a NAAC A+ institute.
• IBM India Scholarship for Girls in AI – ₹1.2 lakh over two years for AI/ML UG courses; minimum 75 % in Class 12; internship opportunity.

Common eligibility rules for scholarships for girl students

Most schemes share common rules:

• Citizenship: Indian national.
• Gender: self-declared female.
• Income ceiling: 60 % of schemes cap family income at ₹6 lakh per year; some state schemes use ₹2.5 lakh.
• Academic minimum: 50 % in last exam (some PG schemes require 60 % in UG).
• Attempt limit: most do not restrict attempt count; a few PG schemes allow only one attempt.
• Caste: reserved categories (SC/ST/OBC/EWS) get relaxed income limits and higher amounts.

Step-by-step guide to apply for scholarships for girl students in 2026

Follow these five steps:

1. Check eligibility and amount on the official portal or state department site.
2. Gather documents: Aadhaar, caste certificate, income certificate (issued after 1 April 2025), mark sheets, bank passbook, passport photo, disability certificate (if applicable).
3. Register on our scholarships page to receive deadline reminders and application links.
4. Fill the online form on the government portal or private trust site before the due date; upload soft copies of all documents.
5. Track status and respond to queries within 7 days; disbursement usually starts within 90 days of selection.

2026 application timelines for key scholarships for girl students

Document checklist for scholarships for girl students

Prepare scanned copies of the following before you start the form:

• Aadhaar card (mandatory for all government schemes)
• Income certificate issued by SDM/Tehsildar after 1 April 2025
• Caste certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/General-EWS) as per state list
• Mark sheets of Class 10, 12 and any UG semesters
• Passport-size photograph (white background, <300 KB)
• Bank passbook first page showing name, account number and IFSC
• Disability certificate (if applicable, issued by competent medical authority)
• Bonafide certificate from current college/school

Can a girl student stack multiple scholarships for girl students?

Yes, stacking is allowed under two conditions:

• Stacking between government and private scholarships is permitted; total amount received cannot exceed actual tuition + hostel + books expenses (as per institute invoice).
• Stacking within two government schemes of the same ministry is not allowed; for example, NSIGSE and BBBP cannot be held together for the same student.

Always declare all awards in the annual income affidavit to avoid claw-back notices.

How are scholarships for girl students disbursed?

Disbursement follows this timeline:

• Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to Aadhaar-linked bank account for most government schemes.
• Private trusts issue demand draft or NEFT after receiving college fee receipt; some give partial advance for laptop/books.
• Disbursement cycles: annual (June–August), half-yearly (January & July) or one-time (after Class 12 results).
• College must upload verification within 30 days of receipt; delays push disbursement to next cycle.

Tax treatment of scholarships for girl students

Under Section 10(16) of the Income-tax Act, scholarships granted by the Central or State Government to meet the cost of education are exempt from income tax. Private scholarships are also exempt if the amount is used for tuition, hostel or books. Amounts received for research or stipends may be taxable under “Income from Other Sources” if they exceed ₹50,000 in a year. Keep fee receipts to substantiate usage.

Where to find updated alerts on scholarships for girl students

Use these reliable sources:

• National Scholarship Portal (NSP) – single window for 110+ centrally sponsored schemes.
• Our scholarships page – curated list with filters for class, stream and state.
• State department websites (e.g., education.rajasthan.gov.in, wbsche.in) for state-specific schemes.
• College T&P cells – many colleges circulate private scholarship notices to eligible students.

Set Google Alerts for “girl scholarship 2026 site:gov.in” and “girl scholarship 2026 site:org” to catch new announcements.