State Government Scholarships for College Students: A Complete List

State government scholarships for college students exist in every Indian state, typically covering tuition fee reimbursement, maintenance allowance or merit-based cash awards, and are applied for through the state's own scholarship portal or the National Scholarship Portal, in addition to central government schemes a student may already be eligible for.

Why Do States Run Their Own Scholarship Schemes?

Alongside central schemes, individual states run scholarships targeted at their own domicile students to address state-specific priorities, such as promoting higher education among girls, minorities, economically weaker sections, or students from specific reserved categories within that state. These often supplement, rather than replace, central scholarships a student may also qualify for.

Which Are Examples of Major State Scholarship Schemes?

How Do You Apply for State Scholarships?

• Register on your state's dedicated scholarship portal, such as Mahadbt for Maharashtra or the e-Kalyan portal used by several states
• Some state schemes route through the central National Scholarship Portal instead of a separate state portal
• Upload required documents: income certificate, caste or category certificate, domicile proof, and academic records
• Submit before the state-specific deadline, which typically falls in the same window as central scholarship deadlines each academic year

What Common Eligibility Criteria Apply?

• Domicile status in the specific state offering the scholarship
• Family income below the scheme's specified threshold, commonly ₹1 lakh to ₹8 lakh depending on the scheme
• Minimum academic percentage in the previous qualifying examination
• Enrollment in a recognised college or university within or sometimes outside the state

Can You Apply for Both Central and State Scholarships?

Yes, in most cases, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria for each and the specific schemes do not explicitly prohibit dual benefit, though some overlapping schemes may require you to choose one, so read each scheme's terms carefully before applying to multiple similar programmes.

Explore our scholarship listings covering both central and state schemes, compare colleges by state, and check your specific state's scholarship portal for the current year's deadlines.