Merit Scholarship 2021 – Government & Private Funded Scholarships

Merit Scholarship 2021: Students from various backgrounds find it difficult to pursue higher education, mainly because they have personal financial constraints. To overcome these difficulties, they are awarded various financial grants and rewards based on different criteria. Merit cum means scholarship is of two types – government and privately funded. The first type directly involves the government providing funds towards scholarships for students. The second type involves various private organizations in the public domain, arranging for the scholarship funds. In this article, we discuss merit scholarships, the different schemes under them, the name of each scholarship provider, the applicable timelines, eligibility criteria, rewards and benefits, application process and further rounds involved [ if any] in the selection procedure.

Government Funded Merit Scholarships

INSPIRE Scholarship

Provider – Ministry of Science and Technology under the Government of India

Application Period – Between October – December

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidate must be a top scorer in his class 12 exams
• He must be pursuing further studies in B.Sc / Integrated M.Sc in the streams of natural/ pure/ basic sciences
• Top 10,000 rank holders of JEE-Mains/ JEE – Advanced/ NEET exams and have further intentions to pursue a career in natural/ pure/ basic sciences
• Candidates who have sought admission into IISER / NISER / DAE- CBS/ KVPY/ NTSE / JBNSTS are eligible to apply
• Those candidates who are rank holders in science Olympiad exams are eligible to apply, provided they have further intentions to pursue a career in natural/ pure/ basic sciences
• Age group – 17 to 22 years only.

Application Process – ONLINE

Rewards

• INR 80,000 per annum

Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana [ KVPY Scheme]

Provider – Department of Science and Technology under the Government of India

Application Period – Between July – August

Eligibility Criteria

• Class 11th and 12th students can apply
• Students pursuing 2nd year from Cambridge international exam board can also apply
• 1st year students of B.Sc/ BS/ B.Stat/ B.Math/ Integrated M.Sc/ MS [ Basic sciences]
• Candidate must have a minimum score of 60% in subjects PCMB [ Physics, Chemistry, Maths and biology] in his class 12th

Application Process

• ONLINE application followed by APTITUDE test and INTERVIEW

Rewards

• INR 5000 to INR 7000. Contingency grant of INR 20,000 to INR 28,000

National Talent Search Examination [NTSE Scholarship]

Provider – NCERT

Application Period – In the month of September

Eligibility Criteria

• Only for class 10 students
• Students appearing as private candidates/ distance education enrolled candidates/ open university candidates are eligible to apply.

Application Process

• NTSE exam conducted at State and National levels

Rewards

• INR 1,250 to INR 2000 every month

NEC Scholarship

Provider – Government of Tripura

Application Period – In the month of April

Eligibility Criteria

• Only for Tripura domiciled candidates
• Min. score to be attained in diploma/ degree/ PG/ MPhil/ PhD – 70%
• Annual family income to be less than INR 4.5 lakhs
• Candidate must not be receiving any other scholarship

Application Process

• Apply ONLINE through National scholarship portal

Rewards

• INR 20,000 to INR 25,000

Medhabruti Scholarship

Provider – Government of Orissa

Application Period – In the month of January

Eligibility Criteria

• Odisha domiciled candidates can apply
• Min marks to be gained in the last exam – 60%
• Annual family income to be less than INR 6 lakhs.

Application Process

• Apply ONLINE in the 1st year of joining

Rewards

• Up to INR 10,000 every year

Swami Vivekananda Scholarship

Provider – Government of West Bengal

Application Period – In the month of September

Eligibility Criteria

• Only for West Bengal domiciled candidates
• Annual family income to be less than INR 2.5 lakhs
• For those candidates in UG programs/ Diploma/ higher secondary etc.- min score to be 75% in class 10 and 12
• For those candidates pursuing PG courses – 53% marks in graduation is must, 55% marks if engineering course is also mandatory.

Application Process – ONLINE

Rewards

• Up to INR 8000 every month

UGC Merit Scholarship

Provider – UGC

Application Period – In the month of March

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidate must be enrolled into a regular PG course
• No distance education entertained
• Graduation stream should be one of the following: life/basic/pure sciences, physical/ chemical/ earth sciences/ maths/ social sciences/ commerce or different languages
• Candidate must be below 30 years

Application Process – ONLINE

Rewards

• INR 3100 every month [ for 2 years only]

Private Funded Merit Scholarships

Aditya Birla World Academy Scholarship

Provider – Aditya Birla World Academy

Application Period – Between July – August

Eligibility Criteria

• Those candidates pursuing class 11th or going to enter class 11 at Aditya Birla world academy can apply.

Application Process

• Fill up the application form under “Application for admission” in the section “Aditya Birla world academy scholarship program.”

Rewards

• Full fee waiver

Merck Scholarship

Provider – Merck

Application Period – Between August – September

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidate should have cleared class 10th with min. 80% marks
• Annual family income to be less than INR 20,000 per month

Application Process – Apply ONLINE

Rewards

• INR 35,000 every year till the completion of course

Dhirubhai Ambani Scholarship

Provider – Reliance Foundation

Application Period – In the month of August

Eligibility Criteria

• Highly meritorious students or state level rank holders may apply
• Candidate should have cleared class 12th.

Application Process – Apply ONLINE

Rewards

• INR 36,000 to INR 40,000

Atul Maheshwari Scholarship

Provider – Amar Ujala Foundation

Application Period – In the month of August

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates in class 9 to 12
• Min score in previous qualifying exam to be 60%
• Annual family income to be less than INR 1 lakhs.

Application Process – Apply ONLINE

Rewards

• INR 30,000 to INR 50,000

Abhilasha Scholarship

Provider – EROS Group

Application Period – In the month of August

Eligibility Criteria

• Girl Candidates in class 9 to 12 can apply
• Min score in previous qualifying exam to be 75%
• Annual family income to be less than INR 3 lakhs.

Application Process

• Apply ONLINE followed by telephonic interview round

Rewards

• One time grant of INR 5000

Legrand Scholarship – UGRAM

Provider – Legrand [ India]

Application Period – In the month of July

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidate should have cleared class 12th
• Min. score in 10th and 12th to be 75%
• Candidate should seek admission to BE/B.Tech or B.Arch courses in the current year

Application Process – Apply ONLINE

Rewards

• INR 60,000 every year

NSF Scholarship [ North South Foundation Scholarship]

Provider – North South Foundation

Application Period – In the month of September

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidate should be one among top 100 ranks in class 10th and 12th
• Candidate should hold high ranking in CET/JET
• Candidate should be desirous of entering fields like BE/MBBS/Dental/ polytechnic/ B.Sc/ BVSc etc.
• Annual family income to be less than INR 90,000

Application Process

• Apply ONLINE through NSF website

Rewards

• INR 25,000 every year

Sumedha Scholarship

Provider – Sumedha – Hindustan Zinc Limited

Application Period – Between August – September

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidate should be in the 1st sem of B.Tech course from a government college only
• Candidate should be domiciled in Udaipur, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Ajmer districts [ Rajasthan]
• Candidate should have scored at least 75% in class 12
• Annual family income to be less than INR 2.5 lakhs.

Application Process – Apply ONLINE

Rewards

• INR 20,000 for 4 years

IndusInd Foundation Scholarship

Provider – IndusInd Foundation

Application Period – In the month of September

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidate should have cleared class 12 in the current academic year with min marks of 85%
• Candidate should have sought admission into a full-time degree course

Application Process – Apply ONLINE

Rewards

• UP to INR 5000 every month

Baba Gurbachan Singh Scholarship

Provider – Sant Nirankari Mandal

Application Period – In the month of September

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidate should have min. 60% in class 10 and 12
• Candidate should be currently pursuing 1st year of degree or diploma
• Candidate’s annual family income to be less than INR 3.5 lakhs
• Candidate could be pursuing regular or distance courses

Application Process – Apply ONLINE

Rewards

• 100 % fee waiver for students with more than 60%,
• 50% fee waiver for students with 50 to 59%

National Scholarship Exam

Provider – National Institute of Career Education Foundation

Application Period – In the month of September

Eligibility Criteria

• Students from class 5 to 12 can apply
• Candidates pursuing diploma/ degree could also apply.

Application Process

• Apply ONLINE along with attempting a national level exam.

Rewards

• UP TO INR 35,000

SOS Scholarship Scheme for Girl Child

Provider – British council – Science Olympiad foundation

Application Period – In the month of October

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates studying in between class 1 till 10 with min score in the last exam to be 60%
• Monthly family income to be less than INR 15,000

Application Process – Apply ONLINE

Rewards

• INR 5000

Fair and Lovely Scholarship

Provider – Hindustan Unilever Limited

Application Period – In the month of October

Eligibility Criteria

• Girls in the age group of 15 to 30 can apply
• Candidate should have cleared class 10 and 12 with min. 60% marks
• Candidate should have cleared class 12th in the current academic session
• Annual family income of candidate to be less than INR 6 lakhs

Application Process – Apply ONLINE

Rewards

• Between INR 25,000 to INR 50,000

WISDOM Scholarship

Provider – WISDOM Educational Foundation

Application Period – In the month of November

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates in between class 3 to 8 can apply.

Application Process

• Apply ONLINE and attempt a national level aptitude exam based on maths and science

Rewards

• Up to INR 2000 plus GOLD, SILVER, BRONZE medals.

Sashakt Scholarship

Provider – Dr. Reddy’s foundation

Application Period – In the month of August

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates who have cleared class 12 can apply
• Only female candidates can apply
• Candidates should be willing to pursue a career in the science stream
• Candidates from rural backgrounds are highly preferred
• Candidate should have an innate desire for scientific research and development
• Candidates from economically weaker sections of society are only eligible

Application Process – Apply ONLINE

Rewards

• INR 2.4 lakhs

L’Oreal India Scholarship

Provider – L’Oreal India

Application Period – In the month of July

Eligibility Criteria

• Girl Candidate should have cleared class 12th with min 85% in PCM or PCB combinations may apply
• Candidate should be less than 19 years of age
• Candidate should give sought admission for pursuing a degree in the current academic year
• Candidate’s annual family income to be less than INR 4 lakhs

Application Process

• Apply ONLINE, and shortlisted candidates shall be called in for an interview round.

Rewards

• INR 2.5 lakhs

G P Birla Scholarship

Provider – G P Birla Foundation for Education

Application Period – In the month of July

Eligibility Criteria

• Only for West Bengal domiciled candidates
• Candidate should have cleared class 12th with min. 85% marks from state board OR 80% from CBSE
• Candidate must be willing to pursue further studies in humanities/ science/ medicine streams

Application Process

• Apply ONLINE, and shortlisted candidates shall be called in for an interview round.

Rewards

• INR 50000 every year PLUS one-time book grant of INR 7000

Bighelp Scholarship

Provider – Bighelp for Education

Application Period – In the month of June

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates should have passed class 10th exams with min 98% or 9.8 CGPA
• Candidate should have done his education from a government or municipal school or from a Zilla Parishad school
• Annual family income to be less than INR 1 lakhs

Application Process

• Apply ONLINE, and shortlisted candidates shall face a telephonic interview round.

Rewards

• INR 5000 every year for 6 years

S R M Scholarship

Provider – S R M University

Application Period – In the month of June

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidate must have cleared class 12th in the current academic year
• Candidate should be applying to UG courses at SRM University in departments of applied sciences / liberal arts/ basic sciences
• Candidates should have min 60% score in PCM [ min qualifying exam]
• Annual family income to be less than INR 4 lakhs

Application Process – Apply ONLINE.

Rewards

• Entire scholarship to around 20 selected candidates, 75% grant to around 40 candidates, 50% grant to around 60 students, 25% grant amount to 80 students

RGIPT Fellowship [for MTech]

Provider – Rajiv Gandhi institute of petroleum technology

Application Period – In the month of June

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidate should have done 4 year BE/ BTECH course in the petroleum engineering branch
• Min marks to be secured 60%
• Candidate should have cleared GATE exam as well.

Application Process – Apply ONLINE.

Rewards

• INR 12,400 per month till completion of course

Debesh Kamal Scholarships

Provider – Ramakrishna Mission, Kolkata

Application Period – In the month of May

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidate should have cleared PG with 1st class
• Candidates must be less than 30 years of age
• Candidates should be doing his career in the field of sciences [basic/ applied]/ humanities / social sciences

Application Process – Apply ONLINE.

Rewards

• INR 1,00,000

Saryu Doshi Fellowship [ post graduate studies]

Provider – Ramakrishna Mission, Kolkata

Application Period – In the month of May

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidate should have done a degree with 1st class
• Candidate should have secured admission into a foreign university for higher studies.

Application Process

• Apply ONLINE, and shortlisted candidates shall be called in for an interview round.

Rewards

• Up to INR 3 lakhs

DLF Foundation Scholarship [ Nurturing talent program]

Provider – DLF Foundation

Application Period – In the month of April

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidate should be Gurugram domiciled
• Candidate should have at least 80% in class 5 exams
• Only one child in a family can avail these benefits.

Application Process – Apply ONLINE.

Rewards

• INR 40,000 per year till the completion of course [ class 12th]

DLF Foundation Scholarship [ AKANKSHA scholarship]

Provider – DLF Foundation

Application Period – Between December – January

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidate should have sought admission into UGC/ NAAC approved educational institution
• Annual family income of candidate to be less than INR 5 lakhs

Application Process – Apply ONLINE.

Rewards

• INR 50,000 every year till the completion of course

Schindler Igniting Minds Scholarship

Provider – Schindler India

Application Period – In the month of March

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidate must be currently pursuing a diploma in electrical or mechanical or civil or electronics field
• Class 10 and 12 scores to be min 60%
• Min 75% marks necessary in the last exam if candidate doing 2nd or 3rd year of the diploma course
• Candidate to be less than 20 years of age
• Annual family income to be less than INR 2 lakhs.

Application Process – Apply ONLINE.

Rewards

• INR 20,000

Tata Housing Scholarship

Provider – Tata Housing

Application Period – In the month of March

Eligibility Criteria

• Girl students can apply
• 50% in the qualifying exam is essential
• Candidate should be in 2nd year of BE/B.Tech/ B.Arch degree
• Annual family income to be less than 3 lakhs

Application Process – Apply ONLINE.

Rewards

• Up to INR 60,000

Hindustan Times Scholarship

Provider – Hindustan Times

Application Period – In the month of January

Eligibility Criteria

• Class 5 to 9 candidates can apply
• Candidate must be domiciled in Mumbai/ Navi Mumbai/ Thane/ Pune/ Chandigarh/ Panchkula/ Mohali
• Min marks to be secured in the last exam is 60%

Application Process – Apply ONLINE.

Rewards

• INR 50,000 [ for candidates from Mumbai]
• INR 25,000 [ for candidates from Chandigarh/ Panchkula/ Mohali]

Marubeni Scholarship

Provider – Marubeni India Private Limited

Application Period – Between December – January

Eligibility Criteria

• Min 75% in class 12
• Should be enrolled in 1st year of UG program [ technical OR non-technical]
• Candidate must be domiciled in Punjab/ Chandigarh
• Candidate can avail other scholarships only if their value is less than INR 6000 per year
• Annual family income to be less than INR 4 lakhs

Application Process

• Apply ONLINE. Candidates shall go through both telephonic and personal interview rounds.

Rewards

• INR 40,000