AICTE Pragati & Saksham Scholarship 2026-27 gives ₹50,000/year to girl and differently-abled technical students. Apply on NSP by 31 Oct 2026.
AICTE प्रगति और सक्षम छात्रवृत्ति तकनीकी कोर्स की लड़कियों और दिव्यांग छात्रों को ₹50,000 सालाना देती है। NSP पर 31 अक्टूबर 2026 तक आवेदन करें।
📢 Latest Update — June 2026:
AICTE has opened the Pragati and Saksham Scholarship 2026-27 cycle on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). The last date for fresh and renewal student applications is 31 October 2026, with institute and defective-application verification typically open for a few weeks after the student deadline. The benefit remains ₹50,000 per year, paid as a single annual amount — Pragati offers about 10,000 scholarships (roughly 5,000 for degree and 5,000 for diploma girl students), while Saksham reserves about 1,000 scholarships (around 500 degree + 500 diploma) for differently-abled students with at least 40% disability.
⚡ Key Facts at a Glance
AICTE Pragati & Saksham Scholarship 2026-27 — ₹50,000 a Year for Technical Students
The AICTE Pragati and Saksham Scholarship 2026-27 is a central scholarship that puts ₹50,000 per year into the bank account of a technical student who genuinely needs it. Pragati is meant for girl students in AICTE-approved degree or diploma courses, and Saksham is meant for differently-abled students (with at least 40% disability) in the same approved technical courses. If your family income is under ₹8 lakh and you are studying engineering, polytechnic, pharmacy, architecture, applied arts, hotel management or another AICTE-approved programme, this money is given as a single annual amount that you can use towards tuition fees, books, a computer or laptop, stationery, software and other study essentials for each year of the course.
What makes both schemes attractive is the simplicity: they are applied for entirely online through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in), with a One-Time Registration (OTR) and Aadhaar e-KYC, and the money lands by DBT directly into the student's own bank account. Take Aarti, a first-year diploma student in mechanical engineering at a polytechnic in Pune whose father earns ₹2.2 lakh a year as a tailor. Her polytechnic fee was about ₹14,500 and she also needed roughly ₹9,000 for a second-hand laptop and books. Through Pragati she received the full ₹50,000 for the year as a lump sum — comfortably covering her tuition, her laptop and her books — and for the first time her family did not have to borrow for her studies. Because the amount is fixed at ₹50,000 a year and not tied to her exact fee, the leftover money helped her buy a software licence and exam materials too. Editor's note: cross-checked against AICTE scholarship circular dated April 2026 and the NSP 2026-27 portal opening notice.
Who is Eligible — Complete Criteria 2026
- ✅ Pragati: Girl student admitted to the 1st year (or 2nd year through lateral entry) of an AICTE-approved technical degree or diploma course in 2026-27.
- ✅ Saksham: Differently-abled student with a minimum of 40% disability (certified by a competent medical authority), admitted to the 1st year (or 2nd year lateral entry) of an AICTE-approved technical degree/diploma course.
- ✅ Annual family income from all sources must not exceed ₹8,00,000 in the preceding financial year.
- ✅ Institution must be AICTE-approved — check the AICTE approved-institutions list before applying.
- ✅ For Pragati, a maximum of two girls per family may apply.
- ✅ Total awards (approx.): Pragati = 5,000 degree + 5,000 diploma scholarships per year; Saksham = around 1,000 scholarships per year (roughly 500 degree + 500 diploma).
- ❌ NOT eligible: A student already receiving any other State or Central Government scholarship for the same year (no double-dipping).
- ❌ NOT eligible: Students in non-AICTE-approved institutions, or those exceeding the ₹8 lakh income cap.
How to Apply on NSP — Step-by-Step 2026
- Complete One-Time Registration (OTR): Go to scholarships.gov.in, click OTR Registration, complete Aadhaar-based e-KYC and face/biometric authentication to get your unique OTR number.
- Log in as a Fresh applicant: On the NSP homepage click Login, enter your OTR number and password, then choose Apply for Scholarship for the 2026-27 session.
- Select the correct scheme: Under Ministry / Department, pick the AICTE schemes — choose Pragati Scholarship Scheme for Girls (Degree/Diploma) or Saksham Scholarship Scheme for Specially-Abled Students (Degree/Diploma).
- Fill the application form: Enter personal, academic, family income and AICTE institution details exactly as on your documents. For Saksham, enter your disability percentage and disability certificate number.
- Upload documents: Attach scanned copies (income certificate, admission proof, fee receipt, bank passbook, disability certificate for Saksham) in the required PDF/JPEG format and size.
- Add bank account for DBT: Enter your own Aadhaar-seeded, DBT-enabled bank account number and IFSC carefully — this is where the ₹50,000 will be credited.
- Submit and lock the application: Review every field, then click Final Submit. Note your Application ID and save a printout/PDF.
- Get institute verification: Submit the printed form to your college nodal officer so they verify it on NSP before the institute verification deadline.
Documents Required
| Document | Purpose | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Aadhaar Card | Identity & OTR e-KYC | PDF/JPEG |
| Income Certificate | Prove family income ≤ ₹8 lakh | |
| Admission Proof / Bonafide | Confirm 1st/2nd-year admission in AICTE course | |
| Tuition Fee Receipt | Support the claim and academic record | |
| Bank Passbook (first page) | DBT credit of ₹50,000 | PDF/JPEG |
| Class 10/12 or Diploma Marksheet | Academic verification | |
| Disability Certificate (Saksham only) | Prove 40%+ disability |
Common Problems and Solutions
| Problem | Why it Happens | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Application stuck at "Submitted" | Institute has not verified it | Visit college nodal officer; ensure verification before the institute deadline |
| Money not credited after approval | Bank account not Aadhaar-seeded/DBT-enabled | Get Aadhaar seeded and DBT enabled at your bank branch |
| OTR e-KYC failing | Name/DOB mismatch with Aadhaar | Correct Aadhaar details, then retry OTR on scholarships.gov.in |
| Scheme not showing in list | Institution not on AICTE approved list | Verify your college on aicte-india.org before applying |
| "Already availing scholarship" error | Holding another State/Central scholarship | You can hold only one; choose Pragati/Saksham OR the other |
| Renewal rejected | Failed to clear all subjects / missed renewal window | Maintain academic progress; apply for renewal before deadline |
Important Dates & Deadlines 2026
- 📅 Fresh & Renewal application start: Cycle open on NSP (2026-27)
- 📅 Last date to apply (students): 31 October 2026
- 📅 Defective application correction: A short window after the student deadline (check NSP)
- 📅 Institute verification deadline: Announced on NSP, usually a few weeks after 31 October 2026
- 📅 Disbursement: After State/AICTE verification, by DBT into the student's bank account
Frequently Asked Questions — AICTE Pragati & Saksham Scholarship
Q: How much money do I get and how is it paid?
You get ₹50,000 per year as a single annual amount for every year of your course. It is not split into fixed monthly parts — it is a lump sum meant to cover tuition fees, books, a computer or laptop, stationery, software and other study essentials. It is paid by DBT directly to your own bank account.
Q: What is the difference between Pragati and Saksham?
Pragati is for girl students in AICTE-approved technical courses (about 5,000 degree + 5,000 diploma scholarships per year). Saksham is for differently-abled students with at least 40% disability in AICTE-approved technical courses (about 1,000 scholarships per year). Both pay ₹50,000 a year.
Q: What is the family income limit?
The annual family income from all sources must not exceed ₹8,00,000 (₹8 lakh) in the preceding financial year. You must upload a valid income certificate as proof.
Q: Where do I apply — NSP or the AICTE website?
Apply online on the National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in. Scheme details, guidelines and circulars are also published on the AICTE website, www.aicte-india.org. The actual application, verification and payment happen on NSP.
Q: What is the last date for 2026-27?
The last date for students to submit fresh and renewal applications on NSP is 31 October 2026. Institute verification and defective-application correction stay open for a short window after that — always check the live dates on NSP.
Q: Can two sisters in the same family both apply for Pragati?
Yes. Under Pragati, a maximum of two girls per family are allowed to apply, provided both meet the eligibility and income criteria.
Q: I am in 2nd year through lateral entry — can I apply?
Yes. Students admitted to the 1st year, or to the 2nd year through lateral entry, of an AICTE-approved technical diploma or degree course are eligible. You cannot apply as a fresh applicant if you are already in a later year of the course.
Q: How do I renew the scholarship next year?
Log in to NSP as a renewal applicant in the next session, update your academic and bank details, upload your marksheet showing you cleared the year, and submit before the deadline. Maintaining academic progress is essential for renewal.
Q: Can I take this along with another government scholarship?
No. Students already receiving any other State or Central Government scholarship for the same year are not eligible. You may hold only one government scholarship at a time. For other options, browse our scholarships guide.
Helpline Numbers & Grievance Portal
For application or technical issues, contact the National Scholarship Portal helpdesk at 0120-6619540 or email helpdesk@nsp.gov.in. For scheme-specific queries, reach the AICTE Pragati/Saksham cell at 011-29581118 or email pragatisaksham@aicte-india.org (Student Development Cell, AICTE, Nelson Mandela Marg, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi-110070).
If your verified application is delayed or payment is stuck, lodge a complaint on the central grievance portal at pgportal.gov.in with your NSP Application ID. You may also find related central benefits useful, such as Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana for long-term girl-child savings, or browse more education guides on our blog.
📋 संक्षिप्त जानकारी (हिंदी में)
AICTE प्रगति और सक्षम छात्रवृत्ति 2026-27 के तहत हर साल ₹50,000 एकमुश्त राशि मिलती है, जिसका उपयोग ट्यूशन फीस, किताबें, लैपटॉप/कंप्यूटर, सॉफ्टवेयर और अन्य पढ़ाई के खर्च के लिए किया जा सकता है। प्रगति AICTE-मान्यता प्राप्त तकनीकी डिग्री/डिप्लोमा कोर्स की छात्राओं के लिए है (लगभग 5,000 डिग्री + 5,000 डिप्लोमा), और सक्षम कम से कम 40% दिव्यांगता वाले छात्रों के लिए (लगभग 1,000 छात्रवृत्तियाँ)। परिवार की वार्षिक आय ₹8 लाख से कम होनी चाहिए। आवेदन scholarships.gov.in (NSP) पर 31 अक्टूबर 2026 तक OTR और आधार e-KYC के साथ करें। राशि सीधे बैंक खाते में DBT से आती है। मदद के लिए NSP हेल्पलाइन 0120-6619540 या AICTE 011-29581118 पर संपर्क करें।
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