TRI Scholarship — Quick Overview
| Scheme Name | TRI Tribal Research Institute Scholarship 2026 — Higher Education Research for ST Scholars |
| Launched By | Government of India |
| Launch Year | 1953 |
| Benefit | Full tuition + ₹3K-₹6K/month allowance at 217 IITs/IIMs/AIIMS + NFST ₹37-42K/month PhD |
| Category | Tribal Welfare |
| Last Verified | 23 May 2026 |
| Official Portal | https://scholarships.gov.in |
What is TRI Scholarship?
Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs), set up in 19 states by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, provide research grants, scholarships, and fellowships to Scheduled Tribe (ST) scholars pursuing M.Phil, PhD, and post-doctoral research in tribal studies, anthropology, social sciences, and tribal-area-specific subjects. The scheme also offers Top Class Education Scholarship for ST students admitted to 217 premier institutions (IITs, IIMs, AIIMS, NLUs, BITS, NIDs, etc.) — covering FULL tuition fee + ₹3,000-₹6,000/month living allowance + ₹3,000/year books grant + reimbursement of computer/laptop. Plus National Fellowship & Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students (NFST) — ₹37,000-₹42,000/month JRF/SRF fellowship for PhD scholars. Plus National Overseas Scholarship for ST — ₹3,500-₹5,500 USD/year for studying abroad. Administered by Ministry of Tribal Affairs via TRIs and via National Scholarship Portal.
Under this scheme, eligible beneficiaries receive Full tuition + ₹3K-₹6K/month allowance at 217 IITs/IIMs/AIIMS + NFST ₹37-42K/month PhD. The scheme was launched in 1953 and is implemented by the Government of India.
Benefits of TRI Scholarship
Full tuition + ₹3K-₹6K/month allowance at 217 IITs/IIMs/AIIMS + NFST ₹37-42K/month PhD
Who is Eligible for TRI Scholarship?
- ✓Scheduled Tribe (ST) student admitted to higher education institution
- ✓Top Class Scholarship: Admission to one of 217 notified premier institutions (IITs, IIMs, AIIMS, NLUs)
- ✓NFST Fellowship: Net or equivalent qualified, pursuing M.Phil/PhD in any university
- ✓Overseas Scholarship: Master's/PhD admission abroad with min 60% in graduation
- ✓TRI Research: M.Phil/PhD admission in tribal studies, anthropology, social sciences
- ✓Family income: ₹2.5 lakh (Top Class), ₹6 lakh (NFST), ₹8 lakh (Overseas)
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Documents Required for TRI Scholarship
How to Apply for TRI Scholarship Online?
- 1Identify which scheme you qualify for: Top Class (IIT/IIM/AIIMS admission), NFST (PhD), TRI Research (M.Phil/PhD tribal studies), Overseas (study abroad)
- 2Visit National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) → register with Aadhaar + ST certificate
- 3For Top Class: Select 'Top Class Scholarship for ST' → upload admission letter from 217 notified institutions + ST cert + income
- 4For NFST: After clearing NET/equivalent, apply at scholarships.gov.in → 'NFST Fellowship' → upload research proposal + NET certificate
- 5For TRI Research: Visit your state TRI directly (e.g., Anthropological Survey, Tribal Cultural Research Institute) → apply with research proposal
- 6For Overseas: Apply at scholarships.gov.in → 'National Overseas Scholarship for ST' → submit foreign university admission letter
- 7Selection: Merit-based (Top Class), Research evaluation (NFST + TRI), Income-merit (Overseas)
- 8Annual renewal: submit progress report + previous year results
Official Government Portal
Apply directly on the official government website. This is the only authorised portal — never pay anyone to apply on your behalf.
🔗Apply on scholarships.gov.inFrequently Asked Questions — TRI Scholarship
Common Questions About Tribal Welfare Schemes
What is Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVK)?+
VDVK is a tribal community-owned and operated value-addition centre for Minor Forest Produce. Each VDVK Cluster has 15 tribal SHGs (300 members) and is established with ₹15 lakh funding from TRIFED. VDVKs procure MFP at MSP, process and add value (sorting, grading, packaging, branding), and sell finished products to fetch 3-4x higher prices than raw MFP.
Which Minor Forest Produces (MFPs) are covered?+
50+ MFPs are covered including: Tendu leaves, Bamboo, Mahua flower/seed, Gum Karaya, Lac, Honey, Wild Honey, Tamarind, Hill Brooms, Wild Mushrooms, Chironji, Sal seed, Kusum seed, Imli, Tora, Madhuca, Aonla, Cinnamon, Black Pepper, Cardamom, Turmeric (forest-collected), and various medicinal herbs. The MSP for each MFP is notified annually by TRIFED.
What is PM JANMAN Yojana?+
Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN), launched 15 November 2023 by PM Modi on Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas (Bhagwan Birsa Munda's birth anniversary). ₹24,104 crore mission for comprehensive development of 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) across 220 districts of 22 states. 11 interventions covering housing, roads, water, electricity, healthcare, education.
Who are PVTGs?+
Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) are the most marginalised tribal communities in India — historically isolated, declining population, pre-agricultural lifestyle, very low literacy. 75 PVTGs notified by Ministry of Tribal Affairs. Examples: Sahariya (Rajasthan), Birhor (Jharkhand), Toda (Tamil Nadu), Onge & Jarawa (Andaman), Cholanaikkan (Kerala), Kattunayakan (Karnataka).
Who is eligible for Post-Matric ST Scholarship?+
Scheduled Tribe (ST) student studying Class 11 onwards (UG, PG, PhD, professional courses) in recognised Indian institution. Annual family income below ₹2.5 lakh/year. Valid ST caste certificate. Aadhaar mandatory. Min 50% in previous year (40% in tribal-area institutions). Indian citizen with Aadhaar-linked bank account in student's name.
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Related Tribal Welfare Schemes
Van Dhan Vikas Yojana 2026 — PMVDY | TRIFED Tribal Forest Produce Value Addition
Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana (PMVDY), launched on 14 April 2018 under TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India), is a flagship tribal livelihood programme that promotes value-addition and entrepreneurship in Minor Forest Produce (MFP). The scheme establishes Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) — each cluster comprising 15 tribal Self-Help Groups (SHGs) of 20 tribal NTFP gatherers/artisans each (300 beneficiaries per VDVK Cluster). TRIFED funds 100% of each VDVK at ₹15 lakh per cluster, with tribal gatherers contributing ₹1,000 per member for ownership. VDVKs procure forest produce (tendu leaves, mahua, gum, honey, bamboo, lac, herbs, tamarind, etc.) at MSP, add value through processing (sorting, grading, packaging, branding), and sell to local/national/global buyers. PMVDY has established 50,000+ VDVKs targeting 10 lakh tribal entrepreneurs and supports tribal MFP gatherers — whose 40-60% of annual income depends on forest produce. Operational across 22+ States/UTs.
PM JANMAN Yojana 2026 — Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan
Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN), launched on 15 November 2023 (Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda), is the Government of India's ₹24,104 crore mission to comprehensively develop 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) across 22 states. PVTGs are the most marginalised tribal communities (e.g., Sahariya, Birhor, Toda, Onge, Jarawa) — historically isolated, declining populations, pre-agricultural lifestyle, very low literacy. PM JANMAN covers 11 critical interventions: (1) Pucca Houses (PMAY-G) — 4.9 lakh houses; (2) Connecting roads (PMGSY); (3) Piped water (JJM); (4) Electrification (RDSS); (5) Mobile medical units; (6) Anganwadi Centres in PVTG habitations; (7) Hostels for PVTG students; (8) Vocational training centres; (9) Solar street lights & solar power; (10) Sickle Cell screening; (11) Tele-medicine. Implementation through 4-Tier monitoring — Centre, State, District, Block.
Post-Matric Scholarship for ST Students 2026 — Free Higher Education for Tribal Students
Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Tribe (ST) Students is one of the largest scholarship programmes in India under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs — providing tuition fee reimbursement, maintenance allowance, and other benefits to ST students from Class 11 to PG and PhD. The scheme is administered via the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) — scholarships.gov.in. Annual outlay: ₹2,500+ crore covering 20+ lakh ST students nationally. Benefits: 100% tuition fees (whatever charged by the institution), reader allowance for visually impaired, escort allowance for severe disability, study tour, thesis printing charges. Maintenance allowance: ₹230-₹1,200/month based on Group I-IV (Engineering/Medical = Group IV, highest). Family income limit: ₹2.5 lakh/year. Aadhaar mandatory. Application window: typically August-November each year. Renewal annual subject to passing previous year.
PM Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAAGY) 2026 — ₹20.38 Lakh Per Village for 36,000 Tribal Villages | tribal.gov.in
PM Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAAGY) — formerly known as Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY) renamed in 2021–22 under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs — is an integrated development scheme covering 36,428 villages across 27 states and 4 union territories where 50% or more of the population is from Scheduled Tribes (Adivasi communities). The scheme provides ₹20.38 lakh per village for convergent infrastructure development: roads (PMGSY), drinking water (Jal Jeevan Mission), electricity (DDUGJY/SAUBHAGYA), health centres (NHM), anganwadis (POSHAN 2.0), schools (Samagra Shiksha), and telecom connectivity (BharatNet). Budget: ₹7,276 crore for 2021-22 to 2025-26. The key feature is CONVERGENCE — PMAAGY acts as the coordinating scheme, while the actual work is funded by 10+ other central schemes. Each PMAAGY village gets a dedicated Village Development Plan (VDP) prepared by Gram Sabha in consultation with state tribal departments. Implementation: Ministry of Tribal Affairs monitors through PMAAGY portal. State Tribal Welfare Departments execute. Village-level monitoring by local Gram Sabha ensures accountability. Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) are co-implementing agencies. PMAAGY is separate from PM JANMAN (for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups) which covers 75 most vulnerable tribal communities.