Higher education can become expensive when students also need assistive devices, accessible accommodation, special learning support or other additional resources. To reduce this financial burden, the Government of India provides several scholarship and fellowship opportunities for students with disabilities. These programs cover different stages of education, from Classes IX and X to postgraduate study, research and even higher education abroad.
The main scholarship support is provided under schemes of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD). Students can find Pre-Matric, Post-Matric and Top Class Education scholarships through the National Scholarship Portal. There are also opportunities such as the National Fellowship for Persons with Disabilities and the National Overseas Scholarship for eligible candidates. The exact benefit depends on the student’s education level, disability status, family income and the particular scheme.
Major Scholarship Schemes for Disabled Students in India
Students with benchmark disabilities can explore different financial assistance programs depending on where they are studying. School students generally fall under the Pre-Matric scheme, while students in Class XI, XII, diploma, degree and postgraduate courses can look at Post-Matric support.
Select Your Qualification
For students entering selected higher education institutions, the Top Class Education scholarship provides a wider package of financial assistance. Research scholars and students planning higher studies abroad may have separate fellowship or scholarship opportunities.
Scholarship Amount for Disabled Students
The financial support is not the same across all schemes. Some programs provide monthly maintenance assistance, while others can cover tuition fees, books, computers, assistive devices and other academic expenses.
| Scholarship Scheme | Main Financial Support |
|---|---|
| Pre-Matric Scholarship | ₹500/month for day scholars; ₹800/month for hostellers |
| Post-Matric Scholarship | ₹650/month for day scholars; ₹1,200/month for hostellers |
| Post-Matric Fee Support | Tuition/admission fee up to ₹1.40 lakh + other fee up to ₹10,000 |
| Top Class Education | Tuition/admission fee up to ₹1.90 lakh per year |
| Top Class Maintenance | ₹1,500/month day scholar; ₹3,000/month hosteller |
| Top Class Books & Stationery | ₹5,000 per year |
| Top Class Computer Support | Up to ₹45,000 |
| Top Class Assistive Devices | Up to ₹30,000 |
The official DEPwD pages currently list these benefits for the respective schemes. Additional disability allowances and book support can also apply depending on the scholarship.
Pre-Matric Scholarship for Students With Disabilities
The Pre-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities is designed for eligible students studying in Classes IX and X. It is intended to provide support at the secondary school stage and help students continue their education.
According to the current DEPwD information, applicants must generally be Indian nationals with a benchmark disability of 40% or more. The scheme also specifies an annual family income ceiling of ₹2.5 lakh. Students need a UDID Card and Aadhaar, and they should not be receiving another scholarship or stipend at the same time.
The scheme provides monthly maintenance support along with book and disability-related allowances. Eligible students can receive ₹500 per month as day scholars or ₹800 per month as hostellers for 12 months.
Post-Matric Scholarship for Disabled Students
Students who have moved beyond Class X can look at the Post-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities. It covers students in Classes XI and XII as well as eligible diploma, degree and postgraduate courses.
The scheme can provide maintenance assistance, book support, disability allowance and eligible fee reimbursement. The current DEPwD information lists tuition/admission fee support up to ₹1.40 lakh and other fee support up to ₹10,000.
This makes the scheme particularly relevant for students entering college or professional education where academic expenses are considerably higher than at the school level.
Top Class Education Scholarship for Disabled Students
Students admitted to notified institutes can consider the Top Class Education Scholarship for Students with Disabilities. Unlike the basic pre-matric scholarship, this scheme is aimed at students pursuing graduate, postgraduate degree or diploma programs.
The current eligibility information specifies a benchmark disability of 40% or more and a family income ceiling of ₹8 lakh per year. Students must also be studying in notified institutions.
The financial package is broader and can include tuition and admission fees, living expenses, books, computer support and assistive devices. This can be especially useful for students enrolled in expensive professional or higher education programs.
National Fellowship for Persons With Disabilities
Students planning advanced academic research can look beyond regular scholarships. The National Fellowship for Persons with Disabilities (NFPwD) is intended for eligible students pursuing M.Phil. or Ph.D.-level research in Indian universities.
The official DEPwD material identifies National Fellowship as a separate component of the scholarship framework and lists it for M.Phil./Ph.D. study. The department has also issued updates concerning the fellowship amount and mandatory UDID requirements.
Because fellowship rules and financial assistance can be revised, research scholars should check the latest notification rather than relying on older fellowship amounts.
National Overseas Scholarship for Students With Disabilities
Students who want to pursue advanced studies outside India can also explore the National Overseas Scholarship for Persons with Disabilities.
The scheme is intended for eligible candidates pursuing master’s degree or Ph.D. programs at foreign universities or institutions. The official DEPwD scheme framework lists a family income ceiling of ₹8 lakh and identifies the overseas scholarship as a separate category for students with disabilities.
This option can be particularly relevant for students who want to pursue specialized education that may not be available through their preferred institutions in India.
Who Can Apply for Disability Scholarships?
Eligibility changes from one scholarship to another, but several common requirements are used across the major DEPwD schemes.
Students may need to satisfy conditions related to:
- Benchmark disability percentage
- Indian nationality
- Family income
- Educational qualification
- Current course or class
- Recognized institution
- UDID Card
- Aadhaar requirements
- Non-receipt of another scholarship or stipend
For example, the Pre-Matric and Post-Matric schemes generally specify a 40% or more benchmark disability and a ₹2.5 lakh annual family income ceiling, while the Top Class scheme has an ₹8 lakh income ceiling.
UDID Card Is Important for Scholarship Applications
The Unique Disability ID (UDID) system has become an important part of scholarship processing for students with disabilities. The National Scholarship Portal’s 2026–27 announcement specifically states that disabled students must first log in through the UDID portal and provide consent for sharing their UDID details before submitting their NSP application.
Students should therefore make sure their disability documentation and UDID details are ready before starting the scholarship application.
Documents Required for Disabled Student Scholarships
Keeping the correct documents ready can make the application process smoother. Depending on the scholarship, students may need:
- UDID Card
- Aadhaar Card
- Disability certificate
- Income certificate
- Academic marksheets
- Admission or enrollment proof
- Bank account details
- Passport-size photograph
- Course or institution details
- Other documents specified by the scheme
Applicants should make sure that names, dates and other details match across their documents.
How to Apply for Disability Scholarships Online
Most major central disability scholarship schemes are available through the National Scholarship Portal. For the 2026–27 academic year, NSP lists Pre-Matric, Post-Matric and Top Class Education scholarships under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
Students should first complete the required OTR and follow the UDID-related process. They can then select the appropriate scholarship, fill in their academic and personal information and submit the required documents.
After submission, applications go through the prescribed verification process. Students should regularly check their application status and respond to any correction requirement within the specified period.
How to Select the Right Scholarship
The most suitable scholarship depends on the student’s current education level. A Class IX student should look at the Pre-Matric scheme, while a student entering college may be better suited to the Post-Matric or Top Class option.
Students should compare more than just the monthly scholarship amount. Tuition fee coverage, hostel support, book allowance, computer assistance and assistive-device benefits can make a significant difference to the total financial support.
Research scholars and students planning to study abroad should separately examine fellowship and overseas scholarship opportunities.
Important Things to Check Before Applying
Before submitting an application, students should verify the latest official guidelines because scholarship conditions can change from one academic year to another. The DEPwD has issued revisions to its scholarship guidelines, and the National Scholarship Portal currently lists the disability scholarship schemes for 2026–27.
Students should especially check the disability requirement, income limit, eligible course, institution conditions, scholarship amount, application deadline and renewal rules.