DEADLINE: April 30, 2026. If you are an SC/ST/OBC student studying anywhere in Delhi — school, college or university — there is financial support available from the Delhi government RIGHT NOW. Here is the complete guide to every scheme, eligibility and how to apply.
Official Notification — Released April 6, 2026
The Delhi government officially released the scholarship notification on April 6, 2026, inviting applications for multiple scholarship schemes for students from Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) categories for the academic year 2025-26.
Last Date to Apply: April 30, 2026
Apply At: edistrict.delhigovt.nic.in
Eligible students studying in recognised schools, colleges and universities in Delhi can apply online through the e-District portal. The initiative comprises five state-funded schemes along with several centrally sponsored schemes — covering students from Class 1 all the way to those pursuing higher education abroad.
Application fee: ZERO — completely free for all applicants.
All 5 Delhi Government Scholarship Schemes
Scheme 1 — Fee Reimbursement for School Students (Class 1–12)
What it covers: Reimbursement of tuition fees and other compulsory fees paid to recognised schools.
Who can apply:
- SC, ST and OBC students
- Studying in Classes 1 to 12 in recognised schools in Delhi (DoE, MCD, NDMC, KV, DCB schools)
- Annual family income must not exceed ₹3 lakh per annum
- Must meet attendance conditions (70% or above attendance in the previous year)
- Must have scored at least 50% marks in the previous academic year
- Students repeating the same class are not eligible
Benefit: Full reimbursement of tuition and other compulsory fees paid to the school.
Scheme 2 — Merit Scholarship for College / Higher Education Students
What it covers: Financial aid for SC/ST/OBC students enrolled in professional, technical and higher education courses.
Who can apply:
- SC, ST and OBC students in recognised colleges, professional or technical institutions in Delhi
- Must have secured at least 60% marks in the previous academic year
- No income limit for SC/ST students
- For OBC students: Annual family income must not exceed ₹3 lakh
- Students already receiving a stipend from an institution or government remain eligible
Benefit: Financial assistance of ₹8,000 to ₹24,000 per annum, depending on whether the student is a hosteller or a day scholar.
Scheme 3 — Merit-cum-Excellence Award (Toppers in Professional Courses)
What it covers: A one-time award to the top-performing SC/ST/OBC student in each discipline of a professional or technical degree course.
Who can apply:
- SC, ST and OBC students
- Must be the discipline-wise topper across all professional/technical courses
- Award is given only once, after the student successfully completes the final examination
- Must be a resident of GNCTD Delhi
- Since this is purely merit-based, no family income limit applies
Benefit: One-time merit-cum-excellence award (amount as per scheme notification).
Scheme 4 — Mukhyamantri Vidyarthi Pratibha Yojna
What it covers: Direct financial support for school students performing well academically.
Who can apply:
- SC/ST/OBC students in Delhi schools
- Must have secured at least 75% marks in the previous class (for full benefit without income restriction)
- Annual family income should not exceed ₹8 lakh (EWS income limit) — if marks are below 75%
Benefit: Financial support to meritorious students to continue education without financial stress.
Scheme 5 — Financial Assistance for Higher Studies Abroad (SC Students)
What it covers: Financial support for SC students from Delhi who want to pursue higher education at recognized foreign universities.
Who can apply:
- SC students who are domicile/bonafide residents of Delhi (minimum 5 years)
- Pursuing master’s or PhD programmes at accredited foreign universities
- Annual family income must not exceed ₹8 lakh
- Minimum qualification: 55% marks in master’s (for PhD) or 55% in bachelor’s (for master’s)
- Must be below 30 years of age
- Only one child per family is eligible
- Must apply through employer with NOC if employed
- Students who have already completed a master’s or PhD are not eligible
Eligible Fields: Engineering & Management, Pure/Applied Sciences, Agricultural Sciences & Medicine, International Commerce, Accounting & Finance, Humanities & Social Science
Benefit: Financial assistance of up to ₹20 lakh for pursuing higher education abroad.
Quick Reference — All Schemes
| Scheme | For | Income Limit | Key Benefit |
| Fee Reimbursement | Class 1–12 | ≤₹3 lakh | Full tuition fee refund |
| Merit Scholarship | College/Professional | ≤₹3 lakh (OBC); None (SC/ST) | ₹8,000–₹24,000/year |
| Excellence Award | Professional course toppers | None | One-time topper award |
| Vidyarthi Pratibha | School students | ≤₹8 lakh (below 75%); None (75%+) | Direct financial support |
| Abroad Scholarship | SC students (higher studies) | ≤₹8 lakh | Up to ₹20 lakh |
General Eligibility — Who Can Apply?
To be eligible for Delhi government scholarship schemes 2025-26, an applicant must:
- Belong to SC, ST or OBC category with a valid caste certificate
- Be a resident of Delhi (bonafide/domicile resident) with valid address proof
- Be currently studying in a recognised school, college or university in Delhi
- Meet the income criteria specific to each scheme (varies from ₹3 lakh to ₹8 lakh)
- Meet the academic performance criteria (50% or 60% marks, depending on scheme)
- Have a valid Aadhaar card linked to your bank account
Documents Required — Complete Checklist
Before starting your application, keep these documents ready in scanned/digital format:
- Caste Certificate — SC/ST/OBC certificate issued by SDM/Competent Authority of Delhi
- Income Certificate — Issued by SDM/Revenue Department, Delhi (not older than 1 year)
- Aadhaar Card — of student (mandatory for e-District login)
- Previous Year Marksheet — showing marks scored
- Fee Receipt — for the current academic year (for fee reimbursement scheme)
- Bank Passbook / Account Details — Aadhaar-linked bank account in student’s name (or joint with parent)
- Domicile / Residence Proof — proof of Delhi residence (electricity bill, ration card, Aadhaar)
- Passport-size Photographs — recent colour photos
- Bonafide Certificate from current institution
- NOC from Employer (only if student is employed)
All documents must be attested by a Gazetted Officer where required. Ensure caste and income certificates are issued by Delhi government authorities (SDM/Deputy Commissioner), not from other states.
How to Apply Online — Step by Step
Step 1 → Visit edistrict.delhigovt.nic.in
Step 2 → Enter your Aadhaar card number to register as a new user, OR log in with existing credentials
Step 3 → Under “Our Services”, click “Apply Service” → Select Welfare of SC/ST/OBC department
Step 4 → Choose the specific scholarship scheme you are eligible for
Step 5 → Fill in the online application form with all required details — personal information, academic details, income details, bank account information
Step 6 → Upload scanned copies of all required documents (PDF/JPEG format)
Step 7 → Verify all entered information carefully, then submit the application
Step 8 → Save/print the confirmation receipt with your application number for future reference
Step 9 → Track your application status at edistrict.delhigovt.nic.in using your application number
Online submission is completely free. No registration fee, no processing charge.
Why You Must Apply Before April 30 — Don’t Miss This!
This is one of the most common mistakes Delhi students make — assuming there will be an extension. Here is why you should not wait:
- The official notification was released on April 6, 2026 — that gives you only 24 days to apply
- Getting documents like caste certificates and income certificates from the SDM can take 7–15 working days if you don’t already have them
- Students who miss the April 30 deadline will have to wait an entire academic year for the next cycle
- The scholarship amount is credited directly to the student’s Aadhaar-linked bank account — ensuring no middlemen
Apply today. Do not wait for the last date.
Centrally Sponsored Schemes — Also Available
In addition to the five state-funded Delhi government schemes, several centrally sponsored scholarship schemes are also open for SC/ST/OBC students:
- Pre-Matric Scholarship (SC/OBC) — Available via the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) at scholarships.gov.in
- Post-Matric Scholarship (SC/OBC) — Also via NSP
- Jai Bhim Mukhyamantri Pratibha Vikas Yojna — Free coaching for SSC, DSSB, Railway, Bank PO and other competitive exams through the SC/ST Welfare Department
For centrally sponsored schemes, check scholarships.gov.in (National Scholarship Portal) in addition to the e-District portal.
Delhi SC/ST/OBC Scholarship 2025-26 — FAQs
Q. What is the last date to apply for the Delhi scholarship 2025-26?
April 30, 2026. The official notification was released on April 6, 2026.
Q. Where do I apply?
At the official e-District Delhi portal — edistrict.delhigovt.nic.in. Select the SC/ST/OBC Welfare department and choose your scheme.
Q. What is the income limit for the fee reimbursement scheme?
Annual family income from all sources must not exceed ₹3 lakh for the fee reimbursement scheme (Class 1–12).
Q. How much is the merit scholarship for college students?
₹8,000 to ₹24,000 per annum, depending on whether the student is a hosteller or a day scholar.
Q. Can OBC students apply for the merit scholarship?
Yes — OBC students with annual family income up to ₹3 lakh and at least 60% marks in the previous year are eligible.
Q. Is there a scholarship for SC students who want to study abroad?
Yes — financial assistance of up to ₹20 lakh is available for SC students pursuing master’s or PhD programmes at accredited foreign universities.
Q. Do SC/ST students need to show income proof for the merit scholarship?
No — there is no income limit for SC/ST students under the merit scholarship scheme. OBC students have a ₹3 lakh income limit.
Q. Is the application free?
Yes — completely free. No registration fee, no processing charge for any of these schemes.
Q. Can students from private schools apply for fee reimbursement?
The scheme covers recognised schools — including government, MCD, NDMC, KV, and government-aided schools. Check the official list of eligible schools at scstwelfare.delhi.gov.in.
Q. What if I don’t have an income certificate yet?
Apply for an income certificate immediately at edistrict.delhigovt.nic.in — processing takes 10–15 working days. Given the April 30 deadline, do not delay.
