Government scholarships for Engineering students: Here's all about them
To promote quality education in the field of engineering, the government awards various scholarships to students who want to pursue engineering based on various criteria, including their merit, community, and family's annual income. The motive is to support students' careers, ensuring that financial issues or any other obstacles do not affect their education. Here's a list of the top government scholarships for engineering students.
A merit based scholarship awarded by MHRD
The Centre and Human Resources Development Ministry (Department of Higher Education) offers the Central Sector Scholarship Scheme; students with a minimum of 80% in Class-12 are eligible for engineering scholarships. Students are paid Rs. 1,000/month for ten months in an academic year. Total number of scholarships offered is 82,000 (41,000 each for boys and girls). Students can head to National Scholarship Portal to apply.
Department of Science and Technology's Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana
The Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana Fellowship is a scholarship offered by the government for engineering students apart from science and medical students. The scheme comes under the Department of Science and Technology and Government of India. Candidates are paid Rs. 4,000-7,000/month. Students who secure at least 60% in 10th and 12th classes (50% for SC/ST) are eligible; candidates are selected through an aptitude test.
'Pragati Scholarship Scheme for Girls' for technical education
MHRD's Pragati Scholarship Scheme is an AICTE scholarship for meritorious girl students wishing to take admission in AICTE-approved technical institutes for graduation. Centre annually awards 4,000 Pragati scholarships. Up to Rs. 30,000 for tuition fee and Rs. 20,000 per academic year as incidental charges is provided. The student's family income shouldn't exceed Rs. 8 lakh/year. Applications can be sent through the National Scholarship Portal.
The Merit cum Means Scholarship by Ministry of Minority Affairs
Minority Affairs Ministry awards 60,000 Merit-cum-Means Scholarships annually to students from minority communities like Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi. However, students' family income shouldn't exceed Rs. 2,50,000/year to avail it. The Ministry provides upto Rs. 10,000/year apart from course fees (upto Rs. 20,000). Full course fee is compensated for institutes like IITs and NITs. Eligible students can apply on National Scholarship Portal (www.scholarships.gov.in).
Saksham Scholarship scheme for the differently-abled students
The MHRD also launched "Saksham Scholarship Scheme" through AICTE for differently-abled students for pursuing technical education, including undergraduate engineering programs, in AICTE-approved institutes. The government awards 1,000 such scholarships every year. It provides up to Rs. 30,000 as tuition fee and Rs. 20,000 per year as incidental allowances to the awardees. The scheme's application form can be found on National Scholarship Portal.
Engineering scholarships offered by state-run IOCL, NTPC
The government-run Indian Oil Corporation and NTPC also provide scholarships for engineering students. Students with family income below Rs. 1,00,000/year are eligible for Indian Oil Academic Scholarship, which provides Rs. 3,000/month to 300 students every year. NTPC Scholarship Scheme bestows financial support of Rs. 1,500/month for second-year SC/ST and PWD engineering students. More information is available on IOCL's scholarship portal and NTPC's scholarship page.
SC/SCT students can avail this scholarship awarded by ONGC
The state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) offers a scholarship for meritorious SC/ST candidates pursuing professional courses such as engineering and medical. The company awards 247 engineering scholarships every year. ONGC provides Rs. 1,500/month for four years under the scheme. SC/ST students whose annual family income doesn't exceed Rs. 4.5 lakh are eligible; they should have secured at least 60% in Class 12.
The FAEA-BHEL Scholarship scheme for socially, economically weaker sections
The government-run Bharat Heavy Electricals and Foundation for Academic Excellence and Access (FAEA) award scholarship for students from socially and economically weaker backgrounds in BPL category. FAEA says, the award amounts "are determined by FAEA to ensure compliance with budgetary guidelines." Students can apply on FAEA India's website. Students wishing to pursue technical/professional courses from any college, institute or university are reportedly eligible.
