National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies (NSPGS): A Comprehensive Guide

15^th Dec 2025...

Published By : Team 811

National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies Key Takeaways

The NSPGS offers ₹15,000 a month for ten months, giving postgraduate students steady financial support and room to focus on their studies.
The scholarship covers only the first full-time PG degree at a recognised institution.
Around 10,000 students are selected each year through an all-India merit list. The process considers academic performance along with reservations for women and specific categories, with clear criteria to keep the evaluation transparent.

A postgraduate degree is a big move towards those students who want to establish a good career, yet the cost of a postgraduate degree can be very high. Numerous meritorious students are reluctant to take up on PG studies because of the financial conditions.

In order to help these learners and ensure that they have equal access to good education, the Government of India introduced the National Scholarship for Postgraduate Studies (NSPGS) via UGC and the National Scholarship Portal.

This scholarship for PG students provides financial support throughout the PG course, helping students focus on learning instead of worrying about expenses. In this guide, we explain the scholarship in simple terms, including who is eligible, what benefits are offered, the documents required, and how to apply on the NSP portal.

What is NSPGS?

The UGC administers a centrally funded scholarship scheme under the auspices of the government known as NSPGS. This scheme offers a monthly stipend to Indian students who are enrolled in the first year of a regular full-time postgraduate programme at a recognised university or college. The scheme typically offers 10,000 scholarships per year. The stipend will be ₹15,000 per month for 10 months in each academic year (i.e. ₹1,50,000 per year), for the two years (duration of PG) – subject to renewal and verification.

One of the most remarkable features about this government scheme is that 30% of seats are reserved for women; special slots are first earmarked for single/twin girl child candidates (to support gender parity and girl-child education), filled irrespective of their undergraduate marks, while the rest are merit-based.

Who Benefits from the NSP Scholarship 2025?

It is important to know who will benefit before we get down to the key features and benefits of this scheme.

The graduates who have gained admission in first-year postgraduate (PG) programmes in regular full-time mode.
Any student, irrespective of their socioeconomic status, can pursue PG.
Meritorious students who may otherwise struggle with PG expenses tuition, books, and living costs.
Female students (especially single/twin girl children), due to quota/reservation.

Key Features & Benefits of the NSP Scholarship

The following points explain why the NSP scholarship is helpful for PG students, whether they’re applying for an MSC scholarship or any other master’s program.

Financial Support: 15,000 monthly allowance over 10 months to assist in paying tuition, living and academic expenses.
Two-Year Support: Scholarship is granted on a two-year basis for the PG degree (renewable after the first year).
Merit + Gender Inclusion: The seats will be selected on merit; however, 30 per cent will be allocated to women; a girl child category will have top priority.
Broad Academic Scope: Can be used in any of the PG programmes (Arts, Science, Commerce, etc.) in any recognised institution under UGC.
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): Scholarship stipend is directly transferred to accounts linked to Aadhaar, which makes the process transparent and also lets the students feel confident in the fairness of the process.

If you are a scholarship recipient under NSPGS, you could use a savings account like Kotak811 Savings Account for receiving and managing scholarship funds. It offers online banking, easy fund transfers, a zero-balance account option (if eligible), and can help you track your stipend and expenses efficiently.

Who Is Eligible for the NSP Scholarship Amount for PG Students?

To apply for NSPGS, you must meet all of the following eligibility criteria:

Must be an Indian citizen.
Admitted to the first year of a regular, full-time PG degree programme at a recognised institution (UGC-recognised university/college).
Must be less than 30 years of age at the time of admission.
Must not already hold a postgraduate degree (only first PG allowed). Distance, correspondence, part-time or open-mode PG courses are not eligible.

Exclusions:

Who Is Not Eligible for the NSP Scholarship Amount for PG Students?

It is necessary to be aware of the circumstances under which students might not qualify to receive the scholarship before making an application.

Already have a postgraduate degree.
Individuals who will be pursuing PG through distance education, correspondence, part-time and open-mode programs.
PG programs in institutes that are not recognised by UGC (according to the 2014 Specification of Degrees notification).
In the case of integrated programmes, the only qualifying one is the PG-component.

Documents Required for NSP Scholarship 2025

The following should be uploaded/submitted by the applicants:

Class 10, XII and undergraduate mark sheets & certificates (attested copies).
Admission letter/evidence of admission in the first-year PG course.
Identity documents (Aadhaar, Voter ID, Passport, PAN, driving licence, etc.).
Passbook / cancelled cheque, Bank account details (Aadhaar-seeded account).
New passport-size photographs (passport photos).
Any other certificates (mandatory by the institution or by UGC requirements, e.g. category certificate, where applicable).

How to Apply for the NSP Scholarship for PG Students?

These steps are required to complete a successful application to the NSP scholarship and submit it on the NSP portal during the given application period, which is usually open in June and closed in November.

New Registration:

Visit the official NSP portal → select “New Registration”.
Read the guidelines carefully, accept the undertaking, and click “Next”.
Enter mobile number → receive OTP → verify.
Complete e-KYC (as applicable), Aadhaar verification.
On success, you receive a reference number (sent to your mobile).

Generate OTR ID (One-Time Registration): (If required)

Install the necessary Aadhaar authentication services on an Android device.
Use OTR app → authenticate via FaceAuth + OTP → get OTR number.

Fresh Application (after registration):

Log in using OTR number and password → reset password if prompted.
Fill the application form, upload required documents (mandatory fields marked *).
Save as a draft if needed or click “Final Submit”.

Verification:

Verification is done first by the institution (college/university), then by the concerned State Higher Education Department or nominated agency. This applies to both fresh & renewals.

Check Payment Status:

Use the “Know Your Payments” template in the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) portal. Provide Aadhaar number, bank A/C number or NSP application ID to track disbursal.

Conclusion

The National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies (NSPGS) is one of the important programs of the Government of India to enhance higher education, and this grants deserving students a chance to take postgraduate degrees without having to worry about the financial barriers. This scheme can be a game-changer for meritorious graduates joining their first PG year in full-time and in recognised courses. Should you be qualified, then it is easy to apply via the National Scholarship Portal, but you need to have the right documents, an Aadhaar-linked bank account (like via Kotak811), and you must file your application before the deadline.

This scholarship not only relieves the students of the financial strain but also encourages them to perform at a high level. Need to apply? You should not wait!

FAQs on National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies

1. How much amount is given in an NSP scholarship?

15,000/month, which is to be paid over 10 months every academic year.

2. Who is eligible to apply for the national scholarship for postgraduate studies?

Indian students between the ages of under 30 years, enrolled in the first year of a regular and full-time, postgraduate (PG only) course in a recognised institution under the UGC.

3. Are students studying PG through distance education eligible?

No. The scholarship is only applicable to full-time and regular courses. Distance, correspondence, and part-time modes are not applicable.

4. Does NSPGS have any income limit?

NSPGS does not put an upper limit or family-income ceiling. Recruitment is done on the basis of merit and other eligibility criteria.

5. What is the average number of students who get NSPGS annually?

There are some 10,000 scholarships each year.