Indira Gandhi Utkrisht Chatravriti Yojana 2025

The Indira Gandhi Utkrisht Chatravriti Yojana, Himachal Pradesh 2025-2026, is a merit-based scholarship scheme by the Department of Higher Education, Government of Himachal Pradesh, aimed at supporting 150 meritorious students to pursue higher education. The scholarship provides INR 18,000 per annum to top-performing students from Class 12 (Arts, Science, Commerce) and graduates (B.A., B.Sc., B.Com.) who are admitted to academic or professional courses. The scheme encourages financially disadvantaged students to continue their education, reducing illiteracy and promoting academic excellence in Himachal Pradesh, which has a literacy rate of 82.8% (Census 2011) and hosts institutions like Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), ranked 801–1000 globally (QS World University Rankings 2025). Recipients benefit from financial support, access to HPU’s resources, and opportunities to study at recognized institutions within or outside the state.

To be eligible for the Indira Gandhi Utkrisht Chatravriti Yojana 2025-2026, applicants must:

• Be a bonafide resident of Himachal Pradesh, with a valid Himachali bonafide certificate.

• Meet one of the following academic criteria:

  • Class 12 Applicants: Be among the top 10 male or female students in the merit list of the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBOSE), Dharamshala, for Class 12 (Arts, Science, or Commerce) with at least 60% marks.

  • Graduate Applicants: Be among the top 10 male or female students in the merit list of B.A., B.Sc., or B.Com. from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla, with at least 60% marks.

• Be enrolled in a recognized academic or professional course (e.g., Bachelors, Masters, MBA, MBBS/MD) at a government or government-recognized institution within or outside Himachal Pradesh.

• Be an Indian national.

• Value: INR 18,000 per annum, awarded as a cash scholarship to cover educational expenses.

• Disbursement: Transferred annually via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the student’s Aadhaar-linked bank account after verification by the institute and state authorities.

• Duration: Renewable annually until completion of the degree/course, subject to maintaining at least 55% marks in subsequent years and satisfactory academic progress.

• Additional Benefits:

  • Recognition as an Indira Gandhi Utkrisht Scholar, enhancing academic and professional credentials.

  • Access to educational resources at Himachal Pradesh University and other recognized institutions.

  • Support for pursuing professional courses (e.g., engineering, medicine, law) at institutions like HPU or NIT Hamirpur, with a 90% employability rate for graduates (QS 2024).

• Note: The scholarship does not cover full tuition fees (INR 50,000–2 lakh/year for professional courses) or living expenses (INR 1–1.5 lakh/year in Himachal Pradesh). Total financial aid cannot exceed course costs, and adjustments may be made if combined with other funding. Education loans via WeMakeScholars or banks (e.g., SBI, HDFC Credila) are available for additional expenses. International students (if applicable) must purchase Overseas Student Health Cover (~INR 50,000/year) by February 1, 2025.

Applicants must apply online through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). Follow these steps:

1. Register on NSP:

   • Visit scholarships.gov.in and click “New Registration.”

   • Provide Aadhaar number, name, date of birth, mobile number, email ID, and bank details.

   • Complete OTP verification to create a user ID and password.

2. Complete Application:

   • Log in to the NSP portal using credentials.

   • Select “Indira Gandhi Utkrisht Chatravriti Yojana” under Himachal Pradesh schemes.

   • Fill in details: personal information, academic qualifications, course/institution details, and bank account information.

   • Upload required documents (listed below) in PDF format (max 2 MB each).

   • Review, tick the declaration, and submit by the deadline.

3. Institute Verification:

   • The institution verifies academic details, merit list status, and enrollment via the NSP portal.

   • Submit any additional documents requested by the institution.

4. State-Level Verification:

   • The Himachal Pradesh Department of Higher Education verifies eligibility and documents.

5. Notification:

   • Check application status on the NSP portal using the application ID.

   • Successful applicants are notified via NSP and email by January 2026.

6. Disbursement:

   • Funds are transferred to the Aadhaar-linked bank account after verification, typically starting February 2026.

Note: International students (if applicable) must hold a valid Indian student visa and be onshore by February 2025. Apply for a visa by November 2024 to allow 3–4 months for processing. Contact the NSP helpline (0120-6619540) or the Himachal Pradesh scholarship office for support. Applications must be submitted online; offline applications are returned to the sender for online submission. Errors in the application can be corrected until final submission to the institute level.

• Completed NSP application form (via scholarships.gov.in).

• Aadhaar card (mandatory for DBT).

• Himachali bonafide certificate (proof of residency).

• Class 12 mark sheet/certificate (for Class 12 applicants) or B.A./B.Sc./B.Com. mark sheet (for graduate applicants) from HPBOSE or HPU.

• Merit list certificate from HPBOSE (Class 12) or HPU (B.A./B.Sc./B.Com.).

• Admission letter or receipt for the current academic/professional course.

• Latest bank statement of the student’s Aadhaar-linked bank account.

• Passport-sized photograph.

• Note: Documents must be in English or accompanied by certified translations. Upload scanned copies in PDF format to the NSP portal by the deadline. Incomplete or incorrect documents lead to rejection.

• Application Deadline: October 31, 2025, 11:59 PM (IST), for student submission (based on 2024-25 terms, subject to confirmation).

• Institute Verification Deadline: November 15, 2025.

• State-Level Verification Deadline: November 30, 2025.

• Notification: By January 2026.

• Disbursement: Starting February 2026, subject to verification.

• Health Insurance Deadline: February 1, 2025, for international students (if applicable).

• Note: Deadlines are based on previous years (web:2, web:11, web:18). Verify at scholarships.gov.in or education.hp.gov.in. Early application by September 2025 is recommended for smooth processing.

• Email: dhe-sml-hp@gov.in (Directorate of Higher Education); helpdesk@nsp.gov.in (NSP Helpline).

• Phone: +91-177-2656621 (Directorate of Higher Education); 0120-6619540 (NSP Helpline, 9:00 AM–5:30 PM IST, Monday–Friday).

• Address: Directorate of Higher Education, Himachal Pradesh, Shimla-171001, India.

• Website: scholarships.gov.in; education.hp.gov.in