scholarship for general category students 2025: In India, education is one of the most important key for a better life. Every year, thousands of students dream of becoming doctors, engineers, teachers, scientists or civil servants. But there are many poor families who are not able to afford the expense of their higher education. And students, especially those from middle-class or lower-income groups, the cost of higher education is a big burden. The Central Government and state government announced many schemes for reserved categories like SC, ST, and OBC etc.
But there are very less opportunities for general category candidates and they feel left out. In this situation, there are many poor family candidates who are not able to complete their higher education because they are not covered in reservation categories at the same time their families are not able to afford private colleges or coaching classes.
Scholarship for General Category Students 2025
And this situation create a unique problem there are many bright and talented category general category students are often stuck in middle. They have excellent marks great potential and big dreams but no financial support provided to them. But don’t worry guys, we have created a complete list of scholarships especially designed for general category students. And these scholarships are provided based on merit, need, or both.
These scholarships come from the government, private companies, NGOs and even foreign universities. Whether you are in a school, college or planning to study abroad, the scholarship for general category students 2025 will help you to complete your higher education and fulfil your dreams. There are many different types of scholarships which provide financial assistance this including tuition fees, coaching classes fees, hostel fees, travel expenses, etc.
Government Scholarship for General Category Students 2025
Table you will get a complete list of Government Scholarships for General category Students.
| Scholarship Name | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships for College and University Students | ₹10,000–₹20,000 per year |
| National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) | ₹12,000 per year |
| Uttar Pradesh Post-Matric Scholarship | ₹2,500 to ₹13,500 per year (based on course) |
| Swami Vivekananda Scholarship for Academic Excellence (Rajasthan) | Full tuition and living expenses |
| Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Scholarship | Monthly stipend (amount varies by state) |
| AICTE Pragati and Saksham Scholarships | ₹50,000 per year |
| Ishaan Uday Special Scholarship (for NE region students) | ₹5,400 per month (general degree) / ₹7,800 (technical) |
| Merit Cum Means Scholarship for Professional & Technical Courses | ₹20,000 per year + maintenance allowance |
| Post Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities | ₹9,000–₹12,000 annually + other allowances |
| National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students (for general/ST merit applicants) | Up to ₹4.5 lakh/year |
List of Private Scholarships for General category Students in 2025
From the below table take a look on private originations provide scholarships for general category students.
| Scholarship Name | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Reliance Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship | Covers tuition and academic expenses |
| ONGC Scholarship to Meritorious Students | ₹48,000 per year |
| HDFC Bank Parivartan’s ECS Scholarship | ₹15,000 to ₹75,000 per year |
| Aditya Birla Scholarship | ₹65,000 per year for engineering / ₹1.8 lakh for MBA |
| Foundation for Excellence (FFE) Scholarship | Full tuition and academic support |
| Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship | Up to USD 100,000 for study abroad |
| Narotam Sekhsaria Scholarship | Interest-free loan up to ₹20 lakh |
| JN Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship | ₹1–10 lakh as loan scholarship |
| VITEEE STARS (Support the Advancement of Rural Students) | Full fee waiver + hostel + mess charges |
| K.C. Mahindra Scholarship for Post-Graduate Studies Abroad | Up to ₹10 lakh loan scholarship |
Scholarships for Engineering & Technical Students
From the below table take a look on Scholarships for Engineering & Technical Students as listed below:
| Scholarship Name | Benefits |
|---|---|
| AICTE Pragati Scholarship for Girls | ₹50,000 per year + contingency allowance |
| AICTE Saksham Scholarship for Differently Abled Students | ₹50,000 per year + contingency allowance |
| ONGC Scholarship | ₹48,000 per year |
| Foundation for Excellence (FFE) Scholarship | Full tuition fees + additional support |
| Siemens Scholarship Program | Tuition fees, allowance, and training |
| Indian Oil Academic Scholarship | ₹12,000 to ₹48,000 per year |
| Ratan Tata Scholarship (for select institutes) | Full/partial tuition fee support |
| Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Scholarship | Monthly stipend (varies by institution) |
| VITEEE STARS Scholarship | Full fee waiver + hostel & mess charges |
| L&T Build India Scholarship | Full tuition + monthly stipend + job offer |
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International Scholarships for Indian Students
| Scholarship Name | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships (USA) | Full tuition, living expenses, airfare |
| Chevening Scholarships (UK) | Full tuition, living costs, travel allowance |
| Commonwealth Scholarships (UK) | Tuition, airfare, living allowance |
| Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees (Europe) | Full tuition, monthly stipend, travel allowance |
| Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarships | Up to USD 100,000 for tuition, living, travel |
| DAAD Scholarships (Germany) | Full tuition + monthly stipend + travel allowance |
| Rhodes Scholarship (UK – Oxford University) | Tuition, living expenses, and flight to/from UK |
| Australia Awards Scholarship | Full tuition, living costs, return airfare |
| Tata Scholarship for Cornell University (USA) | Full tuition for undergraduate study at Cornell |
| Macquarie University Early Acceptance Scholarship (Australia) | AUD 10,000 per year towards tuition fees |
Related Topic: GKS Scholarship 2025 for Indian Students: Study in South Korea for Free
State wise Scholarships provided to General Category Candidates in 2025
| State | Scholarship Name (for General Category Students) |
|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | UP Post-Matric Scholarship for General Category |
| Rajasthan | Swami Vivekananda Scholarship for Academic Excellence |
| West Bengal | Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means Scholarship (for all categories) |
| Madhya Pradesh | Mukhya Mantri Medhavi Vidyarthi Yojana (MPMMVY) |
| Bihar | Chief Minister Kanya Utthan Yojana (also applicable to general girls) |
| Karnataka | Karnataka State Post-Matric Scholarship (General) |
| Tamil Nadu | Higher Education Scholarship for Academic Excellence |
| Maharashtra | Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Shikshan Shulk Shishyavrutti Yojna |
| Haryana | Haryana Merit Scholarship Scheme |
| Punjab | Post Matric Scholarship for General Category Students |
| Kerala | DCE Merit Scholarship (based on marks, open to general students) |
| Gujarat | Gujarat Chief Minister Scholarship Scheme |
| Assam | Pragyan Bharati Scholarship |
| Odisha | Medhabruti Scholarship Scheme |
| Telangana | Telangana Epass Scholarship (for economically weaker general students) |
How to apply online for the Scholarship for General Category Students 2025:
There are some simple steps that you need to follow an order to submit your application form.
- First of all candidates to visit official website.
- On the home page you need to select application form.
- In application form provide all the required details.
- Upload the necessary documents.
- At last Submit your application form.
FAQs – Scholarships for General Category Students (2025)
Q1. Can general category students get scholarships in India?
Yes, many scholarships are available for general category students based on merit and financial need.
Q2. Are there any government scholarships for general category students?
Yes, schemes like the Central Sector Scholarship and state scholarships (like in UP, MP, Rajasthan) support general students.
Q3. Do private companies offer scholarships to general category students?
Yes, many private organizations like Reliance Foundation, ONGC, and HDFC Bank offer scholarships.
Q4. Can I get a scholarship if my family income is above ₹5 lakh?
Most need-based scholarships have an income limit. But merit-based scholarships may not require income proof.
Q5. Do I need reservation to apply for scholarships?
No. General category students can apply for open and merit-based scholarships without reservation.
Q6. Are engineering students from general category eligible for scholarships?
Yes, scholarships like AICTE, FFE, Siemens, and L&T Build India are available for engineering students.
Q7. Can I get a scholarship to study abroad as a general category student?
Yes, international scholarships like Fulbright, Chevening, DAAD, and Erasmus are open to general students.
Q8. How can I apply for these scholarships?
You can apply online through official portals like scholarships.gov.in or the websites of private organizations.
