Complete Guide to Scholarships After 12th in India: Government & Private Funded Options

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Scholarships after 12th are vital for supporting higher education among economically disadvantaged students. After receiving their class 12 results, students and parents breathe a sigh of relief. Class 12 marks a pivotal moment in every individual's career. Now, the big questions arise: What next after class 12? Which career path to choose? And importantly, what scholarships are available to support students in pursuing their dreams?

This article not only explores the various scholarships available in India after 12th grade but also provides answers to common questions about scholarship opportunities.

Whether pursuing engineering, medical studies, or architecture, selecting the right college and field of study after higher secondary is a critical decision. Rising education costs add to the challenge, often making scholarships a crucial consideration. With each passing year, college fees continue to rise, making quality education inaccessible for many. Consequently, dropout rates post-class 12 remain high.

According to a government report from the National Statistical Office (NSO):

More than 17% of students drop out at the secondary school level.
Approximately 62.9% of dropouts occur in high school.
Around 1 in 8 students leave school or college prematurely.

Financial constraints, primarily due to lack of funds, are the leading cause. Scholarships thus play a pivotal role in bridging this gap, ensuring education is within reach for all. Governments—both central and state—as well as various private organizations, offer numerous scholarships after 12th to support deserving and underprivileged students.

Government-Funded Scholarships after 12th

The Government of India extends a supportive hand to bright and meritorious students by offering a plethora of scholarship opportunities for higher studies. These scholarships are administered by various central and state government departments.

While each state and the central government run their own scholarship schemes, there are also collaborative efforts where central funds are disbursed through state governments. Below is a comprehensive list of government-funded scholarships that every student should consider:

Scholarships After 12th by Central Government

There's a common misconception that scholarships are only for school students. However, scholarships extend well beyond school education to support students at the undergraduate, postgraduate, and even doctoral levels.

Here are some prominent scholarships offered by the central government for class 12 pass-outs:

Central Government Aided Scholarships

Central Government Scholarships	Offered By	Application Period*
Post Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities	Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India	July to October
Post Matric Scholarships Scheme for Minorities	Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India	July to October
Merit Cum Means Scholarship for Professional and Technical Courses CS (Minorities)	Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India	July to October
Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students	Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India	July to October
Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme for Central Armed Police Forces and Assam Rifles	Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India	July to October
National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students	Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India	July to October
Scholarships for Top Class Education for Students with Disabilities	Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India	July to October
Financial Assistance for Education of the Wards of Beedi/Cine/IOMC/LSDM Workers – Post-Matric	Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India	July to October
Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY)	Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India	June to September
NEC Merit Scholarship	North Eastern Council (NEC)	October to January

State Government Scholarships after 12th Grade

State governments across India provide various scholarships for students who have completed their 12th grade. These scholarships complement those offered by the Central government and aim to support students financially. Below is a list of state-specific scholarships available for 12th grade graduates:

State Government Aided Scholarships

State	Scholarship	Application Period*
Uttar Pradesh	Post matric (Other Than Intermediate) Scholarship for OBC, Uttar Pradesh	May to August
	Post matric (Other Than Intermediate) Scholarship for Minorities, Uttar Pradesh	May to August
	Post matric Other State Scholarship for ST, SC, General Category, Uttar Pradesh	May to August
	Post matric (Other than Intermediate) Scholarship for ST, SC, General Category, Uttar Pradesh	May to August
Kerala	Sanskrit Scholarship (SSE), Kerala	June to August
	State Merit Scholarship, Kerala	June to August
	Suvarna Jubilee Merit Scholarship, Kerala	June to August
	Hindi Scholarship (HS), Kerala	June to August
	Music Fine Arts Scholarship (MFAS), Kerala	June to August
	Muslim Nadar Girls Scholarship, Kerala	June to August
	Blind/PH Scholarship, Kerala	June to August
Odisha	PRERANA Post Matric Scholarship for ST/SC/OBC/SEBC/EBC Communities	August to October
Maharashtra	Government of India Post-Matric Scholarship, Maharashtra	Runs all through the year
	Tuition Fees and Examination Fees to O.B.C. Students, Maharashtra	Runs all through the year
	Post-Matric Scholarship for Persons with Disability, Maharashtra	Runs all through the year
	Tuition Exam Fee (Freeship), Maharashtra	Runs all through the year
	State Government Open Merit Scholarship, Maharashtra	Runs all through the year
	Open Merit Scholarships for EBC Students, Maharashtra	Runs all through the year
	AMS Scholarship, Maharashtra	Runs all through the year
	Government of India Post-Matric Scholarship for ST, Maharashtra	Runs all through the year
Himachal Pradesh	Technical Education Scholarships for PG/Degree/Engineering Courses, Himachal Pradesh	October to December
	Kalpana Chawla Chatravriti Yojana	August to December
	Centrally Sponsored Post Matric Scholarship for ST Students	August to December
	Dr. Ambedkar Post Matric Scholarship for Economically Backward Classes	August to December
	Centrally Sponsored Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for SC Students	August to December
	Centrally Sponsored Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for OBC Students	August to December
Tripura	NEC Merit Scholarship, Tripura	March to April
	Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Post Matric Scholarship for EBC Tripura	October to December
	Tripura Post Matric Scholarship for SC Students	September to November
	Tripura Post Matric Scholarship for OBC Students	September to November
Jammu & Kashmir	Prime Minister Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS), J&K	March to May
Chhattisgarh	Post Matric Scholarship for SC/ST/OBC, Chhattisgarh	December to January
Haryana	Haryana State Meritorious Incentive Scheme	January to February
	Merit-cum-Means Minority Scholarship Scheme, Haryana	January to February
	Post Matric Scholarship for SC Students, Haryana	January to February
	Haryana State Merit Scholarship	January to February
	State Merit Scholarship for UG Girls Students, Haryana	January to February
Madhya Pradesh	Mukhyamantri Medhavi Vidyarthi Yojana (MMVY), Madhya Pradesh	Runs all through the year
Meghalaya	Meghalaya Border Areas Scholarship	December to January
Nagaland	NEC Stipend and Book Grant Scheme, Nagaland	June to July
Nagaland	Nagaland State Merit Scholarship	June to July
Uttarakhand	Pre and Post Matric Disability Scholarship Uttarakhand	January to February
Uttarakhand	Post-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST/OBC Students, Uttarakhand	January to February
West Bengal	Bigyani Kanya Medha Britti Scholarship (JBNSTS), West Bengal	June to July
	West Bengal Post-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST/OBC	September to November
	Swami Vivekananda Merit cum Means Scholarship
	CM Relief Fund Scholarship / Nabanna Scholarship	Throughout the Year
Chandigarh	Chandigarh Post-Matric Scholarship for Transgender Students	September to October
	Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for SC, Chandigarh	August to September
	Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for OBC, Chandigarh
Delhi	Post Matric Scholarship for SC students, Delhi	December to April
	Post Matric Scholarship for OBC students, Delhi	December to April
	Merit Scholarship for SC/ST/OBC/Minority Students, Delhi	December to April

Private-Funded Scholarships after 12th Grade

In addition to government scholarships, many private institutions and organizations offer scholarships for students who have completed their 12th grade. These scholarships, supported by non-governmental organizations and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives of profit-earning companies, aim to make higher education more accessible. Explore the table below for details on these scholarships.

Scholarships After 12th Grade for Studying Abroad

Beyond India's borders, opportunities abound for students seeking international education. Many global universities welcome applications from students worldwide for undergraduate, postgraduate, and research programs. They also offer scholarships, grants, and financial aid based on merit and financial need. Discover the scholarships available for 12th grade graduates looking to study abroad in the list below.

Scholarship	Offered By	Country	Application Period*
India Global Leaders Scholarship	University of Queensland (UQ)	Brisbane	December to May
Oxford and Cambridge Society of India Scholarship (OCSI), UK	Oxford and Cambridge Society of India (OCSI)	United States of America and United Kingdom	February to May
British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM	British Council	United Kingdom	February to April
Korean Scholarship Program	Korean Government	South Korea	January to February
UNESCO Silk Roads Youth Research Grant	United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization	–	March to May
IHS Holland Scholarship	Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS) of Erasmus University Rotterdam	Netherlands	November to May
University of Edinburgh Robertson International Scholarship	School of History, Classics and Archaeology, the University of Edinburgh	United Kingdom	February to May
Newcastle University Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence Undergraduate Scholarship	Newcastle University	USA	February to April
University of Nottingham – GREAT Scholarships	British Council	United Kingdom	February to May
University of Queensland Faculty of Medicine Medical Endowment Scholarship	Faculty of Medicine	Australia	July to August
Inlaks Scholarships	Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation	Europe, America, and the United Kingdom	February to March
Deakin International Merit Scholarship (South Asia – Onshore)	Deakin University	Australia	September to November

*The application period mentioned above is tentative which may change depending on the decisions of the authorities.

Scholarships After 12th Grade – FAQs

1. What scholarships can students apply for after completing class 12th?

After completing class 12th, students can apply for various scholarships based on their academic merit, financial need, or special talents. These include central government scholarships, state government scholarships, private-funded scholarships, scholarships for studying abroad, and more. Refer to the tables above for a detailed list.

2. Which scholarship tests can students take after class 12th?

Popular scholarship tests for students after class 12th include All India Youth Scholarship Entrance Examination (AIYSEE), All India Pre-medical Scholarship Test (Secondary), All India Engineering Entrance Scholarship Examination (Primary), LPU National Entrance and Scholarship Test (LPUNEST), National Entrance Screening Test (NEST), and others.

3. Are there scholarships for students pursuing engineering courses after class 12th?

Yes, there are several scholarships available for students pursuing engineering courses after class 12th. Notable ones include Keep India Smiling Foundation Scholarship Programme, Amrita Entrance Examination-Engineering, Schaeffler India Hope Engineering Scholarship, etc.

4. Are there scholarships specifically for female engineering students?

Yes, there are scholarships tailored for female students pursuing engineering degrees. Examples include Rolls-Royce Unnati Scholarships for Women Engineering Students and Ericsson Empowering Girl Scholarship Program for Engineering Students, among others.

5. How do I know if I am eligible to apply for scholarships?

Scholarship providers outline eligibility criteria on their official websites. Detailed information on various scholarships and their eligibility criteria can also be found on platforms. Eligibility criteria typically include nationality, academic performance (merit), financial background (means), etc.

6. When is the best time to apply for study abroad scholarships?

Study abroad scholarships generally have deadlines aligned with academic sessions in the relevant countries. Applications for scholarships in the Fall session typically start from September and continue through the summer, while scholarships for the Winter session usually open around February and close by late August or September.

7. What are scholarship scams and how can students avoid them?

To avoid scholarship scams, students should carefully analyze scholarship opportunities and verify information by visiting official scholarship websites. Beware of scholarships with overly easy application processes or those requiring upfront payments. Stick to reputable websites of schools, governments, or recognized organizations when seeking or applying for scholarships.