Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (PM-USP CSSS) 2026-27
Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India
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About This Scholarship
The Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (CSSS) is a merit-based scholarship of the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education. NSP lists it as PM-USP - Central Sector Scheme Of Scholarship For College And University Students (CSSS), a component of the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Yojana. Students are chosen on their Class XII Board result and receive a flat annual amount towards part of their day-to-day expenses while studying a regular degree course. The guidelines, applicable from academic year 2022-23, provide a maximum of 82,000 fresh scholarships a year, with 50 percent of the slots earmarked for girls. Slots are divided among State Education Boards in proportion to the 18-25 age-group population of each State, after setting aside the CBSE and ICSE share.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education |
| Level | Regular degree courses at graduation and post-graduation level |
| Amount | Rs 12,000 a year at graduation level; Rs 20,000 a year at post-graduation level |
| Income limit | Rs 4.5 lakh a year (gross parental or family income) |
| Class XII cut-off | Above the 80th percentile of successful candidates in the stream, Board-wise |
| Applications 2026-27 | NSP lists a renewal window that opened on 1 June 2026. Its scheme list shows student applications closed on 30 September 2026, while its home-page notice gives 31 October 2026 as the closing date. No fresh-application window is listed. |
| Portal | National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) |
Sources: CSSS guidelines on NSP, CSSS FAQ on NSP, Schemes on NSP and the NSP home page. Checked on 5 October 2026.
Provider
Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India
Type
Merit-based
Level
Undergraduate
Duration
Renewed every year; total duration not exceeding 5 years (4 years for B.Tech/B.E.)
82000
Awards
Renewed every year; total duration not exceeding 5 years (4 years for B.Tech/B.E.)
Duration
Flat annual allowance towards part of the student's day-to-day expenses
Coverage
Eligibility Criteria
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Class XII result | Above the 80th percentile of successful candidates in the relevant stream (Humanities, Science or Commerce) of the student's Board |
| Family income | Gross parental or family income up to Rs 4.5 lakh a year; income certificate needed only from fresh applicants |
| Course | Regular degree course (not correspondence or distance mode) at a college or institution recognised by AICTE and the respective regulatory body |
| Other benefits | No other merit scholarship, State scholarship, fee waiver or fee reimbursement |
| Renewal | At least 50 percent marks in the annual examination and 75 percent attendance |
| Reservation | SC 15 percent, ST 7.5 percent, OBC 27 percent, plus 5 percent horizontal reservation for benchmark disability (40 percent or more) |
- Diploma students are not eligible.
- Students who took a drop after Class XII are not eligible (scheme FAQ).
- A student who changes college keeps the scholarship if the new course and institution have a valid AISHE code.
- Applications sent directly to the Ministry of Education are not accepted; all applications go through NSP.
- From 2026-27 a student may hold one merit-based scheme and one or more welfare-based schemes (NSP notice).
Source: CSSS guidelines on NSP.
Income Limit
₹4,50,000 p.a.
Eligible Categories
Scholarship Benefits
Financial Support
INR 12,000 - 20,000
Disbursement: Annual, by DBT to the student's own Aadhaar-seeded savings bank account
What's Covered
| Course level | Amount a year |
|---|---|
| Graduation, years 1 to 3 | Rs 12,000 |
| Post-graduation | Rs 20,000 |
| Years 4 and 5 of 5-year or integrated professional courses | Rs 20,000 |
| B.Tech/B.E. (scholarship up to graduation level only) | Rs 12,000 for years 1 to 3 and Rs 20,000 for year 4 |
The scholarship is renewable every year for a total of up to 5 years, subject to 50 percent marks and 75 percent attendance. It is paid by Direct Benefit Transfer into the student's own savings bank account. Payment status can be tracked with the Know Your Payment facility on the PFMS portal, using the Aadhaar number, bank account number or NSP application ID.
How to Apply
Application Guide
- Open the National Scholarship Portal (https://scholarships.gov.in) and complete Apply For One Time Registration (OTR) if not already registered.
- Students with a disability must first log in to the UDID portal and consent to share their UDID details, then submit the application on NSP.
- Choose Apply For Scholarship and select PM-USP - Central Sector Scheme Of Scholarship For College And University Students (CSSS) (Merit Based Scheme).
- Fill in the form. Caste and educational credentials are verified through DigiLocker; fresh applicants upload an income certificate.
- Enter an Aadhaar-seeded savings bank account in the student's own name and submit.
- The institute verifies the application first, then the State nodal agency. Track progress under Application Status.
Selection Process
Eligible applicants are ranked on their Class XII percentile within the relevant stream of their State Education Board. The slots allotted to each Board are split between girls and boys (50:50), among Humanities, Science and Commerce students in the ratio 3:3:1, and across SC, ST and OBC categories under the central reservation policy, with a 5 percent horizontal reservation for benchmark disability. If applications fall short in any group, the vacant slots can move to other categories, gender or State quota. Applications are verified at two levels, by the institute and then by the State Higher Education Department or the nominated State nodal agency. The selection list is generated and displayed on NSP.
Documents Required
Important Dates
Important dates will be announced soon. Check back later for updates.