Reliance Foundation Undergraduate and Postgraduate Scholarships 2026-27
Reliance Foundation
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About This Scholarship
The Reliance Foundation Scholarships are run by Reliance Foundation, set up in 2010 to give impetus to the philanthropic initiatives of Reliance Industries Limited. Two programmes run side by side for first-year students of full-time degree courses in India: the Undergraduate Scholarships, awarded on a merit-cum-means basis in any subject stream, and the Postgraduate Scholarships, awarded on academic merit and aptitude in selected fields of engineering, technology, energy and life sciences. For 2026-27 the Foundation plans 5,000 undergraduate and 100 postgraduate scholarships, 5,100 in all, and states that there is no fee at any stage of the application process.
Reliance has given scholarships for over three decades. In December 2022 the Foundation committed to 50,000 scholarships over 10 years, and over 33,000 students have been supported to date. The 5,100 scholars of the previous year came from 1,350 institutions across 27 States and seven Union Territories. Undergraduate scholars receive up to Rs 2 lakh and postgraduate scholars up to Rs 6 lakh over their programme, together with mentorship, leadership development programmes, networking and a scholar community.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Reliance Foundation |
| Programmes | Undergraduate Scholarships (5,000) and Postgraduate Scholarships (100) for 2026-27 |
| Amount | Undergraduate up to Rs 2 lakh and postgraduate up to Rs 6 lakh over the programme (totals, not yearly) |
| Income limit | Undergraduate: household income under Rs 15 lakh. Postgraduate: none, applicants from all socio-economic backgrounds |
| Applications 2026-27 | Open since the announcement of 14 August 2026; closing date not announced yet |
| Portal | scholarships.reliancefoundation.org |
Reliance Foundation announced on 14 August 2026 that applications for 2026-27 are open. None of the pages read gives a closing date, so the last date is shown as not announced. Undergraduate and postgraduate applicants both take an online aptitude test of 60 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes, and postgraduate applicants are also interviewed.
Sources: the media release of 14 August 2026, the Reliance Foundation scholarships page and the scholarship portal. Checked on 5 October 2026.
Provider
Reliance Foundation
Type
Merit-based
Level
Undergraduate
Duration
Duration of the degree (UG up to Rs 2 lakh, PG up to Rs 6 lakh in total)
5100
Awards
Duration of the degree (UG up to Rs 2 lakh, PG up to Rs 6 lakh in total)
Duration
Undergraduate: up to Rs 2 lakh over the degree programme. Postgraduate: up to Rs 6 lakh over the programme, with 80% granted in advance at the start of each academic year for tuition and direct academic expenses and 20% on request for professional development. Both include mentorship, leadership development, networking and a scholar community. Totals over the programme, not yearly amounts
Coverage
Eligibility Criteria
| Criterion | Undergraduate | Postgraduate |
|---|---|---|
| Year of study | First year in 2026-27 of a regular full-time degree course in any stream | First year of a full-time degree in an eligible programme |
| Marks | Class 12 passed with at least 60% | GATE score of 550 to 1,000, or undergraduate CGPA of 7.5 or above |
| Income | Household income under Rs 15 lakh | No income condition |
| Fields | Any subject stream | Artificial Intelligence, Computer Sciences, Mathematics and Computing, Electrical or Electronics, Mechanical, Chemical, Renewable and New Energy, Materials Science and Engineering, Life Sciences |
| Test | Aptitude test mandatory | Online aptitude test |
- Undergraduate applicants must be resident Indian citizens.
- Not eligible for the undergraduate scholarship: students in the second year or higher, students of online, hybrid, remote or distance courses, diploma holders who passed after Class 10, students of 2-year and 6-year undergraduate courses, and applicants who skip the aptitude test or cheat in it.
Minimum Marks
60%
Income Limit
₹15,00,000 p.a.
Eligible Categories
Scholarship Benefits
Financial Support
Amount varies
Disbursement: Postgraduate: 80% in advance at the start of each academic year, 20% on request. Undergraduate: schedule not stated on the pages read
What's Covered
| Programme | Amount over the programme | Payment |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Scholarships | Up to Rs 2 lakh | Schedule not stated on the pages read |
| Postgraduate Scholarships | Up to Rs 6 lakh | 80% in advance at the start of each academic year for tuition and direct academic expenses; 20% on request for professional development, including conference costs |
The amounts are totals over the duration of the degree programme, not yearly figures. Scholars also get mentorship, leadership development programmes, networking opportunities, interactions with industry experts, volunteering opportunities and membership of the alumni and scholar community. Postgraduate scholars can attend talks and workshops with global experts and apply for mentoring and internships.
How to Apply
Application Guide
- Open the Reliance Foundation scholarship portal (https://scholarships.reliancefoundation.org/) and choose the Undergraduate or the Postgraduate scholarship page.
- Check the list of eligible degree programmes. An undergraduate applicant whose programme is not listed can email RF.UGScholarships@reliancefoundation.org to have it added if it is eligible.
- Register on the portal, choosing the fields carefully because they cannot be changed after registration.
- Fill in and submit the application form: personal and contact information, achievements and awards, and supporting documents. Postgraduate applicants also give two letters of reference and two essays (a personal statement and a statement of purpose).
- Take the online aptitude test (60 minutes, 60 multiple-choice questions on verbal ability, analytical and logical ability, and numerical ability).
- Postgraduate applicants attend the interview preparation webinars and the virtual interview.
- Submit before the closing date, which has not been announced yet. There is no application fee.
Selection Process
Undergraduate scholars are chosen on a merit-cum-means basis. Applications are evaluated at the first level on a combination of aptitude test score, academic information and personal information, and up to 5,000 scholars are announced. Postgraduate scholars are chosen on merit through a competitive process: an expert panel of industry experts, academicians and leaders evaluates the applications, interview preparation webinars are held for all candidates, and the panel interviews candidates virtually; up to 100 scholars are selected. The selection looks for commitment to excellence, leadership potential, integrity, community commitment, a growth mindset and resilience. Applicants from all socio-economic backgrounds can apply for the postgraduate scholarships.
Documents Required
Important Dates
Announcement Date
Friday, 14 August 2026
Date passed
Application Start
Friday, 14 August 2026
Date passed