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The PM-USP Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (CSSS) is a major financial grant from the Ministry of Education. It exists to help meritorious students meet their daily expenses while pursuing higher education.
If you have just cleared your Class 12 boards and are about to start a regular degree course, you might be eligible. Here is exactly what the scholarship requires, how much it pays, and the steps to claim it.
Who is eligible for the Central Sector Scholarship?
To qualify as a fresh applicant, you need to clear two main hurdles: academic merit and family income.
First, your gross family income from all sources must not exceed ₹4.5 lakh per annum. You will need a valid income certificate issued by a competent authority in your state to prove this.
Second, you must be in the top 20th percentile (above the 80th percentile) of successful candidates in your stream in the Class 12 board examination. If you are studying for your board exams right now and want to hit that top tier, the Fermi Problem Library has worked problems with a step-by-step solver that explains the reasoning rather than printing an answer, helping you fix the exact mistakes holding your score back.
You also need to be enrolled in a regular degree course (not distance or correspondence) at a recognised college or institution. Students who are already receiving another state or central scholarship are not eligible for this one.
How much do you get?
The scholarship is paid directly into your Aadhaar-seeded bank account for up to five years of study.
At the graduation level, the grant is ₹12,000 per annum for the first three years.
If you move on to a postgraduate degree, the amount increases to ₹20,000 per annum. Students pursuing five-year professional courses, such as a B.Tech, receive ₹12,000 for the first three years and then ₹20,000 in their fourth and fifth years.
How to apply on the National Scholarship Portal?
Applications run strictly online through the government's official platform. You cannot submit paper forms to your college.
Complete your One-Time Registration (OTR): Go to the National Scholarship Portal and click on the OTR section. You will need to complete an Aadhaar-based e-KYC process. Once verified, the portal will generate a 14-digit OTR number and send it to your phone.
Fill the application form: Log in with your new OTR number. Select the "Post-Matric" option and your domicile state, then fill in your academic details. Choose the "PM-USP Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students" from the list of schemes that appear.
Upload documents: You will need to attach digital copies of your Class 12 mark sheet, income certificate, college admission proof, and bank passbook. Ensure your bank account is seeded with your Aadhaar number to prevent failed payments.
Make sure you do this early in the academic year. The portal usually opens around June or July and closes in October, though dates can shift.
What should you gather before applying?
Before you sit down at the computer, having the right paperwork ready will save you from session timeouts and frustrating delays.
Aadhaar card: Ensure the mobile number linked to it is active, as you will need an OTP for the One-Time Registration.
Income certificate: This must be current and issued by a designated revenue officer (like a Tehsildar).
Class 12 mark sheet: A clear, scanned copy.
College admission proof: Your fee receipt or a bonafide certificate from your current college.
Bank account details: Your account must be in your name and seeded with your Aadhaar. Joint accounts or parents' accounts are usually not accepted for Direct Benefit Transfer.
If you are waiting for a document, use your study breaks to check the portal's updates rather than stressing over the application page.
What are the renewal requirements?
Securing the scholarship in your first year does not guarantee it for your whole degree. You must apply for renewal on the portal every year.
To keep the scholarship, you must maintain a minimum of 50% marks in your annual exams and have at least 75% attendance. The jump to university-level academics can be steep; read about your first semester at science or engineering college to know what to expect.
If a difficult module is pulling your average down, Fermi's AI tutor can work out what you already know and build a plan for the session, writing on a board and checking your understanding as it goes. Keeping up with the work during the term is easier than cramming at the end—and it protects your scholarship status.
