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This scholarship is designed to financially assist students from North-Eastern States pursuing higher professional studies in recognized Read More... institutions across India. Read less

Details

Are you a student from the North-Eastern region looking for financial help to pursue higher studies? The North Eastern Council (NEC) Merit Scholarship is here to support you. Launched by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, this scheme aims to empower students by providing financial assistance for various professional courses.

What Is This Scheme?

The NEC Merit Scholarship is a financial aid program by the North Eastern Council. It helps students from the North-Eastern States to fund their education in diploma, degree, postgraduate, M.Phil., or Ph.D. courses. These courses can be pursued in institutions located either within the North-East or anywhere else in India. The scholarship is disbursed through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).

Who Can Benefit From This Scheme?

This scholarship is specifically for students who are permanent residents of the North-Eastern States and have secured admission or registered for courses like Diploma, Degree, Postgraduate, M.Phil., or Ph.D. in a government-recognized institution. A key requirement is that the annual income of the applicant's parents or guardian from all sources should not exceed ₹8,00,000/-.

Why This Scheme Is Important

The NEC Merit Scholarship plays a crucial role in making higher professional education accessible to bright minds from the North-Eastern region. By covering educational expenses, it encourages students to pursue specialized courses needed for the region's development and aims to bridge the educational gap. The scheme ensures that financial constraints do not hinder students from achieving their academic and career goals.

Objective

This scholarship is designed to financially assist students from North-Eastern States pursuing higher professional studies in recognized institutions across India.

Benefits

The financial support will be limited to:

The fellowship amount is €2500 per month.

Single round trip economy class airfare including visa fees and travel insurance: up to €1000.

Health Insurance: As per actuals with a maximum limit of €100/month.

Sources and references

Guidelines

Eligibility Criteria

You must be a permanent resident of any of the North-Eastern States.
You must have gained admission to a Diploma, Degree, Postgraduate course, or be registered for M.Phil. / Ph.D. in an institution recognized by the Government.
Your parent's/guardian's total annual income from all sources should not exceed ₹8,00,000/-.
You need to meet specific academic criteria based on the course level:
- Diploma: At least 60% marks in HSLC/HSSLC or equivalent from a recognized board.
- Degree: At least 60% marks in HSSLC or equivalent from a recognized board.
- Postgraduate: At least 60% marks in your Degree level examination (e.g., BA, BSc, BTech, MBBS, LLB) from a recognized University/Institute.
- M.Phil. / Ph.D.: At least 60% marks in your PG degree from a recognized University.

Important Notes:

If there's a tie in marks, preference will be given to candidates with lower family income.
There is no reservation or quota based on category, religion, or gender.
You should not be receiving any other scholarship or financial aid from any other source at the time of availing this scholarship.
The scholarship is awarded for the prescribed duration of the course, provided you meet the renewal conditions.
Scholarships will not be extended beyond the prescribed study period.
Students in integrated courses can receive the scholarship for the full course duration at the admissible rates.
The scholarship is available for 2 years for M.Phil. and 3 years for Ph.D.

Selection and Disbursement:

Merit lists are prepared from verified applications on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
For M.Phil. and Ph.D., selection is based on research topics/synopsis relevant to North-Eastern Region issues.
Merit is determined solely by marks obtained in qualifying exams and state-wise course slots.
Unfilled quotas may be allocated to eligible students from other NE states based on merit.
Scholarships are disbursed directly to the student's bank account via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.

Renewal of Scholarship:

Each renewal is for one academic year.
Existing beneficiaries must apply for renewal on NSP annually.
Previous exam mark sheets/pass certificates are required for renewal. For M.Phil./Ph.D., a progress report from the guide is needed.
You must pass the year or be promoted to the next semester/year to be eligible for renewal. Backlog papers are allowed only if not pending for more than one year.
Any break in scholarship will make you ineligible for further continuation of that specific course.
Changing your subject of study or institution of study may lead to non-renewal of the scholarship.
There is no merit list generation for renewal applications.
Renewal scholarships are disbursed via DBT.

How To Apply

All applications for the NEC Merit Scholarship are to be submitted online through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) or the UMANG app. Ensure you have all required documents ready before starting your application.

Visit the official National Scholarship Portal (NSP) website: www.scholarships.gov.in.
Register yourself on the portal.
Login using your credentials and find the 'NEC Merit Scholarship' under the available schemes.
Fill in the online application form accurately with all required details.
Upload all the necessary documents as specified.
Submit your application before the closing date.

For any queries or assistance, you can contact the North Eastern Council Secretariat in Shillong at 0364-2522674.

Documents Required

Permanent Residential Certificate (PRC): Issued by the Dy. Commissioner / Addl. Dy. Commissioners / Sub-divisional officers of civil sub-divisions in the NE States. For Sikkim, it's the Certificate of Identification (COI) issued by the Deputy Commissioner. Certificates from any other authority will not be accepted. (Mandatory)
Income Certificate: Issued by the Competent Authority. (Mandatory)
Bank Account Pass Book: The account must be in the applicant's name. Preferably linked to Aadhaar and kept active. (Optional, but highly recommended)
Details of Qualifying Examination: Marks sheets and certificates of the previous qualifying exam. (Mandatory)
Synopsis: For M.Phil/Ph.D. candidates, a synopsis signed by the project guide / Director (Research) or an authorized official of the Institute/University. (Mandatory)
Any other document: As may be required under NSP guidelines.

Important Note: Ensure your bank account is operational and linked to Aadhaar for smooth credit of scholarship amounts. NEC is not responsible for non-credit due to bank-level payment failures.

FAQ’s

Can I get the scholarship for my entire study period automatically after the first year?

No, it's not automatic. You must apply for renewal every year on the NSP. Each renewal is valid for one academic year, provided you meet all the conditions.

What if my research topic for M.Phil. / Ph.D. isn't finalized yet? Can I still apply?

No, you can only apply if your M.Phil. / Ph.D. topic is submitted and you are officially registered for that specific topic. The topic must also be relevant to the North-Eastern Region.

How can I track the progress of my scholarship application?

You can check your application status by logging into your account on the NSP using your unique ID and Date of Birth. Look for the 'Check your Status' option.

Is there a maximum annual income limit for parents or guardians?

Yes, the total annual income of the applicant's parent/guardian from all sources should not exceed ₹8,00,000/- for the student to be eligible.

Does this scholarship have quotas for different categories like religion or gender?

No, this scheme does not have any reservation or quota based on caste, religion, or gender. Selection is purely based on merit.

If my institution's address is known but not its UDISE code, or vice versa, how do I sort this out?

You can find the UDISE code and location details for your institute by visiting this link: http://www.mdm-mis.nic.in/MDM/school_dise_code_scholarship.aspx.

Will I receive the scholarship for the entire duration of my M.Phil. or Ph.D. program?

The scholarship for M.Phil. is available for up to 2 years, and for Ph.D., it's available for up to 3 years. This is subject to meeting the renewal conditions throughout your course.

What happens if I change my course or institution after receiving the scholarship?

If you change your subject of study or institution, your request for scholarship renewal will generally not be entertained. You might need to re-apply as a fresh candidate for any advanced course later.

How is the selection of students determined for this scholarship?

Selection is purely merit-based. The merit list is prepared using the marks you obtained in your qualifying examinations and also considering the number of slots available for your state and course level. For M.Phil./Ph.D., the relevance of your research topic to the NE Region is also a key factor.

What is the annual income ceiling for eligibility under this scholarship?

The combined annual income of the student's parents or guardian from all sources must not exceed ₹8,00,000/- to be eligible for this scholarship.

What is the procedure to apply for the scholarship online?

You need to visit the official National Scholarship Portal (NSP) at www.scholarships.gov.in or use the NSP mobile app or UMANG. Register, log in, find the NEC Merit Scholarship, fill out the application form, and upload required documents.

If I've already saved some information, can I correct it later?

Yes, you can edit all saved information until the application deadline. Once you submit the application finally, it will be forwarded for verification, and editing will no longer be possible.