Top Class Education For Students With Disabilities 2026

This scheme supports Students with Disabilities (SwDs) to pursue full-time higher education in notified institutions, covering fees, Read More... living costs, and essential aids. Read less

Details

For students with disabilities, pursuing higher education can often come with significant hurdles. Recognizing this, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DoEPwDs) has launched a crucial scheme to ensure that financial and other barriers don't stop talented individuals from achieving their academic and professional dreams.

What Is This Scheme?

The 'Top Class Education for Students with Disabilities' scheme is designed to provide financial assistance to students with disabilities who are pursuing studies beyond the 12th grade. It specifically targets those admitted to full-time courses in institutions that have been officially 'notified' for this purpose. The scheme aims to empower these students, helping them gain skills, earn a livelihood, and find a respected place in society.

Who Can Benefit From This Scheme?

This scheme is for students who have a disability of 40% or more, as defined by the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. They must be enrolled in a full-time graduate or post-graduate degree or diploma course in a notified institution. Importantly, the annual income of their parents or guardians should not exceed ₹6.00 Lakh.

Why This Scheme Is Important

Students with disabilities often face unique challenges, including physical, financial, and psychological barriers, which can hinder their educational journey. This scholarship aims to level the playing field by providing comprehensive support. It ensures that these students can focus on their studies, develop their potential, and prepare for a successful future without the added burden of financial constraints.

Objective

This scheme supports Students with Disabilities (SwDs) to pursue full-time higher education in notified institutions, covering fees, living costs, and essential aids.

Benefits

Payment ofFull tuition feeand non-refundable charges (Ceiling of ₹ 2.00 LPA per student for private sector institutions)

Living expenses: ₹ 3000/- per month per student.

Books and stationery: ₹ 5000/- per annum per student.

Acomputer/laptopwith accessories (UPS and printer) is limited to ₹ 30,000/- per student (one-time assistance).

Reimbursement of expenses for the purchase ofAids and Assistive Devicesincluding necessary software related to the particular disability of the selected candidate: ₹ 30,000/- per student (one-time assistance).

Special Allowance(related to types of disabilities like Reader Allowance, Escort Allowance, Helper Allowance etc.): ₹ 2000/- per month.

The aids and assistive devices may include:For the blind I low vision:

Braille / Brailer Typewriter

Laptop with screen-reading software

Laptop with Screen Magnification software

Talk software for mobile phone accessibility

DAISY Recorder and player

For the hearing impaired:

Binaural digital programmable hearing aid with provision for button cells.

Cell phone with SMS SIM Card

Laptop with WiFi (Bluetooth) facility.

Sources and references

Guidelines

Eligibility Criteria

You must be admitted to a full-time course in a "notified institution".
Your disability should be 40% or more.
You must be pursuing a Graduate or Post Graduate Degree or Diploma.
The total annual income of your parents/guardian must be ₹6.00 Lakh or less.
You should not be the third sibling in your family to receive this scholarship.

How To Apply

The application process is entirely online.
Visit the official scholarship portal: https://scholarships.gov.in/.
Register on the portal and fill out the application form carefully.
Upload all the required documents in the specified format.
You can save your application as a draft and complete it later before the deadline.

Documents Required

Income Certificate
Domicile Certificate
Self-attested Degree/Mark Sheet of the last qualifying exam
Fee Receipt of the Current Course Year
Bank Details (applicant or parent/guardian)
Aadhaar Number
Bonafide Student Certificate from your school/institute (especially if your institute is in a different state/UT from your domicile)
Recent colour photograph of the candidate
Certificate of Disability (issued by a competent authority)
Declaration Certificate (issued by the Head of Department or competent authority of the university/institute)

FAQ’s

Can I save my application and finish it later?

Yes, you can save your application as a draft and come back to complete it anytime before the final submission deadline.

What if my parents or guardian have two children who are already receiving this scholarship?

Unfortunately, if you are the third sibling in your family to apply for this scholarship, you will not be eligible.

How will I know if the fields I need to fill in are mandatory?

Mandatory fields in the application form are marked with a red asterisk (*) at the end.

What if multiple students have the same marks and are vying for the last available scholarship spot?

In such a situation, the student whose parents or guardian have a lower annual income will be given preference.

Is there a specific format and size limit for the documents I need to upload?

Yes, documents should be in .pdf or .jpeg format, and each file should not exceed 200 kb in size.

When is a Bonafide Certificate from my institute required?

You need this certificate if your institute is located in a different State or Union Territory than your domicile State/UT.

Does the scholarship continue if I don't get promoted to the next semester?

No, if you fail to get promoted to the next semester, the scholarship will be terminated.

How can I apply for this scholarship?

You need to apply online by visiting the official scholarship website at https://scholarships.gov.in/. Offline applications are not accepted.

Is there any fee to apply for this scholarship?

No, the entire application process for this scholarship is absolutely free of charge.

How are the tuition fees and other charges paid?

The tuition fees and non-refundable charges will be paid directly to the institution where you are studying.

How will I receive my scholarship amount?

The scholarship funds will be disbursed directly to your bank account via the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.

Is there a special reservation for girl students under this scheme?

Yes, 30% of the total scholarship slots are reserved for girl students.

How long will I receive the benefits of this scholarship?

The benefits under this scheme are provided for the entire duration of your course.

How can I check the status of my scholarship application?

You can track your application status anytime by logging into the Applicant Dashboard on the scholarship portal and selecting 'Track Status' from the left-hand menu.