Post Graduate Merit Scholarship Scheme for University Rank Holders (Under-Graduate Level)

What is the Post Graduate Merit Scholarship for University Rank Holders?

The Post Graduate Merit Scholarship Scheme for University Rank Holders at Under-Graduate Level is a scholarship of the University Grants Commission (UGC), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. According to the UGC, the scheme rewards students who secured the first or second rank in their undergraduate university examinations and who go on to pursue postgraduate study, so that top-performing graduates are encouraged to continue into PG programmes.

The scholarship pays Rs 3,100 per month for two years, calculated as 10 months of payment in each academic year. The money is disbursed directly to the student's bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Its stated purpose is to attract talent for postgraduate study and to strengthen basic subjects at the undergraduate level.

Main features

• Rs 3,100 per month for up to two years (10 months per year).
• Open to first and second university rank holders at UG level.
• Awardees may pursue PG in any area of specialisation at any recognised institution in India.
• Applied for and disbursed through the National Scholarship Portal.

Who is eligible for this scholarship?

You can apply if:

• You are the first or second rank holder at the undergraduate level in B.A., B.Sc. or B.Com. at your university.
• You have secured a minimum of 60 percent marks at the undergraduate level.
• You have taken admission in a full-time, regular postgraduate course.
• You are not more than 30 years of age at the time of admission to the PG course.

You cannot apply if:

• You did not place first or second in the university rank list.
• Your undergraduate marks are below 60 percent.
• You are enrolled in a distance-education, part-time or correspondence PG programme, only full-time regular courses qualify.
• You are above 30 years at PG admission.

The scheme is designed for graduates of general degree streams who continue into postgraduate study; the rank and percentage conditions together keep it tightly merit-based.

What documents are required?

How to apply for the PG Merit Scholarship

Applications are processed through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP):

1. Go to the National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in and complete a fresh registration if you are a new applicant.
2. Log in and fill the student profile, entering your personal, academic and bank account details accurately.
3. Under the UGC schemes, select the Post Graduate Merit Scholarship for University Rank Holders.
4. Upload the required documents — your university rank certificate, undergraduate marksheet showing at least 60 percent, PG admission proof and Aadhaar.
5. Submit the application before the annual deadline and note the application ID for tracking.

After submission the application is verified at the institute and state levels before UGC sanction. Renewal for the second year depends on good conduct and the prescribed attendance during the PG course.

How much does the scholarship pay?

The award is Rs 3,100 per month, paid for 10 months in each of two years. Over the full tenure this amounts to Rs 31,000 per year in monthly DBT instalments, credited to the student's Aadhaar-seeded bank account. The scholarship supports living and study costs during the postgraduate programme and does not cover tuition fees separately.

Help and where to check status

Application status is tracked on the National Scholarship Portal using the application ID generated at submission. For portal issues such as OTP failures, document upload errors or payment delays, use the NSP helpline on 0120-6619540 or the helpdesk email listed on scholarships.gov.in. Scheme-level queries can also be directed to the UGC through its scholarships pages at ugc.gov.in.

There is no fee to apply on the National Scholarship Portal, and students should not pay any agent claiming to secure the scholarship.

Common reasons for rejection

Rank certificate does not clearly state "first" or "second" rank. Many university mark sheets or provisional certificates list percentage and division but not an explicit rank position. If the rank certificate issued by the university does not name the applicant as the first or second rank holder in that specific degree and batch, the application is rejected at the verification stage. Fix: request a separate rank certificate or merit letter from the university's examination controller that states the rank in words, not just the percentage.

UG percentage below 60 percent after rounding or grade conversion. Where the undergraduate result is issued as a CGPA or letter grade, applicants sometimes convert it to a percentage using their own formula and it comes out just under 60 percent when checked against the university's official conversion table. Fix: get the percentage equivalent certified by the university itself rather than self-calculating, and upload that certified figure.

Admission is to a part-time, distance, or correspondence PG course. This scheme is restricted to full-time, regular postgraduate programmes. Applications for PG diplomas, distance-mode MA/MSc programmes, or courses run by open universities are rejected even if the rank and percentage conditions are otherwise met. Fix: confirm with the admitting institution in writing that the course is classified as full-time and regular before applying, and upload that admission letter.

Applicant crossed 30 years of age at the time of PG admission. The age is checked against the date of admission to the postgraduate course, not the date of applying on the portal. A student who turns 31 between finishing the UG degree and joining the PG course loses eligibility even if they were under 30 when the UG result was declared. Fix: verify the exact admission date on the PG admission letter and compare it against the date of birth on the age proof before submitting.

Bank account not Aadhaar-seeded, causing DBT failure. The application itself may be approved but the scholarship instalment fails or is treated as rejected for disbursal if the linked bank account is not seeded with Aadhaar, or if the account has since been closed or changed without updating the portal. Fix: confirm Aadhaar-seeding status with the bank branch before submission and keep the same account active through both years of the scholarship.

Mismatch between documents uploaded on the National Scholarship Portal and the physical records held by the institution or state nodal office. Renewal or first-year sanction can be rejected at the institute or state verification stage if the name, roll number, or marks on the uploaded documents do not exactly match institutional records, for example a name spelt differently on the Aadhaar card versus the marksheet. Fix: check that the spelling of the name and other identifying details are identical across all uploaded documents before final submission.

Missed the annual application window on the National Scholarship Portal. The scheme is invited once a year and applications submitted after the portal closes for that cycle are not considered, regardless of eligibility. Fix: track the NSP notification for the relevant academic year and complete registration and document upload well before the closing date rather than waiting for the last day.