Post-Graduate Scholarships for Professional Courses for SC/ST Candidates

What is the PG Scholarship for Professional Courses for SC/ST Candidates?

Post-Graduate Scholarships for Professional Courses for SC/ST Candidates is a scheme of the University Grants Commission (UGC), under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. The scheme pays a monthly stipend to Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students who are pursuing a post-graduate professional course, helping them meet the cost of higher professional study.

According to the UGC, SC and ST students are under-represented at the post-graduate professional level, where course costs and living expenses can force capable students to drop out. This scheme provides financial support so that eligible SC/ST students can complete their master's-level professional education: in fields such as engineering, management, medicine and law, for up to two years.

The scheme is merit-linked and slot-limited: a fixed number of scholarships is sanctioned each year and filled on merit, so it is a competitive award rather than a universal entitlement for every SC/ST post-graduate.

Who is eligible for this scholarship?

You can apply if you:

• Belong to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe and can produce a valid caste certificate from a competent authority.
• Are admitted to, or enrolled in, a recognised post-graduate professional course at a recognised university or institution.
• Meet the merit and other conditions set out in the current UGC guidelines for the scheme.

You cannot apply if you:

• Do not belong to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe. The scheme is reserved for SC/ST candidates, and other categories are not eligible under it.
• Are pursuing a course that is not a recognised post-graduate professional course covered by the scheme.
• Are already drawing another scholarship of a similar nature for the same course, since you cannot hold two such scholarships at once.
• Do not meet the scheme's merit or continuation conditions, or fail to maintain satisfactory progress.

What does the scholarship provide?

The scheme provides a monthly stipend for the duration of the post-graduate professional course, up to a maximum of two years. The stipend is intended to cover the student's maintenance and study costs during the programme.

This guide does not quote a single fixed stipend figure. UGC sets the monthly amount in the scheme guidelines, the rate can differ between hostellers and day scholars, and it is revised periodically. Confirm the exact current stipend in the latest UGC notification for this scheme before applying, rather than relying on an older figure that may have changed.

Payment is made by direct transfer to the student's bank account, so an active, Aadhaar-linked bank account is needed to receive the stipend.

How to apply for the SC/ST PG professional scholarship

1. Secure admission to a recognised post-graduate professional course at a recognised university or institution.
2. Watch the UGC website (ugc.gov.in) and your institution's notices for the current scheme notification and the application window.
3. Register and apply through the prescribed online process, providing your caste certificate, admission proof, qualifying-degree marksheet, Aadhaar and bank details.
4. Route the application through your institution where required, so it can verify your enrolment and forward your claim.
5. Submit before the deadline stated in the notification.
6. Track the outcome and disbursement, and submit any progress or continuation documents the UGC asks for in the second year.

Because the number of scholarships is limited and merit-based, applying early and completing the documentation correctly improves your chances.

Why this scheme matters

Post-graduate professional education is a gateway to well-paid, skilled careers, but it is also where the cost of study rises sharply. By giving SC/ST students a stipend for up to two years, this UGC scheme:

• Reduces the risk that an eligible SC/ST student abandons a master's professional course for financial reasons.
• Complements broader post-matric and top-class education schemes for SC/ST students by focusing specifically on the post-graduate professional stage.
• Directs support to a stage of education where the return on completion — in employability and earnings, is high.

Help and where to check

• University Grants Commission (UGC): ugc.gov.in; current scheme guidelines, notifications and application details
• UGC phone: 011-23604446, 011-23604200
• Applicants should also consult their institution's scholarship/SC-ST welfare cell, which handles verification and forwarding of applications

Verify the exact stipend, number of slots and eligibility in the live UGC notification each year, as these terms are revised. No agent can guarantee an award: selection is on merit within the annual quota.