| Who it is for | SC, OBC, and children of armed forces personnel killed or disabled in war |
| How much per year | Rs 18,000 |
| Income limit | Rs 11,470 per month (varies by category) |
| Application window | 4 June 2026 to 31 August 2026 |
| Where to apply | National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) |
| Offered by | Government of Himachal Pradesh, Higher Education Department |
The money and what it covers
This scholarship gives you Rs 18,000 per annum. That's the revised rate announced in July 2022 by the Himachal Pradesh government. The amount is flat across all eligible categories—SC students, OBC students, and children of armed forces personnel killed or disabled in war all receive the same sum.
The money is meant for your education. The guidelines don't specify whether it's for tuition alone or can cover hostel fees, books, or other expenses. When you apply, you'll need to declare how you plan to use it.
Who qualifies
The scheme has four distinct groups. You fit into one of them.
- SC students: You must belong to a Scheduled Caste and be studying in Himachal Pradesh.
- OBC students: You must belong to an Other Backward Class and be studying in Himachal Pradesh.
- Children of armed forces personnel: Your parent must have been killed or disabled during war or military operations. You can be studying in classes 9 and 10, classes 11 and 12, or at college or university level.
- Children of armed forces personnel (renamed scheme): The state also offers the "Mukhya Mantri Vidyarthi Kalyan Yojna" specifically for this group, with the same Rs 18,000 annual amount.
Caste certificates and armed forces casualty documentation are non-negotiable. If you don't have these, you cannot claim the scholarship.
Income limits—the rule that changes by category
This is where many applications fail. The income ceiling is not the same for everyone.
For SC and OBC students, the guidelines set a family income limit of Rs 11,470 per month. But the official documents also reference older brackets. Some versions mention Rs 9,221 to Rs 10,650 per month for one tier, and Rs 10,651 to Rs 11,470 for another. The 2022 notification doesn't fully clarify whether these older brackets still apply or have been replaced entirely by the single Rs 11,470 figure.
When you apply, you'll submit an income certificate. Get it from the Tehsildar or the revenue officer in your district. It must be current—dated within the financial year in which you're applying. If it's from the previous year, your application will be rejected.
Income certificates older than the current financial year are grounds for rejection. Do not submit a certificate from last year, no matter how recent it looks.
For children of armed forces personnel, the income ceiling appears to be higher, though the exact figure isn't stated in the available documents. The guidelines say eligibility depends on whether your parent was killed or disabled "during the different War/Operations"—this is a status check, not an income check. Apply anyway and let the portal verify your armed forces documentation.
What you need to submit
- Income certificate from the Tehsildar or revenue officer, dated in the current financial year
- Caste certificate (for SC/OBC applicants), or armed forces casualty/disability certificate (for children of military personnel)
- School or college enrollment certificate or admission letter
- Bank account details (the scholarship is credited directly)
- Aadhaar number (for identity verification)
The documents must be uploaded as scans or PDFs through the National Scholarship Portal. If you're applying from school, your principal may help with the enrollment certificate. If you're at college, your admissions office can provide it.
Do not assume the portal will accept blurry photographs. Use a scanner if you can. If you must use a phone camera, ensure the text is legible and all four corners of the document are visible.
How to apply
The application window for this scholarship is 4 June 2026 to 31 August 2026. Applications open on the National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in.
- Go to scholarships.gov.in and register with your email and mobile number if you haven't already.
- Log in and search for "Mukhya Mantri Vidyarthi Kalyan Yojana Himachal Pradesh" or look under the Himachal Pradesh section.
- Click the scheme and read the full eligibility criteria on the portal.
- Fill in your personal details: name, date of birth, caste (if applicable), school or college name, class or course.
- Upload your income certificate, caste certificate or armed forces documentation, and enrollment certificate.
- Enter your bank account number and IFSC code. The scholarship will be transferred here.
- Review all details and submit.
After you submit, the portal will show you a reference number. Save it. You'll need it to check the status of your application.
The portal can be slow during the last week of the deadline. Don't wait until August 30 to apply. Submit by mid-August if possible.
What happens after you apply
The state's Higher Education Department will verify your documents. This can take 4 to 8 weeks. You can check your application status on the portal using your reference number.
If your application is rejected, the portal will tell you why. Common reasons include:
- Income certificate is from the previous financial year
- Caste certificate is missing or illegible
- Enrollment certificate doesn't match your application details
- Bank account number is incorrect or mismatched with your name
- Family income exceeds the limit
If you're rejected, you can reapply in the next cycle if the issue is fixable (for example, getting a fresh income certificate). If the issue is eligibility—your income is too high or you don't belong to the specified caste or armed forces category—you won't qualify for this scheme.
Renewal and continuation
The guidelines don't specify whether this is a one-time award or renewable each year. In practice, most state scholarships in Himachal Pradesh require you to reapply each academic year. You'll need a fresh income certificate and updated enrollment certificate showing you're still studying.
If you drop out or change schools, inform the Higher Education Department. Continuing to receive the scholarship while not enrolled is fraud.
Before you apply: a checklist
- Do you belong to SC, OBC, or are you the child of an armed forces casualty or disabled veteran?
- Is your family income below Rs 11,470 per month (or the applicable bracket for your category)?
- Do you have a current income certificate from the Tehsildar?
- Do you have a valid caste certificate or armed forces casualty documentation?
- Are you enrolled in a school, college, or university in Himachal Pradesh?
- Do you have a bank account in your name?
If you answered yes to all six, you can apply. If you answered no to any, this scholarship won't work for you.
Where to get help
The National Scholarship Portal has a help section. If the portal shows an error, note the exact error message and contact the portal support team.
For questions specific to Himachal Pradesh's scheme, contact the Higher Education Department, Government of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla. Their phone number and email should be on the portal or the official HP government website.
Your school or college's principal or admissions officer can also clarify whether your institution is recognized for this scholarship and whether they've helped other students apply.
Official source:
Mukhya Mantri Vidyarthi Kalyan Yojna-Himachal Pradesh - scheme guidelines (PDF)
· National Scholarship Portal
Verified against the official guidelines on 2026-08-11. Confirm current dates and amounts on the official portal before applying.