Scholarships for College Students in Arts, Commerce & Humanities (2025–26 Edition)

Students pursuing Arts, Commerce, and Humanities often miss out on scholarship opportunities due to the false belief that only technical or science courses are rewarded financially. But the reality is, there are plenty of scholarships for college students in non-STEM streams that offer support for tuition fees, books, hostels, and more.

Whether you’re studying History, Political Science, Psychology, Economics, Commerce, or Literature, this guide features the best scholarships in India for the 2025–26 academic year, including national, private, and girl-specific grants.


🏛️ 1. NSP Post-Matric Scholarship (Central Sector)

  • Offered By: Ministry of Social Justice, Tribal Affairs, and Minority Affairs (India)
  • Streams Covered: Arts, Commerce, Humanities, Social Sciences
  • Eligibility:
    • SC/ST/OBC/Minority/Disabled students
    • Class 11 to Postgraduate level
    • Annual income below ₹2.5–3 lakh (varies by scheme)
  • Benefits:
    • Tuition fees reimbursement
    • Maintenance allowance (₹230 to ₹1,200 per month)
    • Book, travel, and thesis allowances
  • Apply At: scholarships.gov.in
  • Deadline: Expected October 2025

📚 India’s largest post-matric support system — make sure to check the scheme for your caste/community category.


🧾 2. State Post-Matric Scholarships (Arts & Commerce)

Each Indian state has its own post-matric scholarship scheme for students pursuing general degree courses like BA, BCom, BBA, BSW, BMS, etc. Here are a few state-specific examples:

West Bengal Aikyashree Scholarship

Karnataka SSP Scholarship (Humanities Stream)

Maharashtra MahaDBT Post-Matric

These state-level scholarships offer huge financial relief — especially for students from economically weaker backgrounds.


🏆 3. Aditya Birla Scholarship (Commerce & Law Streams)

  • Offered By: Aditya Birla Group
  • Eligibility:
    • Students admitted to select institutions (like XLRI, IIMs, National Law Schools, etc.)
    • Based on academic merit, leadership skills, and group discussion/interview
  • Award: ₹1,80,000/year (renewable)
  • Applicable Streams: Commerce, Law, Economics, Management
  • Apply At: Via invitation through partner colleges
  • Deadline: August–September 2025 (tentative)

💼 A great corporate-backed scholarship for high-performing students in the commerce and leadership domain.


🌸 4. Azim Premji Scholarship (For Girls in Arts/Humanities)

  • Eligibility:
    • Girls from government schools in rural/semi-urban areas
    • Enrolled in general UG courses (BA, BCom, BSW, etc.)
    • Household income below ₹2 lakh per year
  • Benefits:
    • Monthly stipend (₹2,000–₹3,000)
    • Soft-skill and mentorship support
  • Application: July–September 2025 (tentative)

🎓 Focused on empowering women in humanities and social sciences with long-term career mentoring.


💡 5. L&T Samaj Scholarship (For Arts and Humanities)

  • Eligibility:
    • Students pursuing UG courses in History, Sociology, Political Science, etc.
    • Minimum 60% in Class 12
    • Household income below ₹2.5 lakh
  • Award: ₹60,000 per year
  • Apply At: Through Buddy4Study platform

🧠 A lesser-known but powerful opportunity for students interested in social impact and civil services careers.


📖 Other Hidden Scholarships for Arts & Commerce (2025–26)

Scholarship NameCoverageFocus
Vidyadhan State Scholarships₹10,000–₹60,000/yearArts/Commerce/Science UG
Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarship (for PG abroad)Full fundingSocial sciences, humanities
Nirankari Rajmata Scholarship₹50,000/yearAny UG stream, incl. Arts
Fair & Lovely Foundation (now Glow & Lovely)₹25,000–₹50,000Women in Arts, Commerce

📋 Required Documents (Common Across Schemes)

  • Aadhaar card & passport-size photo
  • Class 10 & 12 mark sheets
  • Bonafide certificate from college
  • Admission proof / fee receipt
  • Caste/income certificate (if applicable)
  • Bank account details (student or joint with guardian)
  • Statement of purpose (for private scholarships)

🎯 Final Words

Don’t let myths fool you — scholarships for college students in Arts, Commerce, and Humanities are real and rewarding. With the rise of liberal arts education and demand for professionals in social work, law, economics, public policy, design, and journalism, these scholarships support you in becoming tomorrow’s changemaker.

Apply smart, stay consistent, and make the most of both national and state-based opportunities available for 2025–26.