Degrees in Agriculture and Medicine are mission‑critical for India’s food security and public health—but they’re also among the most expensive. Fortunately, several scholarships for college students specifically target these streams, easing tuition, hostel, lab, and research costs.
Below is a curated list of the best agriculture and medical scholarships for 2025–26, covering national flagships like INSPIRE and PMRF, plus generous state incentives and hidden gems you may not know.
🌾 Agriculture Scholarships
1. ICAR National Talent Scholarship (NTS)
- Who Can Apply: Top 150 rankers in the All‑India Entrance Examination for Admission (AIEEA‑UG) run by ICAR
- Award: ₹3,000 per month for all four years of B.Sc. (Agri) or allied degrees
- Extras: Paid summer research internships at ICAR institutes
- Deadline: Automatically awarded after AIEEA counselling
2. Vidyadhan Agriculture Scholarship (State‑wise)
- States: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana
- Eligibility: Class 12 score ≥ 80 % and admission to B.Sc. (Agri/Horti/Fisheries)
- Award: ₹10,000 – ₹60,000 per year + mentorship
- Apply: vidyadhan.org — July 2025 intake
3. RKVY‑RAFTAAR Agri‑Business Scholarship
- Level: Final‑year UG / PG students with agri‑start‑up ideas
- Award: Monthly stipend ₹10,000 (UG) or ₹12,000 (PG) during the 2‑month innovation program + seed grant up to ₹5 lakh
- Apply: Via participating State Agricultural Universities (SAUs)
🩺 Medical & Allied Health Scholarships
4. INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (Medicine Track)
- Field: MBBS / BDS / BVSc & AH / B.Pharm with PCB score in top 1 % of Class 12 board
- Award: ₹80,000 per year (₹60k cash + ₹20k project grant) up to 5 years
- Deadline: October 2025 (tentative)
- Apply: online‑inspire.gov.in
5. Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF) – Health & Bio‑Sciences
- Level: Direct PhD at IITs, IISc, NITs, IISERs, AIIMS, and select universities
- Eligibility: CGPA ≥ 8.0 in qualifying degree + valid GATE/NET or through lateral entry after one semester of PhD
- Award: ₹70k – ₹80k monthly stipend + ₹2 lakh annual research grant for 5 years
- Apply: pmrf.in — two application windows (Spring & Fall 2025)
6. AIIMS Merit‑cum‑Means Scholarship
- Who: MBBS students at any AIIMS campus
- Award: Tuition fee waiver + ₹1,000 monthly pocket allowance
- Apply: Directly through Dean (Academics) within 30 days of session start
7. ONGC Foundation Scholarship (MBBS Category)
- Eligibility: 1st/2nd‑year MBBS students, family income < ₹2 lakh, 60 %+ in Class 12
- Award: ₹48,000 per year for the remaining course duration
- Apply: ongcscholar.org — August 2025
🏥 State‑Specific Medical Incentives
| State | Scheme | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Telangana | KCR Kit for MBBS Girls | ₹12,000 stipend for female MBBS students to promote women doctors |
| Tamil Nadu | CM’s Merit Scholarship – Paramedical | Full tuition + laptop grant for B.Sc. Nursing & Allied Health |
| Himachal Pradesh | Mukhya Mantri Chikitsa Shiksha Yojana | ₹20,000 – ₹40,000 yearly stipend for MBBS/BDS in state colleges |
| Assam | Dr. Banikanta Kakati Scholarship | ₹1 lakh one‑time grant for MBBS/BAMS/BHMS first‑years |
Tip: Check your state’s higher‑education portal or Directorate of Medical Education for additional micro‑grants and fee waivers.
🛠 Application Toolkit
- Documents: Aadhaar, passport photo, Class 10–12 mark sheets, NEET/ICAR scorecard, income & caste certificates, college bonafide letter, bank passbook.
- Deadlines: Agriculture scholarships close June–September 2025; most medical scholarships close July–October 2025. Create a calendar!
- Essays & SOPs: PMRF and INSPIRE require concise research statements—focus on innovation & societal impact.
- Cross‑apply: It’s legal to combine a national scholarship with a state stipend, provided totals don’t exceed fee liabilities—always disclose overlaps.
✅ Final Thoughts
Whether you’re breeding drought‑resistant crops or training to be a cardiac surgeon, these scholarships for college students in agriculture and medical streams remove financial obstacles so you can focus on saving lives and securing harvests.
Start gathering documents now, bookmark application links, and give your professional dreams a powerful funding boost in 2025–26.
