If you’ve excelled in academics, there’s good news—your grades can pay off! India offers several merit-based scholarships for college students to reward outstanding academic performance and support further education.
Whether you’re pursuing arts, commerce, science, or professional degrees, these scholarships for college students in 2025–26 are designed to ease financial stress and recognize merit.
In this blog, you’ll find top merit-based scholarships, their eligibility, benefits, deadlines, and direct links to apply.
🏅 1. Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships for College and University Students (CSSS)
- Eligibility:
- 80%+ marks in Class 12
- Enrolled in a regular UG course
- Family income ≤ ₹4.5 lakh/year
- Award Amount: ₹12,000/year (UG) | ₹20,000/year (PG continuation)
- Application: scholarships.gov.in
- Deadline: Expected 31 October 2025
This is the most widely known merit-based scholarship for college students in India, managed by the Ministry of Education.
🎓 2. INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE)
- Eligibility:
- Top 1% in Class 12
- Pursuing UG in Basic/Natural Sciences
- Award: ₹80,000/year
- Apply At: online-inspire.gov.in
- Deadline: October 2025 (expected)
A prestigious scholarship to promote scientific research among young talent.
🧪 3. Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY) – Now Merged into INSPIRE
- Note: Although merged with INSPIRE, students previously shortlisted in KVPY streams continue to receive grants
- Award: Up to ₹80,000/year + summer internships
- Field: Pure Sciences (B.Sc./B.S./B.Stat./B.Math.)
This continues to be one of the most respected merit-based scholarships for science students.
🧠 4. HDFC Bank Parivartan ECS Scholarship (Merit Category)
- Eligibility: UG/PG students with ≥70% marks
- Family Income Limit: ≤ ₹2.5 lakh/year
- Award Amount: ₹35,000–₹75,000/year
- Apply At: buddy4study.com
- Deadline: Likely to open mid-2025
This scheme offers both merit-based and need-based categories—check both while applying.
👨⚖️ 5. Aditya Birla Scholarship
- Eligibility: 1st-year students at IIMs, XLRI, IITs, BITS Pilani, and top law colleges
- Award: Up to ₹1.8 lakh/year
- Selection: Based on academic excellence + personal interview
- Apply At: adityabirlascholars.net
- Deadline: August 2025
Highly competitive and one of the most prestigious merit-based scholarships in India.
📚 6. Jindal Scholarship (Merit-Cum-Means)
- Eligibility:
- UG/PG students with ≥65% marks
- Family income ≤ ₹2.5 lakh/year
- Award: ₹500–₹3,200/month
- Apply At: sjfoundation.org
- Deadline: Open year-round
Offers different slabs based on course and performance—ideal for consistent high scorers.
🧬 7. J.N. Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship
- Eligibility: Graduates with excellent academic records seeking admission to PG studies abroad
- Award: ₹1–₹10 lakh (loan scholarship) + travel grants
- Selection: Academic excellence + interview
- Apply At: jntataendowment.org
- Deadline: February 2026 (for next academic year)
This scholarship is a great stepping stone for meritorious Indian students planning to study abroad.
📈 8. Foundation for Academic Excellence and Access (FAEA) – General Merit Applicants
- Eligibility: General category students with ≥90% in Class 12 OR admitted to top-tier Indian institutes
- Award: Full coverage – tuition, hostel, books, travel
- Apply At: faeaindia.org
- Deadline: 30 June 2025
Usually known for reserved category support, but general merit applicants with excellent scores can also qualify.
👩💻 9. Reliance Foundation UG Scholarships (Merit-Based Stream)
- Eligibility:
- UG students in science, tech, medicine, AI, etc.
- Top 10,000 rank holders in entrance tests or 80%+ in board exams
- Award: ₹2–4 lakh/year
- Apply At: scholarships.reliancefoundation.org
- Deadline: September 2025 (expected)
This is one of the highest-paying merit-based scholarships for college students in STEM fields.
🏛️ 10. State-Level Merit Scholarships (KVPY, e-Kalyan, MahaDBT, SSP)
Many states offer their own merit-based scholarships for college students. These are applied via portals like:
- Jharkhand e-Kalyan: ekalyan.cgg.gov.in
- Maharashtra MahaDBT: mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in
- Karnataka SSP: ssp.karnataka.gov.in
Awards range from ₹5,000–₹50,000/year depending on the state policy.
✅ Final Thoughts
If you’ve worked hard and scored well, don’t let your talent go unrewarded. These merit-based scholarships for college students not only reduce your financial burden but also enhance your academic credibility.
Apply early, double-check eligibility, and track your application via the official portals for the 2025–26 academic cycle.
