About the Ishan Uday Scholarship
The University Grants Commission (UGC) is inviting applications for the Ishan Uday Special Scholarship Scheme for the North Eastern Region for the academic year 2026–27.
The scholarship provides financial assistance to students belonging to the eight North Eastern states of India who have secured admission to recognised undergraduate degree programmes.
Selected students will receive ₹8,000 per month for ten months in an academic year, amounting to ₹80,000 annually.
The scheme covers students pursuing general undergraduate degrees and eligible professional programmes, including law.
Approximately 10,000 fresh scholarships are available every year.
The last date for submitting applications through the National Scholarship Portal is 30 November 2026.
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Explore Our Services →About the Scholarship Scheme
The Ishan Uday Scholarship was introduced by the University Grants Commission to improve access to higher education for students from the North Eastern Region.
The scheme seeks to provide financial assistance to students from economically weaker families who wish to pursue undergraduate education.
It also aims to encourage students to enrol in professional and higher education programmes.
The scholarship is available to eligible students from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.
Students are not required to pursue their degrees within the North Eastern Region.
They may study at eligible universities and colleges elsewhere in India, provided they meet the scholarship requirements.
Number of Scholarships
UGC provides 10,000 fresh scholarships annually under the Ishan Uday scheme.
Selection is conducted on a state-wise merit basis.
The scheme divides the available scholarships between two broad groups of academic disciplines.
Half of the slots are earmarked for Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Law and Management.
The remaining half is allocated to Science, Engineering, Technology, Medicine, Agriculture, Forestry and related programmes.
The scholarship is competitive. Meeting the eligibility requirements does not automatically guarantee selection.
Scholarship Amount and Benefits
Selected students will receive ₹8,000 per month for ten months in an academic year.
The total annual financial assistance is ₹80,000.
For an eligible three-year undergraduate course, the scholarship can amount to ₹2,40,000 over the complete period, subject to satisfactory academic progress and successful renewal.
The UGC scheme provides support for undergraduate programmes lasting three to five years, depending on the recognised duration and eligibility of the course.
However, students enrolled in integrated or dual-degree programmes must note that the current guidelines restrict the scholarship to the undergraduate component.
The amount is transferred directly into the student’s bank account through the Direct Benefit Transfer system.
The scholarship is a fixed financial award and should not be confused with a separate tuition fee reimbursement scheme.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must hold a valid domicile certificate from one of the North Eastern states.
They must have passed Class 12 or an equivalent examination from a school located within the North Eastern Region.
The examination must have been conducted by a recognised education board, including CBSE, ICSE or NIOS.
Candidates must have secured admission to the first year of a recognised undergraduate degree programme.
The course must be pursued through regular, full-time study.
Only students pursuing their first undergraduate degree are eligible.
Applicants who have already completed a degree are not eligible to apply for another undergraduate programme under this scheme.
The university or college must also meet the institutional requirements prescribed by UGC.
Family Income Requirement
The annual income of the applicant’s parents must be below ₹4.50 lakh.
UGC has clearly stated that students whose parents earn ₹4.50 lakh or more annually are not eligible.
The applicant must provide the necessary income information during the scholarship application.
The university or college may require an income certificate issued by the competent authority to verify eligibility.
Students should ensure that their income details are accurate and match the supporting documents.
Can Law Students Apply?
Yes. The Ishan Uday Scholarship specifically includes law among the academic disciplines covered by the scheme.
Students pursuing recognised undergraduate law programmes may apply if they satisfy the eligibility requirements.
This can include students enrolled in five-year integrated programmes such as BA LL.B. and BBA LL.B., subject to confirmation that the course meets UGC’s undergraduate eligibility rules.
However, the current guidelines specify that financial assistance for integrated and dual-degree courses is payable only for the undergraduate component.
Students pursuing a five-year integrated law degree should therefore confirm the scholarship’s applicable duration with their university and UGC.
Students who previously completed another undergraduate degree and subsequently entered a three-year LL.B. programme would not ordinarily qualify because the scholarship is restricted to the first undergraduate degree.
The scheme is not available for LL.M. or PhD programmes.
Can Students Study Outside the North East?
Yes. Students from the North Eastern Region can pursue their undergraduate education at eligible institutions anywhere in India.
For example, a student domiciled in Assam who completed Class 12 at a school in Assam and subsequently secured admission to an eligible university in Delhi may apply.
Similarly, an eligible student from Nagaland who joins a recognised law programme in Bengaluru may seek consideration.
The important requirements are the applicant’s North Eastern domicile, Class 12 education within the region, first-year undergraduate admission and satisfaction of the other scholarship conditions.
Students are not required to attend a university located in their home state.
Eligible Universities and Institutions
The scholarship is available to students studying at institutions recognised under the applicable UGC guidelines.
These include universities and colleges covered under Section 2(f) of the UGC Act, deemed-to-be universities under Section 3, eligible government-funded degree-awarding institutions and Institutions of National Importance.
UGC’s current guidelines also contain a special provision concerning institutional eligibility for the academic year 2026–27.
The provision continues the institutional eligibility arrangements followed during the preceding academic year.
Participating institutions must possess a valid AISHE code and be registered on the National Scholarship Portal.
Students should confirm their institution’s eligibility with the scholarship or student welfare office before submitting the application.
Students Who Are Not Eligible
The scholarship is not available to students pursuing undergraduate programmes through distance learning, correspondence, private or part-time modes.
Students who secured admission through a management quota are also excluded.
Candidates who have already completed an undergraduate degree cannot receive the scholarship for another degree.
Students whose parents’ annual income is ₹4.50 lakh or more are not eligible.
The scheme also restricts recipients from simultaneously receiving another scholarship or monetary benefit from another source.
Candidates already receiving financial assistance may apply, but they must disclose it.
If selected, they must choose between the existing benefit and the Ishan Uday Scholarship according to UGC’s rules.
Selection Process
Selection is based primarily on the applicant’s performance in Class 12 or an equivalent examination.
UGC prepares state-wise merit lists from applications submitted through the National Scholarship Portal.
The scheme follows the allocation of scholarships among the North Eastern states.
Where two or more candidates obtain the same Class 12 marks at the cutoff point, their Class 10 marks are considered.
If a tie continues, preference is given to the older candidate.
Applicants do not need to appear in a separate scholarship entrance examination under the published selection rules.
Only eligible applications verified by the concerned institutions are considered.
Documents Required
Applicants should keep their Class 10 and Class 12 academic records ready.
They must possess a valid domicile or permanent resident certificate from a North Eastern state.
An income certificate issued by the competent authority is also important.
Students should keep their undergraduate admission details, university information and bank account details available.
UGC’s guidelines state that applicants are not required to upload certificates or affidavits to the National Scholarship Portal at the initial application stage.
However, institutions may require these documents for verification.
Students should therefore follow the instructions displayed on the current application portal and provide the required supporting documents to their universities or colleges.
Scholarship Renewal
The Ishan Uday Scholarship may continue during the eligible undergraduate course, subject to the renewal requirements.
Students must maintain satisfactory conduct and the attendance prescribed by their institution.
They must also successfully complete the academic year and obtain promotion to the next year of study.
A student who fails to secure promotion may lose the scholarship.
Recipients are required to submit renewal applications through the National Scholarship Portal in the following academic years.
The guidelines also state that changing the institution or course during the scholarship period can result in forfeiture of the award.
Students should therefore carefully review the renewal rules before making changes to their academic programme.
How Will the Scholarship Be Paid?
UGC disburses the scholarship through the Direct Benefit Transfer system.
The amount is transferred to the beneficiary’s bank account through the Public Financial Management System.
Students must have a bank account in their own name that meets the applicable KYC requirements.
The bank account must also be properly linked and verified with Aadhaar.
Incorrect account details, mismatched names or incorrect IFSC information can delay or prevent scholarship payments.
Applicants should carefully check these details before submitting the form.
How to Apply?
Interested and eligible candidates must apply through the official National Scholarship Portal.
Applicants who do not have a One-Time Registration number must complete the registration process first.
The One-Time Registration, commonly called OTR, is a unique 14-digit number linked to Aadhaar or an Aadhaar Enrolment ID.
Candidates who already have an OTR can use their existing credentials.
After logging in, students should locate the scheme titled Ishan Uday Special Scholarship Scheme for NER.
Applicants must provide their personal information, educational details, university admission information, parental income details and bank account information.
After completing the application, candidates should submit it through the online portal.
The concerned university or college must verify the applicant’s eligibility before the application proceeds for further processing.
Official Application Portal: https://scholarships.gov.in/
Official Scholarship Listing: https://scholarships.gov.in/All-Scholarships
Official Student Registration: https://scholarships.gov.in/Students
Official UGC Scholarship Details: https://www.ugc.gov.in/Scholarships/stu_Scholarship5
Official Scheme Guidelines: https://scholarships.gov.in/public/schemeGuidelines/Guidelines_ISHAN%20UDAY_2324.pdf
UGC Scholarship Enquiry Email: scholarship-ugc@gov.in
Important Dates
The application process for the Ishan Uday Scholarship for the academic year 2026–27 opened on 16 September 2026.
The last date for students to submit applications is 30 November 2026.
The National Scholarship Portal has specified 15 December 2026 as the deadline for defective application correction and institutional verification.
The deadline for subsequent district, state and ministry-level verification is 31 December 2026.
Applicants should submit their forms before the closing date and ensure that their institutions complete the verification process within the prescribed period.
Application Deadline
The last date to apply for the Ishan Uday Special Scholarship Scheme for the North Eastern Region is 30 November 2026.
Eligible first-year undergraduate students from the eight North Eastern states can apply through the National Scholarship Portal.
Selected candidates will receive financial assistance of ₹8,000 per month for ten months annually, amounting to ₹80,000 per academic year, subject to the scheme’s conditions.
Students pursuing recognised undergraduate law programmes may also apply if their course and institution satisfy the eligibility requirements.
