Keralam Pratibha Scholarship Programme: Up to Rs 60,000 a Year for Kerala’s Top Science Students

Scholarship amounts, eligibility, the two-stage application process, renewal rules, and what can end your scholarship.

Many of Kerala’s top Higher Secondary scorers head straight for professional courses, and pure science often loses out. The Keralam Pratibha Scholarship Programme (also written Prathibha) is meant to change that. It rewards outstanding students who choose basic or natural sciences, with a scholarship that grows every year of study. This post explains the benefits, eligibility, application stages, and renewal rules.

What Is the Pratibha Scholarship Programme?

The programme is run by the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE). It is a merit-based scholarship for students of Kerala origin who score outstanding marks in the Higher Secondary Examination and then join an undergraduate or integrated postgraduate course in Basic or Natural Sciences at any recognised institution or university in India.

The aim is to attract bright students to pure science, encourage research and long-term science careers, and build a strong pool of human resources in the basic sciences, with a special focus on women’s participation in science and technology.

Scheme at a Glance

• Scheme name: Keralam Pratibha Scholarship Programme
• Nodal agency: Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE)
• Beneficiaries: Meritorious science students of Kerala origin
• Benefit: Annual scholarship from Rs 12,000 to Rs 60,000, depending on the year of study
• Maximum duration: Five years
• Mode of application: Online only, through the Pratibha scholarship portal
• Payment mode: NEFT to the student’s bank account
• Helpline: 0471-2548402 (programme) and 0471-2548200 (KSCSTE)

Scholarship Amounts

The amount rises with each year of study, subject to renewal conditions:

Year of study	Annual scholarship
1st year UG / 1st year Integrated PG	Rs 12,000
2nd year UG / 2nd year Integrated PG	Rs 18,000
3rd year UG / 3rd year Integrated PG	Rs 24,000
4th year UG (Hons/FYUGP) / 1st year PG / 4th year Integrated PG	Rs 40,000
2nd year PG / 5th year Integrated PG	Rs 60,000

A scholar who continues for all five years receives Rs 1,54,000 in total.

More Than Money

• SPEED camps: Fully residential five-day science enrichment camps with sessions by eminent scientists, field trips, and practical work.
• Internships: Summer internships at leading R&D institutions in Kerala, working directly with practising scientists.
• Study anywhere in India: You can pursue your course at any recognised institution or university in the country.

Who Is Eligible?

• You must be of Kerala origin and must have passed the Higher Secondary Examination from Kerala.
• You must have scored very high marks in the Higher Secondary Examination, both in aggregate and in the Science subjects total. The guidelines list cut-offs of 90% and 80%. Please check the official guidelines to confirm which cut-off applies to which category before you apply.
• You must have secured admission in the same academic year as your application to a 3-year UG, 4-year UG (FYUGP/Hons), or 5-year Integrated PG programme in Basic or Natural Sciences.
• You must study one of the 23 approved subjects as Major, Honours, or in combination.

Eligible Subjects

Mathematical Sciences: Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science.

Physical Sciences: Astronomy, Astrophysics, Atmospheric Science, Chemistry, Electronics, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geology, Ocean Sciences, Photonics, Physics, Polymer Chemistry, Geography.

Life Sciences: Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Botany, Food and Nutrition, Microbiology, Plant Science, Zoology.

Students who study Physics, Chemistry, and any one of Biology, Life Sciences, Biotechnology, Mathematics, or Statistics as Main should register under Triple Main. Students on the Biotechnology Triple Main course should register only under Biotechnology in Life Sciences.

Reservation and Ranking

• At least 50% of the scholarships go to girl students.
• 10% of seats are reserved for SC/ST students.
• Seats are distributed among Mathematical Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Life Sciences in proportion to the applications received in each area.
• Ranking uses a weightage of 30% for Mathematical Sciences, 40% for Physical Sciences, and 30% for Life Sciences.
• Triple Main students are considered in all three areas and selected on their best rank.

How Selection Works

Selection is purely on merit. KSCSTE ranks applicants by their aggregate marks in all Science subjects in the Higher Secondary Board Examination, groups them by the Main subject of their degree course, ranks each group separately, and then applies the reservations. If there is a tie, priority goes to Higher Secondary marks in a set order of subjects for each area. For example, in Mathematical Sciences the order starts with Mathematics, then Physics, Chemistry, and Biology or Computer Science, followed by overall marks.

How to Apply

There is no offline process. Everything happens on the Pratibha scholarship web portal in two stages.

Stage 1: Online Registration

1. Wait for the annual notification on the KSCSTE website, which is normally issued in January.
2. Open the Pratibha scholarship web portal through the link on the KSCSTE website.
3. Keep ready a valid mobile number, an email ID you can access throughout the process, and a passport-size photograph (150 W x 200 H pixels).
4. Enter your name, date of birth, email ID, and HSE roll number.
5. Enter the OTP sent to your mobile number.
6. Create a password of at least six characters and complete the registration.
7. Note the Application Number and password sent to your mobile number. You will need them for all future logins.
8. Finish before the last date in the notification.

Stage 2: Document Upload After the Provisional Rank List

1. Check the Provisional Rank List (main list and waiting list), usually published in March or April.
2. If your name is in the main list, log in with your Application Number and password.
3. Download the Confirmation Data Sheet, Terms and Conditions, and E-payment form from the KSCSTE website.
4. Sign the Data Sheet and get it endorsed by the Head of your Institution.
5. Upload all documents within the published time limit.

KSCSTE verifies the documents and publishes the Final Rank List. Only students with complete documents submitted on time make it. After that, a sanction order is issued and the first instalment is released through NEFT.

Documents Required (Only for Provisional Rank List Students)

• Student Data Sheet (Confirmation Data Sheet), signed by you and endorsed by the Head of the Institution
• Self-attested copy of the Higher Secondary Examination mark list
• Community certificate (SC/ST applicants only)
• Certificate as proof of place of origin (Kerala nativity)
• Terms and Conditions signed in the prescribed format
• E-payment form in the prescribed format

Renewal and Continuation

You must renew the scholarship every year by meeting academic norms and submitting the prescribed documents.

• Renewal (2nd and 3rd year UG or Integrated PG, 2nd year PG or 5th year Integrated PG): Meet the minimum credit requirement for the previous year under the UGC and NEP-2020 credit framework, and submit the previous year’s mark lists with a signed Renewal Data-sheet.
• Continuation (4th year UG Hons, PG, or 4th year Integrated PG): Meet the minimum credit requirement and submit the consolidated UG mark list (or the mark lists of all three previous years of an Integrated course) with a signed Renewal Data-sheet.
• PG continuation for 3-year UG students: Complete UG with at least 75% marks, having received the scholarship in all three UG years.
• Completion: After finishing your course, submit copies of your final UG and PG mark lists to KSCSTE.

When the Scholarship Stops

KSCSTE stops the scholarship immediately if you fail to score the minimum marks or credits, discontinue the course, or take multiple scholarships. If you receive another scholarship for the same course, you must refund the entire Pratibha amount. If any detail you provided turns out to be false, the scholarship is cancelled and recovery of the amount paid begins.

Tips for Applicants

• Watch for the January notification on the KSCSTE website, since the registration window is limited.
• Keep an email ID and mobile number you can access for the whole selection process.
• Choose your Main subject carefully, because it decides your area and ranking group.
• Do not miss the document upload deadline after the Provisional Rank List. A late upload can cost you your place.
• Do not take a second scholarship for the same course. It means refunding the whole amount.
• Track your credits and marks every year so renewal is smooth.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the scholarship pay? Rs 12,000 to Rs 60,000 a year, depending on the year of study, and up to Rs 1,54,000 over five years.

Can students studying outside Kerala apply? Yes. Students of Kerala origin can study at any recognised institution or university in India.

Is there reservation for girls? Yes. At least 50% of the scholarships go to girl students, and 10% of seats are reserved for SC/ST students.

Can I hold another scholarship alongside it? No. Taking another scholarship for the same course means refunding the full Pratibha amount.

When is the Provisional Rank List published? Usually in March or April.

How is the money paid? Yearly through NEFT into your bank account.

Who can I contact for help? Call 0471-2548402 or 0471-2548200, or write to prathibhascholars2425@gmail.com or mail.kscste@kerala.gov.in.