Odisha Post Matric Scholarship Scheme

Summary of the Scheme
Name of Scheme	Odisha Post Matric Scholarship Scheme
Benefit	Scolarship up to ₹5.50 lakh per year for eligible ST/SC MBBS students; for other categories, benefits are provided as per the applicable scheme guidelines and course-wise rates.
Beneficiaries	Eligible ST, SC, OBC/SEBC and EBC students
Department / Implementing Authority	ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department, Government of Odisha
Subscription	Subscribe here to get Update Regarding Scheme
Mode of Application	Online through the Odisha State Scholarship Portal (OSSP)

Odisha Post Matric Scholarship Scheme: Course Fees and Allowances for ST, SC, OBC/SEBC and EBC Students

Studying after Class 10 means tuition, course fees and living costs. Odisha’s Post Matric Scholarship Scheme helps eligible ST, SC, OBC/SEBC and EBC students with course fees and monthly or annual allowances. The amount depends on your category, course and whether you are a hosteller or day scholar, so not every student gets the same.

Deadline passed. The last date to apply was extended to 30 October 2026, and today is 7 November 2026. If you haven’t applied, contact your institution, your District Welfare Officer (DWO) or the OSSP helpline to ask whether a further extension or late window exists, and prepare your documents early for the next cycle.

What is the scheme?

The scheme is run by the ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department, Government of Odisha, through the Odisha State Scholarship Portal (OSSP). It covers eligible post-matric and post-secondary courses: +2, ITI, Polytechnic and Diploma, +3 degrees, postgraduate, technical, professional and higher-level programmes, subject to category and course conditions.

The state has also issued recent orders affecting assistance, including a 20 September 2025 resolution on reimbursement of course fees under the Centrally Sponsored Post-Matric Scholarship, and a 27 November 2025 resolution enhancing Pre-Matric and Post-Matric rates under the Mukhyamantri Medhabi Chatra Protsahan Yojana.

Scheme at a glance

Benefits for ST and SC students

• Course-fee reimbursement up to the prescribed course-wise ceiling. Eligible fees can include admission or re-admission, tuition, examination and specified compulsory non-refundable fees.
• Maintenance/academic allowance based on course group and hosteller or day-scholar status.
• Payment into your Aadhaar-seeded bank account.

Important: The ₹5.50 lakh figure is the maximum annual fee ceiling for eligible ST/SC MBBS students, not a fixed cash scholarship. You are reimbursed the ceiling or your actual eligible fee, whichever is lower.

Selected course-fee ceilings (ST/SC)

These are selected ceilings. The full structure includes more courses notified by the Government of Odisha.

Maintenance/academic allowance (ST and SC)

Paid for 10 months a year.

(All figures per year.) Under the state’s enhancement, eligible Group II, III and IV hostellers get a top-up to ₹1,100 a month, and eligible ST/SC day scholars get an extra ₹50 a month over the prescribed rate.

Extra benefit for ST/SC boarders in Classes XI and XII

From 1 December 2025, mess-management assistance for eligible ST/SC boarders in Classes XI-XII in Higher Secondary Schools run by the department is ₹16,000 a year for boys and ₹17,000 for girls, for a maximum of 10 months. This is a specific boarder benefit, not the general maintenance allowance.

Benefits for OBC/SEBC students

Benefits for EBC students

OBC/SEBC and EBC students have separate rates and fee rules. The ST/SC fee ceilings do not apply to them.

Who is eligible?

ST and SC students

• Belong to the ST or SC category and be a permanent resident of Odisha
• Pursue an eligible post-matric or post-secondary course in a Government, aided or recognised institution
• Family annual income from all sources not above ₹2.50 lakh, subject to the rules
• Meet the course-specific conditions
• No scholarship for the same stage of education in a different subject or stream where the rules prohibit it
• Correspondence or online courses are eligible only where the rules permit

OBC/SEBC students

• Belong to the eligible OBC/SEBC category and pursue an eligible post-matric course
• Annual parental or guardian income not above ₹2.50 lakh, subject to the conditions
• At least 50% marks in the last qualifying examination, where required

EBC students

• Belong to the eligible EBC category and pursue an eligible post-matric or post-secondary course
• Annual family income within ₹1 lakh, along with other category-specific conditions

Documents required

Documents vary by category and application.

• Caste certificate (ST, SC, OBC/SEBC)
• Self-declaration certificate for eligible EBC students, where required
• Parent or guardian’s income certificate
• Student’s Aadhaar card
• First page of the bank passbook
• Passport-size photograph
• Resident/domicile certificate
• Academic certificates from matriculation onwards, as applicable
• Mark sheet of the last examination passed
• Disability certificate, if applicable
• Hostel bonafide certificate for hostellers, where required
• Institute declaration certificate, where required
• Any other document OSSP or the scholarship authority asks for

How to apply

1. Visit the Odisha State Scholarship Portal and enter your Aadhaar number for OTP verification.
2. Log in with your Aadhaar/Unique Number and password.
3. Select the Post Matric Scholarship for your category.
4. Choose Fresh if applying for the first time, or Renewal if you received the scholarship earlier.
5. Update your profile and enter personal, academic, eligibility and bank details.
6. Enter the SAMS verification number and barcode, where asked.
7. Select your district, block, institution, course and stream. If your course or stream isn’t listed, use Send Request so your institution can add it.
8. Enter your ABC ID, where required, and select your residential status.
9. Upload the documents. Add the Hostel Bonafide Certificate if applicable. If a Self-Declaration Form is requested, download it, sign it and upload the scan.
10. Check everything. You can use Save as Draft to finish later.
11. Submit, download or print the form, and keep your Application ID.

Before applying: make sure your Aadhaar is seeded and NPCI-mapped with your bank account and that the bank details on the portal are correct. Errors can delay payment.

Checking your status

Open the Know Your Status page on OSSP, enter your Aadhaar number or Application Number plus the details shown, and submit. Showing as eligible on OSSP does not itself guarantee the scholarship.

Freeship Card (ST and SC students)

The Freeship Card lets eligible ST/SC students take admission without paying the course fee in advance, subject to the rules.

• Issued to eligible fresh applicants from Academic Year 2021-22 onwards
• Valid for the entire duration of the course once issued
• Apply through OSSP with your caste and income certificates
• The District Welfare Officer (DWO) of your domicile district verifies and approves it
• After you receive the scholarship, you reimburse the institution as applicable, and pay any remaining amount yourself

A Freeship Card does not guarantee scholarship payment. You must still apply for the Post Matric Scholarship and meet all verification and sanction requirements.

Need help?

• OSSP toll-free helpline: 155335
• Alternative toll-free: 1800-345-6770
• Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on government working days
• District help: your District Welfare Officer (DWO) or your institution

Frequently asked questions

What is the highest fee ceiling?
₹5.50 lakh a year for eligible ST/SC MBBS students, as a ceiling and not a fixed payment.

What is the income limit?
Up to ₹2.50 lakh for ST, SC and OBC/SEBC students, and ₹1 lakh for EBC students, subject to the rules.

Where do I apply?
Online on the Odisha State Scholarship Portal (OSSP).

Does a Freeship Card guarantee payment?
No. You must still apply and meet all requirements.

Does being shown as eligible on OSSP guarantee the scholarship?
No. Verification and sanction are still required.