AICTE Saksham Scholarship Scheme: Rs 50,000 a Year for Students With Disabilities in Technical Education

Eligibility, benefits, documents, how to apply on the National Scholarship Portal, renewal rules, and the 2026-27 schedule.

Technical education opens doors to engineering, technology, pharmacy, architecture, and management careers, but costs can be a serious barrier for students with disabilities. The Saksham Scholarship Scheme, run by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), helps remove that barrier. This post explains what the scheme offers, who qualifies, how to apply, and how renewal works.

What Is the Saksham Scholarship Scheme?

Saksham is a central scholarship programme implemented by AICTE for specially-abled students enrolled in AICTE-approved Degree and Diploma courses. Its goal is to promote inclusive education so that financial constraints do not keep students with disabilities from professional and technical studies.

Eligible students receive Rs 50,000 per year, which they can use for tuition and other fees, books, stationery, a computer, software, and other academic needs. The money is paid directly into the student’s bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

Scheme at a Glance

• Scheme name: Saksham Scholarship Scheme (AICTE Saksham Scholarship)
• Benefit: Rs 50,000 per year
• Beneficiaries: Specially-abled students in AICTE-approved Degree and Diploma courses
• Nodal agency: All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)
• Mode of application: Online, through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP)
• Payment mode: DBT into the student’s bank account
• Number of scholarships: No fixed limit, so every eligible applicant can receive the benefit
• Helplines: AICTE 011-26131576, NSP 0120-6619540

Key Benefits

• Rs 50,000 per annum for each eligible student.
• No cap on the number of awards. The scheme does not fix a quota, so all eligible applicants can get the scholarship.
• Flexible use. You can spend it on college fees, books, stationery, a computer, software, and educational equipment.
• No utilisation proof required. You do not need to submit documentary proof of how the money was spent.
• Direct bank transfer through DBT.

Note that no separate assistance is provided for hostel or medical expenses.

How Long Does the Scholarship Last?

Course and entry	Maximum duration
Degree, first-year admission	4 years
Degree, lateral entry (second year)	3 years
Diploma, first-year admission	3 years
Diploma, lateral entry (second year)	2 years

Who Is Eligible?

• The applicant must be a specially-abled student with a disability of 40% or more.
• Family income from all sources must not exceed Rs 8 lakh per year.
• The student must be admitted to the first year of a Degree or Diploma course, or through lateral entry in the second year, at an AICTE-approved institution.
• The gap between passing the qualifying examination and taking admission must not exceed two years.
• The student must not receive any other scholarship, stipend, salary, or financial assistance during the course.

Documents You Will Need

• Aadhaar card
• Passport-size photograph
• Disability certificate
• Income certificate issued by the competent State or UT authority
• Class 10 marksheet and certificate
• Class 12 marksheet and certificate (Degree students)
• Diploma marksheet and certificate (Degree lateral-entry students)
• ITI marksheet and certificate (Diploma lateral-entry students)
• Admission letter
• Bonafide certificate from the institution (Appendix-I)
• Bank account details
• Caste certificate, if applicable
• Promotion certificate for renewal (Appendix-III)

2026-27 Schedule: Check the Deadlines Now

Stage	Date
Scheme opened	1 June 2026
Last date for student application	31 October 2026
Last date for defective application verification	15 November 2026
Last date for institute verification	15 November 2026
Last date for DNO/SNO/MNO verification	30 November 2026

Important: According to this schedule, the student application window for 2026-27 closed on 31 October 2026. If you have not applied, check the National Scholarship Portal and the AICTE website right away to see whether the deadline has been extended or reopened. If you did apply, make sure your institute completes its verification before 15 November 2026, and fix any defects in your application before that date as well.

How to Apply

1. Visit the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), the official platform for Saksham applications.
2. New applicants should register with their Aadhaar number, mobile number, email address, bank account details, and other required information.
3. Log in with the credentials you receive.
4. Select the AICTE Saksham Scholarship Scheme from the list of scholarships.
5. Fill in your personal, academic, disability, institution, and bank details carefully.
6. Upload the supporting documents: disability certificate, income certificate, Aadhaar, educational certificates, admission proof, and other prescribed papers.
7. Review everything before final submission.
8. Submit the form and save your application number.
9. Your institution verifies the application first, and then the State or UT Department of Technical Education (DTE) does a second-level verification.
10. Track your status by logging in to the NSP.

How to Renew Your Scholarship

The scholarship is renewable every year, subject to satisfactory academic progress.

• Submit a renewal application on the NSP.
• Upload your passing certificate or marksheet for the previous academic year.
• Upload a promotion certificate certified by the Head of the Institution (Appendix-III).
• Students who are not promoted lose eligibility for further benefits.
• Students who discontinue or drop out are not eligible for renewal.
• All scheme conditions must be followed throughout the course.

Other Things to Know

• Shortlisted candidates are published on the AICTE portal.
• You can raise objections to the provisional merit list within one month of its publication on the AICTE website.
• Queries about non-payment caused by incorrect bank details are accepted only up to six months from the merit list publication.
• CGPA is converted to a percentage by multiplying the CGPA by 9.5.
• Timelines are announced every year through the NSP and AICTE.

Tips for Applicants

• Apply early next cycle. Do not wait for the last week of the window.
• Get your certificates ready in advance, especially the disability certificate, income certificate, and bonafide certificate.
• Double-check your bank details. Errors can lead to payment problems, and you have only six months to raise them.
• Remind your institution about verification. An unverified application will not move forward.
• Do not take other scholarships or stipends during the course while you receive Saksham.
• Keep your application number and promotion papers safe for tracking and renewal.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Saksham pay? Rs 50,000 per year.

Who can apply? Specially-abled students with 40% or more disability, admitted to AICTE-approved Degree or Diploma courses, whose family income is within Rs 8 lakh a year.

Can Diploma students apply? Yes. First-year Diploma students can receive it for up to three years, and lateral-entry students for up to two.

Can I apply if I already get another scholarship? No. The student must not receive any other scholarship, stipend, salary, or financial assistance during the course.

Can lateral-entry students apply? Yes, those admitted directly to the second year are eligible.

How is the money paid? Through DBT into the student’s bank account.

Do I need to show how I spent the money? No documentary proof of utilisation is required.

Who can I contact for help? Call AICTE at 011-26131576 or the NSP helpline at 0120-6619540, or write to helpdesk@nsp.gov.in.