AICTE Swanath Scholarship Scheme: Rs 50,000 a Year for Technical Students Facing Family Hardship

Who qualifies, how selection works, which documents you need, and how to apply on the National Scholarship Portal.

Losing a parent, or watching one battle a life-threatening illness, can turn a student’s college plans upside down. The Swanath Scholarship Scheme, run by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), is meant for exactly these students. It offers Rs 50,000 a year to help them continue their Degree or Diploma in technical education. This post covers the benefits, eligibility, selection method, documents, and application steps.

What Is the Swanath Scholarship Scheme?

Swanath is an AICTE scholarship, available through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), for students in AICTE-approved institutions. It supports students in difficult family circumstances. Under the scheme, 2,000 scholarships are awarded every year, with 1,000 for Degree students and 1,000 for Diploma students.

The money can be used for college fees, books, stationery, computers, software, and other educational needs, and it is paid directly into the student’s bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

Scheme at a Glance

• Scheme name: AICTE Swanath Scholarship Scheme
• Benefit: Rs 50,000 per year, as a lump-sum grant
• Scholarships per year: 2,000 (1,000 Degree and 1,000 Diploma)
• Duration: Up to 4 years for Degree students and up to 3 years for Diploma students
• Nodal agency: All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)
• Mode of application: Online, through the NSP
• Helplines: AICTE 011-26131576, NSP 0120-6619540

Key Benefits

• Rs 50,000 per year for each selected student.
• Wide use. Pay college fees, buy a computer, books, stationery, software, and other educational equipment.
• Direct bank transfer through DBT.
• Renewable every year, subject to academic progress.

No separate assistance is given for hostel fees, medical expenses, or other additional charges. Students who apply in the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year receive the scholarship only for the remaining duration of the course.

Who Is Eligible?

You must belong to one of these categories:

• An orphan student.
• A student whose one or both parents died due to Covid-19.
• A ward of Armed Forces or Central Paramilitary Forces personnel martyred in action (Shaheed).
• A student whose parent is suffering from a critical life-threatening disease such as cancer, or whose parent died or became severely disabled (above 80% disability) in an accident, as per the RPwD Act, 2016.

And you must also meet these conditions:

• Total annual family income from all sources must not exceed Rs 8 lakh.
• You must study in an AICTE-approved institution, in a regular-mode Degree or Diploma course.
• Students in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year can apply.
• You must not receive any Central Government, State Government, or AICTE-sponsored scholarship.
• An Aadhaar number is mandatory to submit the application.

Documents You Will Need

The documents depend on your category. Everyone must also provide a bonafide certificate from the institution, a category certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL) if applicable, and educational marksheets: Class 10 and 12 marksheets for Degree courses, and the Class 10 marksheet for Diploma courses.

Category	Additional documents
Orphan students	Death certificates of both parents (if available), or a certificate from the SDM or Tehsildar in the prescribed format (Annexure-I)
Parent(s) died due to Covid-19	Death certificate clearly stating Covid-19 as the cause, and a current-year income certificate if one parent is alive
Ward of martyred Armed Forces or Central Paramilitary Forces personnel	Death certificate, Shaheed certificate from the Armed Forces or Central Paramilitary Forces, and a current-year income certificate
Parent with a critical disease, or who died or became severely disabled in an accident	Supporting documents from the competent authority establishing eligibility, and a current-year income certificate

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: As per this schedule, the student application window for 2026-27 ended on 31 October 2026. If you have not applied, check the NSP and the AICTE website straight away to see whether the date has been extended or reopened. If you did apply, make sure any defects in your application are fixed, and that your institute completes verification, by 15 November 2026.

How Selection Works

Selection is purely on merit in the qualifying examination. Reservation follows Government of India norms.

Degree Students

1. Ranking is based on marks in the 10+2 or equivalent examination.
2. If marks tie, higher Class 10 marks are preferred.
3. If there is still a tie, the older candidate ranks higher.
4. If the tie remains, the candidate with lower family income ranks higher.

Diploma Students

1. Ranking is based on marks in the Class 10 or equivalent examination.
2. If marks tie, the older candidate ranks higher.
3. If there is still a tie, the candidate with lower annual family income ranks higher.

Shortlisted candidates may be published on the AICTE website.

How to Apply

The only mode of application is online through the National Scholarship Portal.

1. Visit the National Scholarship Portal and click New Registration if you have not registered earlier.
2. Enter the details requested: state of domicile, scholarship category, name, date of birth, gender, mobile number, email ID, bank account number, IFSC code, and Aadhaar number.
3. Collect the login credentials the NSP sends to your mobile number and email.
4. Log in and select the AICTE Swanath Scholarship Scheme from the list.
5. Fill in your personal, academic, income, and bank details carefully.
6. Upload the required documents in the prescribed format.
7. Review the form and submit it online.
8. Your institution verifies the application first, and then the State or UT Department of Education or Technical Education carries out second-level verification.
9. Verified applications are ranked on merit and considered for the award.

How to Renew

Beneficiaries must renew every year through the NSP. For renewal, upload a promotion certificate along with a bonafide certificate issued by your institution. Students who are not promoted to the next academic year, or who discontinue their course, may lose further benefits.

Tips for Applicants

• Gather category-specific documents early. Certificates such as death certificates, Shaheed certificates, or medical and accident records can take time to obtain.
• Keep your Class 10 and 12 marks in mind. Selection depends on them.
• Make sure your Aadhaar is ready, as it is mandatory.
• Do not take other scholarships. Holding another central, state, or AICTE scholarship makes you ineligible.
• Ask your institute to verify promptly. Unverified applications do not move forward.
• Keep your bank details accurate for DBT.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

How many scholarships are awarded? 2,000 a year: 1,000 for Degree and 1,000 for Diploma students.

What is the income limit? Rs 8 lakh per year from all sources.

Can Diploma students apply? Yes. They can receive the scholarship for up to three years.

Can students in the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year apply? Yes, but they receive it only for the remaining duration of the course.

Is Aadhaar mandatory? Yes.

Can I get Swanath along with another scholarship? No. Receiving any other central, state, or AICTE-sponsored scholarship makes you ineligible.

What happens if I fail the year? You may lose further scholarship benefits.

How is the money paid? Through DBT into your bank account.

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.