PM YASASVI 2026: Application Open till 31 Oct, Eligibility, Scholarship Amount and Merit List

PM YASASVI 2026 is the Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India, a central government scholarship run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) for meritorious students from Other Backward Classes (OBC), Economically Backward Classes (EBC), and De-notified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNT). For the 2026-27 academic year, the biggest change is that the YASASVI Entrance Test (YET) — previously conducted by NTA — has been discontinued, and selections are now fully merit-based on previous class examination marks. Applications for 2026-27 are open on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) at scholarships.gov.in, with the post-matric window open until October 31, 2026.

• Post-Matric Application (Class 11): The last date to apply for PM YASASVI 2026-27 post-matric scholarship is October 31, 2026. Apply on scholarships.gov.in. In 2025-26, the post-matric last date was also October 31, 2025.
• Merit List: The PM YASASVI 2026-27 state-wise merit list is expected in October–November 2026. It will be prepared separately for boys and girls in each category (OBC, EBC, DNT). In 2025, the merit list was released in November 2025 after school-level verification was complete.
• Scholarship Disbursement: Selected students can expect DBT credits from November–December 2026. The scholarship is ₹75,000/year for Class 9 students and ₹1,25,000/year for Class 11 students — credited directly to the Aadhaar-linked bank account.
• Institute Verification: Your school nodal officer must verify and forward your NSP application before mid-October 2026. If your school has not done this, contact your principal immediately — unverified applications are excluded from the merit list.

What is PM YASASVI 2026?

PM YASASVI stands for PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India. It is a central sector scholarship scheme run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE), Government of India. The scheme supports meritorious students from OBC, EBC, and DNT backgrounds who are studying in Class 9 or Class 11 in government-recognised schools.

The scheme was launched in 2022 and replaced earlier central scholarships for these communities. Its aim is to reduce the dropout rate among students from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds by providing direct financial support for school fees, hostel charges, and study expenses.

From 2022 to 2024, the National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted a dedicated entrance test called the YASASVI Entrance Test (YET) to select scholarship recipients. From the 2025-26 cycle onwards, the Ministry discontinued YET and shifted to a merit-based selection using marks secured in the previous class school examinations. For 2026-27, this merit-based model continues, and there is no entrance exam.

PM YASASVI 2026: Key Highlights

Source: National Scholarship Portal – Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

The scheme covers two distinct components. The first is the pre-matric scholarship for students in Class 9 and Class 10. The second is the post-matric scholarship for students in Class 11 and Class 12. Both are applied for through NSP, but they have separate application timelines and merit lists.

More than 15,000 scholarships are awarded across India every year under PM YASASVI. State-wise merit lists are prepared for each category (OBC, EBC, DNT) and for boys and girls separately, so competition is distributed across states and communities rather than being a single national pool.

PM YASASVI 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Before you apply for PM YASASVI 2026, check that you meet all the eligibility conditions. Students who fail even one condition will be rejected during school-level or state-level verification.

Category and Community

• You must belong to OBC (Other Backward Class), EBC (Economically Backward Class), or DNT (De-notified, Nomadic, or Semi-Nomadic Tribe).
• A valid and current category certificate from a competent authority (district/tehsil-level officer) is mandatory.
• The certificate must be in your name and show the correct sub-category.

Class and School

• You must be enrolled in Class 9 or Class 11 in the 2026-27 academic year (pre-matric or post-matric component respectively).
• Your school must be a government-recognised school empanelled on NSP under PM YASASVI.
• Students in unaided private schools or unrecognised institutions are not eligible unless the school is registered on NSP.

Family Income

• Your family’s total annual income must be below ₹2.5 lakh per year from all sources.
• An income certificate from a competent authority (tehsildar/SDM/BDO) is required as proof.
• Income from employment, agriculture, business, and any other source is counted together.

Aadhaar Requirement

• You must have a valid Aadhaar Card. Aadhaar is mandatory for One Time Registration (OTR) on NSP.
• Your Aadhaar must be seeded to an active bank account for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Without this, the scholarship amount cannot be transferred even if you are selected.

Academic Performance – Merit Basis

There is no minimum percentage cutoff for applying. However, higher marks in the previous class give you a significantly better chance of making the state merit list. In high-competition states, students with 85–90%+ marks typically get selected.

Students already receiving any other central government scholarship under NSP cannot apply for PM YASASVI. Duplicate applications are rejected during verification.

PM YASASVI 2026 Important Dates

The table below lists all key events for PM YASASVI 2026-27. Upcoming events are listed first in chronological order, followed by events that have already passed.

If you are a Class 11 student, the post-matric application window is still open until October 31, 2026. This is the final chance to apply for PM YASASVI 2026-27 scholarship — do not miss it.

Source: National Scholarship Portal (NSP) – scholarships.gov.in

How to Apply for PM YASASVI 2026

PM YASASVI 2026-27 applications are submitted entirely online through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). There is no offline application process. Follow these steps carefully.

Step 1: Complete One Time Registration (OTR) on NSP

• Go to scholarships.gov.in and click on "New Registration".
• Complete the One Time Registration (OTR) using your Aadhaar number or Aadhaar Enrolment ID.
• OTR generates a unique 14-digit ID linked to your Aadhaar. Save this ID — you will use it for all NSP scholarships.
• If you already have an OTR ID from a previous NSP scholarship, skip this step and log in directly.

Step 2: Find the PM YASASVI Scheme

• After logging in, click on "Apply for Scholarship".
• Search for "PM YASASVI Central Sector Scheme" under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• Select the correct component: pre-matric (Class 9) or post-matric (Class 11).

Step 3: Fill the Application Form

• Enter your personal details, category, school details, and bank account information.
• Enter your previous class marks accurately — Class 8 marks if you are in Class 9, or Class 10 board marks if you are in Class 11. These marks are the only basis for merit selection.
• Enter your family’s annual income as per the income certificate.

Step 4: Upload Documents

• Upload clear, legible scanned copies of all required documents within the file size limit on the portal.
• Blurry or incomplete document scans lead to rejection during verification.

Step 5: Submit to School Nodal Officer

• After submission, your application goes to your school’s NSP Nodal Officer for verification.
• Your school must forward the verified application to the state before the institute verification deadline.
• Follow up with your school principal or nodal teacher to confirm your application has been forwarded.

Step 6: Track Your Application

• Log in to NSP at any time to check your application status.
• You can also call the NSP helpline at 0120-6619540 for status queries.

The NSP application is completely free. No fee is charged at any stage. Beware of third-party websites or agents who claim to charge a fee for helping with YASASVI applications.

Required Documents for PM YASASVI 2026

You must have all these documents ready before you start the NSP application. Missing even one document can result in rejection during verification.

• Aadhaar Card: Mandatory. Must be your own Aadhaar, linked to an active bank account via DBT seeding.
• Category Certificate: OBC, EBC, or DNT certificate issued by a competent authority. Must be valid and in your name for the current year.
• Income Certificate: Family annual income certificate showing total income below ₹2.5 lakh, issued by tehsildar, SDM, or BDO.
• Previous Class Marksheet: Class 8 marksheet for Class 9 applicants; Class 10 board marksheet for Class 11 applicants.
• Bonafide/Enrolment Certificate: Issued by your current school confirming enrolment in Class 9 or Class 11 for 2026-27.
• Bank Account Details: Passbook front page or cancelled cheque showing account number and IFSC code. Account must be Aadhaar-seeded for DBT.
• Passport-size Photograph: Recent photograph as per NSP size and format specifications.
• Fee Receipt: School fee receipt for 2026-27 to confirm active enrolment in the current year.

All certificates must be current and valid for 2026-27. Outdated income or category certificates from previous years are rejected during state-level verification, even if your marks are strong enough for the merit list.

PM YASASVI 2026 Scholarship Amount and Benefits

PM YASASVI provides one of the highest scholarship amounts in India for school-level students from OBC, EBC, and DNT communities. The amount is paid as a single annual credit directly to the student’s bank account via DBT.

Scholarship Amount by Class

Source: National Scholarship Portal – PM YASASVI Scheme Details

The scholarship amount covers tuition fees, hostel charges (if applicable), study material, and other school-related expenses. It is non-taxable and does not affect calculations for other government benefits the family may receive.

What Does the Scholarship Cover?

• Annual school tuition fees
• Hostel or boarding charges (if the student lives in a school hostel)
• Study material, textbooks, and stationery
• Uniform and other mandatory school-related expenses

Number of Scholarships Available

More than 15,000 scholarships are awarded across India each year under PM YASASVI. The seats are distributed state-wise and category-wise (OBC, EBC, DNT). Since selection is state-wise, your actual competition is limited to eligible students within your own state and category.

OBC students typically receive the largest share of scholarships due to higher population numbers. EBC and DNT students have separate merit lists, which significantly reduces competition for these communities compared to the OBC pool.

PM YASASVI 2026 Preparation Tips

Since PM YASASVI 2026 selection is based on your school exam marks and not a separate entrance test, the most effective strategy is to maximise your marks in Class 8 or Class 10. Here are practical, actionable tips.

For Class 9 Applicants (Based on Class 8 Marks)

• Read NCERT textbooks thoroughly: Class 6, 7, and 8 NCERT books cover all the key concepts. Read every chapter and solve all in-text and exercise questions.
• Give Mathematics your best effort: Mathematics has the highest weightage in the YASASVI subject distribution. Practice arithmetic, fractions, percentage, and basic algebra every day — even 30 minutes of daily practice improves your scores significantly over a semester.
• Do not underestimate Social Science: History, Geography, and Civics are high-scoring subjects if you read carefully. Many students score 90%+ in Social Science by reading the NCERT chapters alone.
• Attend every class and take notes: Your Class 8 final exam marks are the only criterion. School attendance is the simplest way to improve performance — teachers cover exam-relevant content in class.
• Practise old YET question papers: Previous YASASVI Entrance Test papers are available on coaching websites and NTA’s archive. Even though the entrance test is discontinued, practising them builds subject fluency that directly helps in school exams.

For Class 11 Applicants (Based on Class 10 Marks)

• Aim for 85–90% in Class 10 boards: Scholarship competition is high in major states. Students who score in this range have a strong chance of making the merit list in all but the most competitive states.
• Science stream students have an edge in core subjects: If you are in the Science stream, make sure you score well across Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. All three subjects have direct overlap with the YASASVI syllabus.
• English marks also count: Your total percentage across all board exam subjects determines your merit rank — English and any language subjects are part of that total.
• State board vs CBSE: Your marks are ranked within your state and board. CBSE students in a state are compared with other CBSE students from the same state. A 75% in CBSE and a 75% in a state board both contribute equally to your state rank in their respective pools.

General Tips for All Applicants

• Keep your income certificate and category certificate current. Expired certificates are rejected even if your marks are strong enough for the merit list.
• Complete the NSP application as soon as possible — do not wait for the last day. Portal traffic spikes near the deadline and technical issues are common.
• Check with your school nodal officer one week after submitting your application to confirm that the school has forwarded it on NSP. Many rejections happen because schools miss the verification deadline.
• If your Aadhaar is not linked to your bank account yet, get it done at a bank branch before applying. Scholarship cannot be disbursed to accounts without Aadhaar seeding.