KC Mahindra Scholarship
The KC Mahindra Scholarship for Indian students is an interest-free loan scholarship for postgraduate study abroad. The K. C. Mahindra Education Trust awards a minimum of 50 scholarships every year. The top 3 K.C.Mahindra Fellows get up to INR 10 lakh, and other awardees get up to INR 5 lakh.
- This is a repayable loan, not a grant, so treat it as cheap capital.
- The final interview decides your amount, not your application form alone.
- From 2026, the scheme also covers select premier institutions within India.
- Final-year students can apply, but the first-class proof must be submitted by the end of June.
The scheme has run since 1956 and has backed over 1,830 Indian students at leading global universities. In the 2026 round, the Trust awarded INR 4.26 crore to 92 scholars. Amounts were set by academic scores and interview performance. The 2026 cycle closed on 30 April 2026, so the next window serves the 2027 intake.
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Award type | Interest-free loan scholarship |
| Top award | Up to INR 10 lakh for the top 3 Fellows |
| Standard award | Up to INR 5 lakh for other awardees |
| Minimum awards per year | 50 |
| 2026 outcome | INR 4.26 crore to 92 scholars |
| Course window (overseas) | August 2026 to February 2027 intake |
| 2026 deadline | 30 April 2026, 6:00 PM (closed) |
| Interviews | June to July, admission proof required |
| Provider | K. C. Mahindra Education Trust, since 1956 |
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Highlights
| Scholarship Type | Merit-Based, Need-Based |
| Offered by | Trust |
| Organization | N/A |
| Application Deadline | Apr 30 ,2027 |
| Number of Scholarships | 50 |
| Amount | ₹955 ($10) |
| Renewability | No |
| International Student Eligible | Yes |
| Scholarship Website Link | https://maitsscholarship.kcmet.org/ |
Eligibility Criteria
The Trust asks for citizenship, a first-class record, and a confirmed postgraduate plan. The bar is short but strictly enforced.
- Be an Indian citizen.
- Hold a first-class degree or an equivalent diploma from a recognised university.
- Enrol in a postgraduate programme starting between August 2026 and February 2027 for overseas universities.
- For Indian premier institutions, the course must start between June and September 2026.
- Final-year students qualify if they submit their first-class marksheet or provisional certificate by end of June.
You can apply before your admission decision arrives. Applicants who have applied to reputable universities are accepted at the form stage. The admission proof becomes compulsory only at the interview. That sequencing helps applicants juggling multiple foreign offers in spring.
Who cannot apply
- Students heading abroad for undergraduate study.
- Applicants attending only seminars, conferences or short programmes.
- Candidates without a first-class academic record or its equivalent.
Application Process
The application is free and fully online through the Trust's scholarship portal. One form covers both the abroad and India tracks.
You register on the application portal with your email and mobile number. You then create an account under the K C Mahindra Scholarship for Postgraduate Studies tab. Verify your email, sign in and fill the form section by section. Upload transcripts, admission or application proof, and identity documents.
Cycle pattern
| Stage | When it happens |
|---|---|
| Applications open | Around January to February |
| Applications close | Late March to 30 April, 6:00 PM |
| Final-year marksheet cut-off | End of June |
| Interviews | June to July |
| Awards announced | July |
Recent cycles closed on different dates, 11 April in 2025 and 30 April in 2026. Treat March as your real working deadline for the 2027 round.
Trust rule on edits: the application form cannot be changed once submitted. Corrections go by email to the scholarships team, quoting your application ID.
Must Check,
Selection Process
Selection is a two-step funnel, a document shortlist and a final interview. The interview sets both your result and your amount.
The Trust screens applications on academic record, the strength of the admitting university and the study plan. Shortlisted candidates are called for final interviews held around June and July. You must hold a confirmed admission by interview day. Panels probe why your field matters and how you will use the training.
Stage-wise flow
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Screening | Academic record and course plan reviewed |
| Shortlist | Candidates invited to final interviews |
| Interview | Panel tests merit, need and admission proof |
| Award decision | Amount fixed by scores and interview performance |
What the 2026 round showed: the Trust interviewed 92 candidates and awarded all of them. Amounts ranged from INR 1 lakh to INR 12 lakh, set by academic scores and interview performance.
That spread is the real story. Reaching the interview almost guarantees some funding. Performing well there decides whether you leave with INR 2 lakh or five times that. Prepare it like an admissions interview, not a formality.
Grant Details
The money arrives as an interest-free loan, disbursed once and repaid after your course. No interest ever accrues.
What the award gives you
- Up to INR 10 lakh for the top 3 K. C. Mahindra Fellows.
- Up to INR 5 lakh for other successful awardees.
- In practice, 2026 awards ran between INR 1 lakh and INR 12 lakh.
- Entry into the Trust's alumni network built over seven decades.
The saving is the interest you never pay. A bank loan of INR 10 lakh at typical education-loan rates costs lakhs in interest over its tenure. Here the principal is the entire liability.
What the award does not cover
- The gap between the award and a foreign fee bill, which usually runs far higher.
- Living costs, flights and visa fees, which stay entirely on you.
- Forgiveness, since repayment after course completion is expected.
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The KC Mahindra Scholarship suits Indian applicants with a first-class record and a funding stack already forming. It will not replace a fee bill, but it replaces the most expensive slice of a bank loan. Applicants who treat the interview seriously and frame their field around India's needs pull the larger amounts. Those hunting a full ride should look at government awards instead and keep this as the interest-free layer.
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