Quick answer
Engineering students can combine three kinds of help: government scholarships (central schemes on the National Scholarship Portal plus your state’s portal), private and corporate scholarships (such as Reliance Foundation, Kotak Kanya and Aditya Birla Capital for girls), and tuition fee waivers at IITs and NITs. Most applications open between July and October of the first year, so apply as soon as you take admission. Every scholarship below links to its official site; never pay anyone to “get” you a scholarship.
Government scholarships for B.Tech students
| Scholarship | Who it is for | Benefit | Apply on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships | Above the 80th percentile of your Class 12 board, family income up to ₹4.5 lakh | ₹12,000 a year for the first three years, ₹20,000 a year after that for professional courses | National Scholarship Portal |
| AICTE Pragati (girls) | Girl students in the first year of an AICTE-approved degree, family income up to ₹8 lakh, up to two girls per family | Up to ₹50,000 a year (tuition up to ₹30,000 plus ₹2,000 a month for 10 months) | National Scholarship Portal |
| AICTE Saksham | Students with 40% or more disability in AICTE-approved degree courses | Up to ₹50,000 a year | National Scholarship Portal |
| Post-matric scholarships | SC, ST and OBC students below the income limits of each scheme | Fees and maintenance allowance, by scheme and state | National Scholarship Portal or your state portal |
| UGC Ishan Uday | Students from the North Eastern Region in undergraduate courses, below the income limit | Monthly scholarship, higher for technical courses | National Scholarship Portal |
| INSPIRE-SHE | Science (not engineering) degrees: B.Sc, BS, BS-MS, integrated M.Sc, top 1% of board or other merit criteria | ₹80,000 a year | online-inspire.gov.in |
| Tuition fee waiver at IITs and NITs | SC/ST/PwD; others with family income below ₹5 lakh | Full or two-thirds tuition waiver | Your institute: see fees and waivers |
Private and corporate scholarships
| Scholarship | Who it is for (2026-27 cycle) | Benefit | Official site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reliance Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship | First-year full-time UG students, 60% in Class 12, household income below ₹15 lakh; online aptitude test | Up to ₹2 lakh over the degree, with mentoring (about 5,000 awards) | scholarships.reliancefoundation.org |
| Kotak Kanya Scholarship | Girls with 75% in Class 12, family income up to ₹6 lakh, first year of a professional degree (including engineering) at an NIRF-ranked or NAAC-accredited institute | ₹1.5 lakh a year until graduation | kotakeducationfoundation.org |
| Aditya Birla Capital Scholarship | Girls with 60% in the last exam, family income up to ₹6 lakh | Up to ₹45,000 for undergraduates (one year) | Via its official application page |
| Foundation for Excellence (FFE) | First-year B.E./B.Tech students from families with low income (about ₹3 lakh a year or less) | Annual scholarship, renewable each year on performance | ffe.org |
| Sitaram Jindal Foundation | Students from low-income families, by course and marks | Monthly scholarship that varies by course, gender and hostel | sitaramjindalfoundation.org |
Amounts and limits are from each scheme’s 2026-27 announcements as reported; they change every year. Check the official site before applying, and note that some schemes cannot be combined with others.
State scholarship portals
Most states pay fee reimbursement or scholarships to their residents, often including students studying in other states. Apply on your state’s portal:
| State | Portal |
|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | scholarship.up.gov.in |
| Maharashtra | MahaDBT |
| Karnataka | State Scholarship Portal (SSP) |
| West Bengal | OASIS (SC/ST/OBC); Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means scholarship on its own portal |
| Telangana | ePASS |
| Andhra Pradesh | Jnanabhumi |
| Odisha | State Scholarship Portal |
| Rajasthan | SSO Rajasthan |
| Gujarat | Digital Gujarat |
| Haryana | Har Chhatravratti |
| Punjab | scholarships.punjab.gov.in |
| Kerala | DCE Scholarship |
| Jharkhand | e-Kalyan |
| Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and others | Your state’s post-matric or higher education scholarship portal |
How to apply without missing out
- Keep documents ready before admission: income certificate (current financial year), caste/category certificate, domicile certificate, Class 10 and 12 marksheets, Aadhaar, and a bank account in the student’s name linked to Aadhaar.
- Apply in the first year. Many private scholarships only accept first-year students.
- Apply to several: one central or state scheme, one or two private ones, and your institute’s own scholarship.
- Renew every year with your marks and a new income certificate where required.
- Beware of fakes: genuine scholarships never ask for a fee to apply or to “release” money.
For tuition waivers, total cost and PM-Vidyalaxmi collateral-free loans, read IIT and NIT fees, waivers and loans. North East students should also see admission for North East students.
Which government scholarships are there for B.Tech students?
The Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships, AICTE Pragati (girls) and Saksham (students with disabilities), post-matric scholarships for SC/ST/OBC students and your state’s scholarship, all applied for online. IITs and NITs also waive tuition by category and family income.
Is there a scholarship for general category B.Tech students?
Yes. The Central Sector Scheme, state merit-cum-means schemes, Reliance Foundation, Kotak Kanya (girls), Aditya Birla Capital (girls), FFE and institute scholarships are open to general category students who meet the income and marks limits.
What scholarships are there for girls in engineering?
AICTE Pragati (up to ₹50,000 a year), Kotak Kanya (₹1.5 lakh a year), Aditya Birla Capital and other private schemes, plus the general schemes open to all students.
When should I apply for engineering scholarships?
Most open between July and October of the first year, after admission. Check each official site from June onwards and keep your income and category certificates ready.
Can I get more than one scholarship?
Often yes, but some schemes, especially government ones, do not allow you to take another government scholarship at the same time. Read the rules of each before accepting.