Government
NSP · Ministry of Social Justice
Central Sector Scholarship Scheme
For students with family income below ₹8 lakh per annum. Covers tuition and maintenance. One of the most accessible central government scholarships for college students.
Income < ₹8L/yr
12th marks > 80%
All streams
Need-Based
Buddy4Study · Various NGOs
Sitaram Jindal Foundation Scholarship
One of India's largest private scholarships. Open to students from economically weaker backgrounds studying any discipline. No minimum marks cut-off — income-based selection.
Family income < ₹2.5L/yr
Any stream
Day scholars only
Merit-Based
Tata Trusts
Tata Scholarship for BCA / B.Tech Students
Merit-based scholarship for students pursuing technology or management degrees. Requires strong academic record and a short application essay on career goals.
BCA / B.Tech
GPA > 7.5
First generation preferred
Government
Govt. of Punjab · SC/BC Welfare Dept.
Dr. Ambedkar Post-Matric Scholarship
For OBC students of Punjab with family income below ₹1 lakh. Covers full tuition fees for professional and non-professional courses. Apply through your college's welfare office.
OBC students
Punjab domicile
Income < ₹1L/yr
Education Loan
Vidya Lakshmi Portal · IBA Scheme
PM Vidyalaxmi Education Loan
Collateral-free education loans up to ₹7.5 lakh from nationalised banks. Apply through a single portal for multiple bank applications simultaneously. Interest subsidy available for income < ₹4.5L.
All students
No collateral < ₹7.5L
Moratorium period available
Merit-Based
AICTE
Pragati Scholarship for Girls (Technical)
Exclusively for female students in AICTE-approved technical institutions. Covers tuition fee and incidentals. Two scholarships per family maximum. Strong preference for first-generation learners.
Female students only
BCA / B.Tech / Diploma
Family income < ₹8L/yr
Private
Swami Vivekananda Foundation
Merit-cum-Means Scholarship
For academically strong students from lower-income families. Can be combined with government scholarships. Particularly well-suited for students in Punjab who want to pursue professional courses.
All streams
60%+ marks
Income < ₹3.5L/yr
Government
Ministry of Minority Affairs · NSP
Pre-Matric & Post-Matric Minority Scholarship
For students from minority communities (Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi). Covers maintenance and tuition. Sikh students in Punjab are highly eligible — low awareness, lower competition.
Minority community
Income < ₹2L/yr
50%+ marks