Ishan Uday Special Scholarship Scheme for North Eastern Region (NER) is a Central Government scholarship scheme implemented by UGC under the Ministry of Education to support economically weaker students of North Eastern States pursuing undergraduate education in recognised institutions across India. Under the latest official NSP guidelines, selected students receive ₹8,000 per month for 10 months every year through DBT/PFMS.
Ishan Uday Special Scholarship Scheme for NER Highlights | |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Ishan Uday Special Scholarship Scheme for NER |
| Implemented By | University Grants Commission (UGC) |
| Ministry | Ministry of Education, Government of India |
| Launch Year | 2014-15 Academic Session |
| Total Scholarships | 10,000 Fresh Scholarships Every Year |
| Scholarship Amount | ₹8,000 Per Month |
| Total Yearly Benefit | ₹80,000 Per Year |
| Scholarship Duration | 10 Months Every Year |
| Income Limit | Below ₹4.50 Lakh Per Year |
| Eligible States | Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura |
| Eligible Students | First Year Undergraduate Students |
| Eligible Study Mode | Regular/Full-Time Mode Only |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Portal | National Scholarship Portal (NSP) |
| Payment Mode | DBT/PFMS |
| Official Website | www.ugc.ac.in |
Introduction of Ishan Uday Special Scholarship Scheme for NER: A Brief Insight
Ishan Uday Special Scholarship Scheme for North Eastern Region (NER) is a major Central Government scholarship scheme implemented by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under the Ministry of Education to promote higher education among economically weaker students of North Eastern States.
The scheme was launched from the academic session 2014-15 to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education across the North Eastern Region and provide financial support to deserving students pursuing undergraduate education in recognised institutions across India.
Under the latest official NSP guidelines, selected students receive ₹8,000 per month for 10 months every year, which means eligible beneficiaries can receive a total scholarship assistance of ₹80,000 per year through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The scholarship amount is transferred directly into the Aadhaar-linked bank account of the student through PFMS.
The scheme currently provides 10,000 fresh scholarships every year for eligible students belonging to Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura. One of the most important eligibility conditions under Ishan Uday Scholarship is that students must have passed Class 12 from a school situated within North Eastern Region and should be pursuing their first undergraduate degree programme in regular mode.
Another major highlight of the scheme is the 50:50 scholarship slot distribution system. Half of the scholarship slots are reserved for Arts, Humanities, Law, Social Sciences, and Management courses, while the remaining 50% slots are reserved for Science, Engineering, Medical, Agriculture, Forestry, and Technical programmes.
The complete scholarship process is conducted through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), where students need to complete online registration, institute verification, and scholarship application formalities according to official UGC guidelines.
Students should also carefully understand that the Ishan Uday Scholarship follows strict operational rules related to first UG degree eligibility, one-scholarship policy, institution recognition, Aadhaar-linked bank accounts, and state-wise merit selection based on Class 12 marks.
Students looking for other major Central Government scholarship schemes can also explore programmes like AICTE Swanath Scholarship Scheme for students facing difficult family situations, PMSSS Scholarship Scheme for Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh for students of J&K and Ladakh, AICTE Pragati Scholarship Scheme for girl students pursuing technical education, and AICTE Saksham Scholarship Scheme for specially-abled students studying in AICTE-approved institutions.
Overall, the Ishan Uday Scholarship Scheme has become one of the most important higher education support schemes for students of the North Eastern Region because it not only provides direct financial assistance but also helps deserving students continue undergraduate studies in recognised institutions without excessive financial burden.
Students searching for more scholarships, internships, education loans, and welfare programmes can also explore other initiatives available under the List of All Central Government Schemes section according to their eligibility and educational background.
Benefits Provided to Eligible Beneficiaries
The Ishan Uday Special Scholarship Scheme for North Eastern Region (NER) provides financial assistance to economically weaker students of North Eastern States for pursuing higher education in recognised institutions across India.
Important: Older scholarship amounts of ₹3,500 and ₹5,000 mentioned on many websites are outdated. The revised official scholarship amount is now ₹8,000 per month for all eligible categories.
- ₹8,000 per month scholarship assistance
- Total yearly scholarship benefit of ₹80,000
- Scholarship available for the duration of the eligible undergraduate programme
- Financial support through DBT/PFMS into an Aadhaar-linked bank account
- Support for Arts, Humanities, Law, Management, Science, Engineering, Agriculture, Forestry, Medical, and Technical courses
- 10,000 fresh scholarships are provided every year under the scheme
- Scholarship support for students studying in recognised institutions across India
- Separate state-wise merit-based selection process for NER students
50:50 Scholarship Slot Distribution
- 50% scholarship slots reserved for Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Law, and Management courses
- 50% scholarship slots reserved for Science, Engineering, Technology, Medical, Agriculture, Forestry, and Technical programmes
Important: Scholarship amount is transferred only into an Aadhaar-linked KYC-compliant bank account of the student through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Important: Students already receiving another scholarship or monetary assistance cannot simultaneously avail the Ishan Uday Scholarship under the one-scholarship rule.
Eligibility Conditions Required to be Fulfilled
Students applying under the Ishan Uday Special Scholarship Scheme for the North Eastern Region (NER) must fulfil all eligibility conditions prescribed by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
- Applicant must belong to any North Eastern Region (NER) State, including Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, or Tripura
- The student must possess a valid domicile certificate of any NER State
- Applicant must have passed Class 12 or equivalent examination from a school situated within the North Eastern Region
- The student must be admitted to the first year of a recognised undergraduate degree programme
- Scholarship is available only for the first undergraduate degree programme
- Applicant must be studying in regular or full-time mode
- The student must take admission in a UGC-recognised eligible institution within India
- Total annual family income should be below ₹4.50 lakh per annum
- Applicant must apply through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP)
- The student must possess an Aadhaar-linked KYC-compliant bank account in their own name
Eligible Courses Under Ishan Uday Scholarship
- BA, B.Sc, B.Com, BBA, BCA and other General Degree courses
- B.Tech, B.E., B.Pharmacy, Nursing, Agriculture, Forestry, Medical, and other Professional courses
- Integrated and Dual Degree programmes for the UG component only
- Law, Management, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Technical programmes recognised by UGC
Who is NOT eligible under the Ishan Uday Scholarship?
- Students pursuing a second undergraduate degree
- Students studying through Open, Distance, Correspondence, Private, or Part-time mode
- Students admitted through the Management Quota
- Diploma students
- Students already receiving another scholarship or financial assistance
- Students studying in non-recognised institutions
- Students whose family income is ₹4.50 lakh or above
- Students who passed Class 12 from schools located outside the North Eastern Region
Important: Under official guidelines, students can receive only one scholarship at a time. If selected under the Ishan Uday Scheme, the student may need to relinquish previously availed scholarship benefits.
Documents Required to be Attached
Students applying under the Ishan Uday Special Scholarship Scheme for the North Eastern Region (NER) need to keep all required documents ready for verification during the NSP application and institutional verification process.
As per official NSP guidelines, students generally do not upload certificates directly to NSP. Instead, documents are submitted to the institution for verification, and the institution verifies the application online on the NSP portal.
- Class 10 marksheet and certificate
- Class 12 marksheet and passing certificate
- Domicile Certificate of any North Eastern Region (NER) State
- Family Income Certificate
- Aadhaar Card
- Aadhaar-linked bank account details in the student’s own name
- Recent passport size photograph
- Admission proof of the first year undergraduate course
- A bona fide student certificate from the institution
- Category certificate, wherever applicable
- Disability certificate, wherever applicable
- Undertaking regarding non-receipt of another scholarship, wherever required
Important: Students must have passed Class 12 from a school situated within the North Eastern Region for eligibility under the Ishan Uday Scholarship Scheme.
Important: Scholarship amount is transferred only into an Aadhaar-linked KYC-compliant bank account of the student through DBT/PFMS. Incorrect bank details, IFSC mismatch, Aadhaar mismatch, or inactive account may lead to payment failure.
Important: Students already receiving another scholarship or monetary assistance may become ineligible under the one-scholarship rule of the Ishan Uday Scheme.
How Beneficiaries Can Apply to Avail the Benefit of this Scheme
Eligible students can apply online for the Ishan Uday Special Scholarship Scheme for the North Eastern Region (NER) through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). Applications are generally invited once every academic year by the UGC through NSP.
Step 1: Visit the National Scholarship Portal and complete One Time Registration (OTR) using Aadhaar details.
Step 2: Log in to the NSP portal using the generated credentials and select the Ishan Uday Scholarship Scheme.
Step 3: Fill the scholarship application form carefully using details exactly matching educational records and Aadhaar details.
Step 4: Enter institution details, course information, bank account details, and income-related information correctly.
Step 5: Submit the scholarship application form before the prescribed deadline.
Important: As per official NSP guidelines, students generally do not upload certificates directly to NSP. Documents are submitted to the institution for verification, and the institution verifies the application online on NSP.
Step 6: Institution verifies eligibility conditions, including domicile certificate, income certificate, admission details, and other required records.
Step 7: Verified applications are considered for the preparation of the state-wise merit list based on Class 12 marks.
Step 8: UGC releases scholarship results generally during November or December through NSP and official UGC portals.
Step 9: Selected students receive scholarship amount directly into Aadhaar-linked KYC-compliant bank account through DBT/PFMS.
Important: Students should provide the correct bank account number, IFSC code, Aadhaar details, and institution details because a mismatch in records may lead to payment failure or scholarship rejection.
Important: Students already receiving another scholarship or monetary assistance cannot simultaneously avail benefits under the Ishan Uday Scholarship Scheme.
Selection Process and Merit Preparation Under the Ishan Uday Scheme
The complete Ishan Uday Scholarship process is managed through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) along with the institutional and UGC verification system.
- Student completes online registration and application through NSP – applications are invited once a year only
- Students do NOT upload any certificates on NSP themselves – documents are submitted to the institution, which uploads the verification certificate on NSP
- The institution verifies student eligibility, admission details, domicile certificate, and income certificate and uploads a scanned verification certificate on NSP
- Only verified online applications are considered for state-wise merit preparation
- Selection is done purely based on state-wise merit based on Class 12 marks
- If two students secure equal marks in Class 12, Class 10 marks are considered as the first tiebreaker
- If the tie still continues after Class 10 marks, the older candidate gets preference over the younger candidate
- NSP opens for Fresh and Renewal applications at the same time – renewal students must also apply within the same window
- UGC finalises scholarship selection list after complete verification process
- Scholarship results are generally declared in November or December – available on NSP using Student ID and Password and also on UGC website at ugc.ac.in/notices
- Selected students receive a scholarship amount through DBT via PFMS into an Aadhaar-linked bank account
Important: Applications that are not verified by institutions within the stipulated time frame are not considered for merit preparation. Students should request their institution to verify and forward the application to NSP well before the deadline.
Type of Institutions Eligible Under Ishan Uday Scholarship
Students can avail benefits under the Ishan Uday Scholarship Scheme only if they take admission in eligible institutions recognised under official UGC guidelines.
- Universities, Colleges, and Institutions recognised under Section 2(f) of the UGC Act 1956
- Deemed Universities recognised under Section 3 of the UGC Act 1956
- Institutions fully funded by the Central Government or the State Government are empowered to award degrees
- Institutions of National Importance
- Institutions having valid NAAC accreditation as applicable under the latest guidelines
- Institutions having a valid AISHE Code for the NSP verification process
Important: As per the latest guidelines, the NAAC accreditation condition has been implemented from Academic Year 2025-26 for eligible institutions.
Important: Students studying in non-recognised institutions may become ineligible for scholarship benefits under the Ishan Uday Scheme.
Why Ishan Uday Scholarship Applications Get Rejected?
Many scholarship applications get rejected every year because students fail to follow the official NSP and UGC guidelines properly.
- Passing Class 12 from a school located outside the North Eastern Region
- Annual family income above the Rs. 4.50 lakh limit
- Pursuing a second undergraduate degree
- Distance learning, correspondence, private, or part-time admission
- Admission through Management Quota
- Applying through non-recognised institutions
- Student submits incorrect or misleading information, leading to cancellation by the institution or UGC
- Aadhaar mismatch or incorrect personal details in the online application
- The wrong bank account number or IFSC code was entered in the application
- Bank account not KYC compliant or Aadhaar not seeded/linked to bank account
- Receiving another scholarship simultaneously without declaring it in the application
- Domicile Certificate not from any NER State or Income Certificate not issued by the Competent Authority
- Failure to fulfil regular course attendance or promotion conditions during renewal
Important: UGC may recover the entire scholarship amount with interest if wrong or misleading information is submitted during the application process. Action may also be taken against the institution and its officials if ineligible students are verified by the institution.
Important Links Available
- Apply Online Through National Scholarship Portal (NSP)
- Official Ishan Uday Scholarship Scheme Guidelines
- Official Ishan Uday Scholarship Scheme FAQs
- UGC Official Website
- Ministry of Education Official Website
Contact Details in Case of Help Needed
Students facing issues related to the Ishan Uday Scholarship application, NSP registration, institute verification, scholarship status, or payment-related problems can contact UGC and NSP through the following official contact details.
- National Scholarship Portal (NSP) Helpdesk: 0120-6619540
- NSP Helpdesk Email: helpdesk@nsp.gov.in
- UGC Headquarters Address: Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi – 110002
Important: Students should use only official NSP and UGC portals for scholarship-related activities and avoid fake scholarship websites, agents, or unofficial registration links.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. What is the Ishan Uday Scholarship Scheme?
Ans. Ishan Uday Special Scholarship Scheme for North Eastern Region (NER) is a Central Government scholarship scheme implemented by UGC to support economically weaker students of North Eastern States pursuing undergraduate education in recognised institutions across India.
Q. What is the scholarship amount under the Ishan Uday Scheme?
Ans. Selected students receive ₹8,000 per month for 10 months every year, which means eligible beneficiaries can receive ₹80,000 yearly scholarship assistance.
Q. Are the old scholarship amounts of ₹3,500 and ₹5,000 still applicable?
Ans. No. Those older amounts are outdated. Under the latest official NSP guidelines, the revised scholarship amount is ₹8,000 per month uniformly for all eligible categories.
Q. How many scholarships are available every year?
Ans. A total of 10,000 fresh scholarships are provided every year under the Ishan Uday Scholarship Scheme.
Q. Which states are covered under the Ishan Uday Scholarship?
Ans. Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura are covered under the scheme.
Q. Who can apply for the Ishan Uday Scholarship?
Ans. Students belonging to the North Eastern Region who passed Class 12 from schools situated within NER and are admitted to first-year undergraduate courses in recognised institutions can apply if all eligibility conditions are fulfilled.
Q. Is the Ishan Uday Scholarship available for a second undergraduate degree?
Ans. No. The scholarship is available only for the first undergraduate degree programme.
Q. Is distance learning or the Open University eligible under the Ishan Uday Scheme?
Ans. No. Only regular or full-time mode students are eligible under the scheme.
Q. Can Diploma students apply for the Ishan Uday Scholarship?
Ans. No. Diploma students are not eligible under the Ishan Uday Scholarship Scheme.
Q. What is the family income limit under the Ishan Uday Scheme?
Ans. Total annual family income should be below ₹4.50 lakh per annum.
Q. Can students receiving another scholarship apply for Ishan Uday?
Ans. No. Students cannot simultaneously receive another scholarship or financial assistance under the one-scholarship rule.
Q. Is an Aadhaar-linked bank account mandatory?
Ans. Yes. Scholarship amount is transferred through DBT/PFMS into the Aadhaar-linked KYC-compliant bank account of the student.
Q. Is management quota admission eligible under the Ishan Uday Scheme?
Ans. No. Students admitted through the Management Quota are not eligible under official guidelines.
Q. Is a scholarship available for integrated or dual degree programmes?
Ans. Yes. However, scholarship assistance is available only for the undergraduate component of integrated or dual degree programmes.
Q. How are students selected under the Ishan Uday Scholarship?
Ans. Selection is done through state-wise merit based on Class 12 marks.
Q. What is the tie-breaking rule under the Ishan Uday Scholarship?
Ans. In case of equal Class 12 marks, higher Class 10 marks are considered first. If the tie still continues, the older candidate gets preference.
Q. When are Ishan Uday Scholarship results declared?
Ans. Scholarship results are generally declared during November or December through the NSP and UGC portals.
Q. Can a scholarship stop after changing institutions or courses?
Ans. Yes. As per official guidelines, the scholarship may be forfeited from the date of the course or institution change.
Q. Is institution verification mandatory on NSP?
Ans. Yes. Institution verification is mandatory because applications are verified online by institutions on the NSP portal.
Q. Do students upload documents directly to NSP?
Ans. Generally, students submit documents to the institution while institutions verify the application and upload the required verification details on NSP.
Tabassum is a government schemes researcher and writer with 5 years of experience tracking Central and State welfare programmes across India. She has covered 500+ schemes spanning agriculture, women welfare, education, and housing, helping lakhs of beneficiaries understand their entitlements in simple language.