PM YASASVI Scholarship Eligibility — Class 9 & 11 Students of OBC, EBC and DNT Families
PM YASASVI supports school students from OBC, Economically Backward Class and Denotified Tribe families with a top-class scholarship for class 9 and class 11 studies.
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PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India, known as PM YASASVI, is a central scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It supports students of Other Backward Classes, Economically Backward Classes and Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes who are studying in class 9 or class 11 in recognised schools. The award helps cover school fees and related expenses so that a capable student from a low-income household is not forced to leave a good school for financial reasons. Selection has historically been based on an entrance test conducted by a national testing agency, with the scheme's operating details notified afresh each year.
Benefits
Financial support towards school fees and academic expenses for the sanctioned year, credited directly into the student's bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer. Continuation into the next class subject to satisfactory academic progress and the conditions of the sanction. Recognition that helps the student in later scholarship and admission processes. Since the payment is direct and the scheme is centrally monitored, there is no intermediary and no fee to any middleman at any stage.
Eligibility criteria
- ✓The student must belong to the Other Backward Classes, Economically Backward Class, or Denotified, Nomadic or Semi-Nomadic Tribe category as certified by the competent authority
- ✓The total annual income of the family from all sources must be within the ceiling notified for the scheme, commonly ₹2.5 lakh
- ✓The student must be studying in class 9 or class 11 in a recognised school at the time of application
- ✓The date of birth must fall within the age band notified for the relevant class in that year's guidelines
- ✓The student must be an Indian citizen studying in India
- ✓Students already receiving another central scholarship for the same purpose are generally not eligible, to avoid duplicate benefit
- ✓The bank account must be in the student's own name and Aadhaar-seeded for Direct Benefit Transfer
Documents required
- ✓Caste or category certificate issued by the competent authority in the prescribed format
- ✓Income certificate of the parent or guardian issued by the competent revenue authority
- ✓Class 8 marksheet for class 9 applicants, or class 10 marksheet for class 11 applicants
- ✓Bonafide certificate or school identity proof for the current class
- ✓Aadhaar card of the student, with the name matching the school record
- ✓Bank passbook in the student's name showing account number and IFSC
- ✓Recent passport-size photograph and signature in the prescribed size
How to apply — step by step
- Read the current year's official notification to confirm the class, age band and income ceiling
- Collect the category certificate and income certificate in advance, as these take the longest to obtain
- Register on the designated official portal — applications are commonly routed through the National Scholarship Portal or the testing agency's site as specified in the notification
- Fill the application using the exact spelling of the student's name as it appears on the Aadhaar and school record
- Upload the certificates, marksheet, photograph and bank details in the prescribed format
- Submit the form, download the acknowledgement and get the school's verification completed
- Appear for the entrance test if the year's notification prescribes one, and download the result
- Track the sanction status on the portal and confirm that the scholarship amount is credited to the student's account
Important dates
The application window usually opens in the middle of the academic year and stays open for a few weeks, followed by school-level and district-level verification, the entrance test where applicable, and the release of the merit list. Every date, including the income ceiling and the age band, is fixed afresh in the notification for that year, so a student should rely on the current official notification rather than last year's dates. Applications that miss the school verification deadline are rejected even if the student submitted the form on time — which is why the form should be submitted several days before the last date.
Common mistakes to avoid
- ✓Waiting for the last week to apply and missing the school verification stage
- ✓Uploading an income certificate that is older than the validity period allowed in the guidelines
- ✓Giving a parent's bank account instead of an account in the student's own name
- ✓A mismatch between the name on Aadhaar, the school record and the bank account
- ✓Applying while already holding another central scholarship for the same year
- ✓Assuming eligibility from last year's income limit when the current notification has changed it
- ✓Paying a cyber café or an agent for a form that is free to submit on the official portal
Frequently asked questions
Which classes can apply?
Students studying in class 9 and class 11 in recognised schools, within the age band notified for each class.
What is the family income limit?
The commonly notified ceiling is ₹2.5 lakh per year from all sources, but the exact figure must be confirmed from the current year's notification.
Is there an entrance test?
Selection has historically been through an entrance test conducted by a national testing agency. Whether a test is held in a given year is stated in that year's notification.
Can general category students apply?
No. The scheme is for students of OBC, EBC and DNT categories with a valid certificate from the competent authority.
Where does the money go?
Directly into the student's own Aadhaar-seeded bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer. No school or agent handles the amount.
Answer 5–7 simple questions and get your eligibility score in 2 minutes.
Check eligibility now →