The University Grants Commission (UGC) has opened applications for the Ishan Uday Scholarship 2026-27, one of the largest scholarship schemes dedicated to students of the North Eastern Region. Under this scheme, 10,000 fresh scholarships are awarded every year to first-year undergraduate students from the eight NER states.
Online applications for the Ishan Uday Special Scholarship Scheme 2026-27 began on 16 September 2026 through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), and the last date to apply is 31 October 2026.
If you have passed Class 12 from a school in the North East and taken admission into the first year of a regular degree course, this scholarship can give you ₹8,000 per month for 10 months — a total of ₹80,000 per year.
Ishan Uday Scholarship 2026-27 Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Ishan Uday Special Scholarship Scheme for North Eastern Region |
| Conducted By | University Grants Commission (UGC) |
| Academic Session | 2026-27 |
| Scholarship Amount | ₹8,000 per month |
| Duration of Payment | 10 months per academic year (₹80,000/year) |
| Total Slots | 10,000 fresh scholarships every year |
| Tenure | 3 to 5 years (till course completion, subject to renewal) |
| Eligible Level | First-year Undergraduate (Regular/Full-time) |
| Income Limit | Below ₹4.5 lakh per annum |
| Application Start Date | 16 September 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 31 October 2026 |
| Application Mode | Online — National Scholarship Portal (NSP) |
| Official Website | scholarships.gov.in / ugc.gov.in |
What is the Ishan Uday Special Scholarship Scheme?
Ishan Uday is a 100% centrally funded scholarship scheme launched by the UGC to promote higher education in the North Eastern Region. The scheme was introduced to make sure that students from economically weaker families in the North East are not forced to drop out of college due to financial pressure.
The scholarship is paid directly into the student’s Aadhaar-seeded bank account through DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer), so no middleman or agent is involved at any stage.
Ishan Uday Scholarship 2026-27 Eligibility Criteria
Before applying, check whether you meet all of the conditions below:
- You must be a domicile of a North Eastern state.
- You must have passed Class 12 or equivalent from a school situated within the NER, through a recognised board (CBSE, ICSE, NIOS or State Board).
- You must be admitted to the first year of a regular, full-time undergraduate degree programme.
- The course must be a UGC-recognised degree programme in a recognised college, university or institution in India.
- Your parents’ annual income must be below ₹4.5 lakh.
- You must not be receiving any other scholarship for the same course.
Who is NOT eligible
Many applications get rejected every year for these reasons — read carefully:
- Students admitted through the management quota.
- Students enrolled in Open University / distance mode courses.
- Students pursuing diploma or certificate courses that do not lead to a degree.
- Students who already hold an undergraduate degree (the scheme is for your first UG degree only).
- Students whose family income exceeds ₹4.5 lakh per annum.
Note on integrated and dual degree courses: The scholarship is payable only for the UG component of the programme.
North Eastern States Covered Under Ishan Uday
Students domiciled in the following eight states can apply:
- Assam
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Manipur
- Meghalaya
- Mizoram
- Nagaland
- Sikkim
- Tripura
Slots are distributed among the NER states on the basis of population as per the last census. If any state’s slots remain vacant due to non-availability of eligible candidates, those unfilled slots are redistributed among the other states.
Ishan Uday Scholarship Amount 2026-27
Selected students receive ₹8,000 per month for 10 months, which works out to ₹80,000 per academic year.
Important: Several websites still show the older rates of ₹5,400 per month for general degree courses and ₹7,800 per month for technical/professional courses. As per the current UGC scheme page, the financial assistance is ₹80,000 per annum. Always cross-check the figure on the official UGC and NSP portals before applying.
The scholarship continues for 3 to 5 years depending on the duration of your course, provided you renew your application every year on NSP and maintain regular attendance and progress. If you drop out of the course midway, further payments are stopped.
How to Apply for Ishan Uday Scholarship 2026-27 on NSP
Follow these steps to complete your online application:
- Visit the National Scholarship Portal — go to scholarships.gov.in.
- Complete your One-Time Registration (OTR) using your Aadhaar number and Aadhaar-linked mobile number. You will receive an OTR ID after successful face authentication.
- Log in to NSP using your OTR ID / application ID and password.
- Select the scheme — choose “Ishan Uday Special Scholarship Scheme for North Eastern Region” under Central Government schemes for the session 2026-27.
- Fill in the application form carefully — personal details, domicile, Class 12 marks, course details, institute AISHE code and bank account details.
- Upload the required documents in the prescribed size and format.
- Preview and submit your application before 31 October 2026, and save the application ID.
- Follow up with your institute — your college must verify your application at the institute level (INO) within the deadline, otherwise it will not move forward.
Tip: Your college must have a valid AISHE code and be registered on NSP. If your institute is not registered, contact your college administration immediately so they can register through the district or state nodal officer.
Documents Required for Ishan Uday Scholarship 2026-27
Keep scanned copies of these documents ready before you start the form:
- Aadhaar Card (linked with your mobile number and bank account)
- Domicile / Permanent Residence Certificate
- Class 12 Mark Sheet and Passing Certificate
- Admission proof / Bonafide certificate / Fee receipt from the college
- Income Certificate issued by a competent authority
- Bank passbook copy (account must be in the student’s own name)
- Recent passport-size photograph
- Caste certificate, if applicable
Ishan Uday Scholarship 2026-27 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application starts | 16 September 2026 |
| Last date for student application | 31 October 2026 |
| Institute (INO) verification | As notified on NSP |
| District/State (DNO/SNO) verification | As notified on NSP |
Deadlines on NSP are sometimes extended. Bookmark this page — we update it as soon as UGC or NSP issues any official notice.
How to Check Ishan Uday Scholarship Status
- Log in to the National Scholarship Portal with your application ID and password.
- Open the “Check Your Status” or application dashboard section.
- Your status will show as Applied, Verified by Institute, Verified by District/State, or Rejected.
If your status stays as “Pending at Institute Level” for a long time, visit your college’s scholarship nodal officer in person.
Common Reasons for Rejection — Avoid These Mistakes
- Aadhaar not seeded with the bank account (payment fails even after selection)
- Bank account in a parent’s name instead of the student’s name
- Mismatch between the name on Aadhaar, mark sheet and bank passbook
- Institute verification not completed within the deadline
- Blurred or oversized document uploads
- Applying under the wrong scheme or wrong academic session
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is the last date to apply for Ishan Uday Scholarship 2026-27? The last date to submit the online application on the National Scholarship Portal is 31 October 2026.
Q2. How much money is given under the Ishan Uday Scholarship? Selected students receive ₹8,000 per month for 10 months, which is ₹80,000 per academic year.
Q3. Can students from Sikkim apply for Ishan Uday? Yes. Students domiciled in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura are eligible.
Q4. Is Ishan Uday available for postgraduate students? No. The scheme is only for students admitted to the first year of a regular undergraduate degree programme.
Q5. Can I apply if I study outside the North East? Yes. You can study in any recognised college or university anywhere in India, as long as you passed Class 12 from a school within the NER and are domiciled in a North Eastern state.
Q6. Is the scholarship based on merit? Yes. Selection is based on merit in the Class 12 examination, subject to eligibility and slot availability in your state.
Q7. Do I need to apply again next year? Yes. The scholarship is renewable, so you must submit a renewal application on NSP every academic year to continue receiving payments.
Q8. Can I take another scholarship along with Ishan Uday? No. You cannot avail two scholarships for the same course at the same time.
Final Word
The Ishan Uday Scholarship 2026-27 is one of the best financial support options available to North Eastern students starting their undergraduate journey. With 10,000 slots and ₹80,000 per year on offer, it is worth applying early rather than waiting for the last week of October, when the NSP portal usually gets heavily loaded.
Apply only through the official National Scholarship Portal. UGC does not charge any fee, and no agent can get your scholarship approved.
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Disclaimer: Information in this article is compiled from the UGC and NSP portals. Candidates are advised to verify all details from the official notification before applying.