Money shouldn’t stop you from getting an education. That’s the whole idea behind the UP Scholarship program, which helps thousands of Uttar Pradesh students every year cover their education costs. Whether you’re struggling with school fees or just need some extra help buying books and supplies, this guide will walk you through exactly how the program works.
Understanding the UP Scholarship Program
Think of the UP Scholarship as the state government’s way of investing in your future. It’s available for students from Class 9 all the way through PhD programs, which means no matter where you are in your education journey, there’s probably something here for you.
The really cool thing? Even if you’ve moved to another state for better educational opportunities, you can still get support as long as you’re originally from UP. The Post-Matric Outside State category was created exactly for situations like this.
What’s Happening Right Now with UP Scholarship 2025-26
Quick heads up if you’ve already applied: The correction window is open for Dashmottar applications (except Classes 11 & 12). Noticed a mistake in your form? You’ve got until February 13, 2026 to fix it. After making corrections, get the updated form to your institute by February 18, 2026 – missing this deadline could mess up your application.
Here’s how the timeline plays out: NIC does their re-checking by February 27, then everything goes through verification. The money should hit student accounts by March 18, 2026, assuming everything checks out.
Breaking Down the Four UP Scholarship Categories
Not everyone needs the same kind of help, which is why there are different categories:
Pre Matric (Class 9-10)
This one’s for younger students still in secondary school. Class 9 and 10 can be expensive with all the extra coaching and study materials, so this helps families manage those costs before board exams hit.
Post Matric Inter (Class 11-12)
Intermediate is when things start getting serious academically. This category bridges that tricky gap between finishing school and starting college.
Post Matric Other than Inter
Here’s where it gets interesting this covers everything from bachelor’s degrees to PhD programs. College is expensive, and the government gets that, which is why this category exists.
Post Matric Outside State
Got into a great college in another state? Don’t worry, you’re still covered. This ensures UP students aren’t penalized for seeking quality education elsewhere.
Figuring Out If You’re Eligible for UP Scholarship
Let me break down the eligibility requirements without all the government jargon:
Pre-Matric Scholarship Eligibility
First off, you need to actually live in Uttar Pradesh – residence certificates matter here. You should be in Class 9 or 10, and belong to SC, ST, or General category. Now for the income bit: your family shouldn’t be making more than ₹2.5 lakhs yearly if you’re General/SC/ST, or ₹2 lakhs if you’re OBC. There’s an exception though – families in sanitation work don’t have an income cap.
Post-Matric Intermediate Requirements
Same deal with the UP residency thing. You’ve got to be in Class 11 or 12, from SC, ST, or General categories. Income limits are slightly different here: ₹2 lakhs for SC/ST families, ₹2.5 lakhs for General category.
Post-Matric Higher Education Criteria
This one’s for college and beyond undergrad, masters, PhD, you name it. You still need to be a permanent UP resident and fall under SC, ST, or General category. Income limits stay the same as the intermediate level.
Post-Matric Outside State Rules
Studying in Maharashtra or Karnataka but your family’s back in UP? This category’s got you covered, but only if you’re in government or government-aided colleges. Same category restrictions and income limits apply they just recognize that sometimes the best programs aren’t in your home state.
Getting Your Documents Together
Before you dive into the UP Scholarship application, round up these papers. Trust me, having everything ready saves a lot of headaches later:
- Aadhaar Card (must be linked with your mobile number and bank account)
- Residence certificate proving UP domicile
- Income certificate from a competent authority
- Educational certificates (previous year marksheets)
- Bank account details (passbook or cancelled cheque)
- Passport-sized photographs
- Category certificate (if applicable for SC/ST/OBC)
Your Aadhaar card is non-negotiable and here’s the thing, it needs to be linked to both your phone number and bank account. I’ve seen applications get stuck because people skip this step.
Pro tip: Verify your Aadhaar-mobile link before starting. The OTP verification during registration has tripped up plenty of students.
Registering for UP Scholarship Online – The Actual Process
Okay, here’s how registration actually works. Head over to scholarship.up.gov.in first. On the homepage, you’ll spot a “Student” section at the top – click that, then hit “Registration.”
Now you’ll see options for different categories and study levels. Pick whatever matches your situation. Fill in all the details they ask for – and I mean all of them. Double-check everything because fixing mistakes later is a pain.
Hit submit when you’re done. The system will give you a registration number. Screenshot it, write it down, tattoo it on your arm if you have to – you’re going to need this number multiple times, so don’t lose it.
Filling Out Your UP Scholarship Application
Once you’ve registered, go back to scholarship.up.gov.in and look for “Fresh Login” under Student (if you got the scholarship before and are renewing, click “Renewal Login” instead).
Type in your registration number, birth date, and the password you set up. The application form will open up – take your time filling each section. Rushing through this is how mistakes happen.
When you get to document uploads, make sure your files are in the right format and size. The system’s picky about this. After everything’s filled in, review it one more time. Seriously, one more time. Then click “Update” and submit.
Print out the application form. You’re going to need to submit this hard copy, along with all your supporting documents, to your school or college. Don’t put this off – institutions have their own internal deadlines.
Checking Your UP Scholarship Application Status
Waiting to hear back about your application? There are two ways to check what’s happening:
The Official Portal Method
Go to scholarship.up.gov.in and click “Status” at the top. Pick the year you applied for, then punch in your registration number and date of birth. Fill in the captcha (those annoying letters) and hit search. Your status should pop up.
Using PFMS to Track Payment
PFMS – that’s the Public Financial Management System – is actually super useful for tracking whether money’s hit your account. Visit pfms.nic.in and click “Know Your Payment.”
You’ll need to enter your bank name, account number, and another captcha. They’ll send an OTP to your phone for verification. Once you’re in, you can see every transaction that’s gone into your account, including scholarship payments.
Honestly, the PFMS method is better when you want to confirm actual payment. The scholarship portal tells you if you’re approved, but PFMS shows if the money’s actually there.
How Much Money You’ll Actually Get
The UP Scholarship amount varies depending on which category you fall under:
Pre-Matric Money
If you’re OBC, expect ₹150 monthly plus a ₹750 yearly bonus. SC students get ₹3,500 per year if you’re a day scholar, or ₹7,000 if you’re living in a hostel.
Post-Matric Amounts
This gets a bit more complicated because it depends on your course and whether you’re living at home or in a hostel. Most students see anywhere between ₹800 and ₹1,200 monthly. The exact amount depends on your specific situation and which scheme you qualify for.
Important Dates for UP Scholarship 2025-26
For Dashmottar (Excluding Classes 11 & 12):
- Student Registration: Started January 14, 2026
- Final Printout: January 17, 2026
- Hard Copy Submission to Institute: January 21, 2026
- Application Correction Window: Closes February 13, 2026
- Corrected Form Submission: February 18, 2026
- Fund Transfer: March 18, 2026
For Pre-Matric and Post-Matric:
- Registration Period: July 10, 2025 – December 6, 2025
- Application Submission: Until December 24, 2025
- Verification Period: December 11-18, 2025
- Fund Transfer: Expected January 24, 2026
Mistakes That’ll Mess Up Your Application
I’ve seen students make the same errors over and over. Here’s what to avoid:
Aadhaar problems are probably the biggest issue. Your Aadhaar absolutely must be linked to your phone and bank account. No exceptions. Applications get rejected or delayed all the time because of this.
Missing deadlines is the other big one. Set phone reminders, mark your calendar, do whatever it takes. The government’s not flexible about dates.
Documents in the wrong format will get rejected. Check the size limits and file types before uploading. Usually they want JPG or PDF under 200 KB.
Don’t leave any fields blank in the form. An incomplete application just sits there going nowhere. And please, take multiple printouts of everything – losing your only copy is stressful.
Here’s one people don’t think about: institutions have their own processing time. Submitting your hard copy on the last day means it might not get forwarded in time. Give them some breathing room.
Final Thoughts on Getting Your UP Scholarship
Look, the UP Scholarship isn’t just about getting some extra money – though that definitely helps. It’s really the government saying that your education matters, regardless of your family’s financial situation.
Getting approved comes down to three things: paying attention to details, respecting deadlines, and keeping your paperwork organized. Start the process early. Don’t wait until the last week. And if something’s confusing, ask for help – your school’s scholarship coordinator is there for exactly this reason.
Thousands of students get this scholarship every year. There’s no reason you can’t be one of them. Just stay organized, follow the steps, and don’t stress yourself out too much.
Good luck with everything. Your education is worth fighting for.
Important Note: Information changes. The dates and amounts in this article are current as of February 2026, but always double-check scholarship.up.gov.in for the latest updates. Government portals get updated, rules change, so make it a habit to verify directly from the source.
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