This page lists 39 scholarships for PhD scholars for the 2026-27 session (13 central government, 15 state government, 7 private and CSR, 1 university and institute, 3 study abroad), among them Financial Support to the Students of North Eastern Region for Higher Professional Courses (NEC Merit Scholarship), Gates Cambridge Scholarship and State Horticulture Scholarship, Nagaland. 4 are taking applications now; the one closing first is Financial Support to the Students of North Eastern Region for Higher Professional Courses (NEC Merit Scholarship) (last date 30 November 2026). Each scheme's page gives the amount, who can apply and how, from the scheme's own official notice, and says when it was last checked.
Every scheme on this page 39
| Scheme | Who can apply | Amount | Last date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Support to the Students of North Eastern Region for Higher Professional Courses (NEC Merit Scholarship)North Eastern Council (NEC), Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Government of India | Permanent resident of a North Eastern state, 60% marks, family income up to Rs. 8 lakh | Up to Rs. 30,000 a year | 30 Nov 2026 Open |
| Gates Cambridge ScholarshipGates Cambridge Trust (University of Cambridge) | Citizens of any country outside the UK, for eligible Cambridge PhD and full-time master's | £23,152 a year + fees | 6 Jan 2027 Open |
| State Horticulture Scholarship, NagalandDirectorate of Horticulture, Government of Nagaland | Indigenous Nagaland students in B.Sc, M.Sc or Ph.D (Horti) at a UGC-recognized institute | Rs. 24,400 to 32,400 a year | 31 Jan 2027 Open |
| Felix ScholarshipFelix Scholarship Trust, administered by the University of Oxford, the University of Reading and SOAS University of London | Indian nationals in India, first-class bachelor's degree, financial need | Full fees + living grant | 26 Feb 2027 Open |
| Arunachal Pradesh Scholarship for Academic Excellence Scheme 2024Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Department of Higher and Technical Education | Arunachal APST students admitted to a QS top 150 university abroad (UG, PG, PhD, postdoc) | 75% of course cost | Running |
| Centrally Sponsored Post-Matric Scholarship for SC Students, ManipurGovernment of Manipur, Directorate for Welfare of OBC and SC (scheme sponsored by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India) | SC students at post-matric stage; family income up to Rs. 2.50 lakh a year | Fees + allowance | Not fixed for 2026-27; registration notices conflict Running |
| Endowment Scholarships of Anna University (CEG endowments list)Anna University, Chennai (endowment list published by College of Engineering Guindy) | Anna University students (mostly B.E./B.Tech); merit-cum-means; rules vary | Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 25,000 | Running |
| Jawaharlal Nehru University Scholarship, MaharashtraGovernment of Maharashtra, Directorate of Higher Education | Maharashtra domicile students at JNU on a Junior Research Fellowship (one seat) | Rs. 8,000 a month | Running |
| National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST StudentsMinistry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India | ST students: fellowship for M.Phil/PhD; scholarship for notified institutes | Rs. 31,000-35,000 a month | Ministry verification of 2026-27 applications closes 30 November 2026; student c Running |
| National Overseas Scholarship Scheme for SC etc. CandidatesMinistry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India | SC, DNT/SNT, landless labourer or traditional artisan; Master's or PhD abroad | USD 15,400 a year | April or May for 40 days (first round); September or October for 40 days (second round) Running |
| Post Matric Scholarship for SCs (PMS-SC)Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India (implemented through State and UT governments) | SC students from Class 11 to PhD in recognised courses, family income up to Rs. 2.5 lakh | Fees + Rs. 2,500-13,500/yr | Freeship registration open all year; NSP portal open for 2026-27 from 1 June 2026 Running |
| Post Matric Scholarship for ST Students (Umbrella Scheme for Education of ST Children), Arunachal PradeshMinistry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India; implemented in Arunachal Pradesh by the Directorate of Higher & Technical Education | ST students domiciled in Arunachal Pradesh, after Class 10, income up to Rs. 2.50 lakh | Rs. 230-1,200 a month | NSP opened 1 June 2026 for 2026-27; Arunachal closing date not in official sources checked Running |
| Post Matric Scholarship to SBC Students, MaharashtraVJNT, OBC and SBC Welfare Department, Government of Maharashtra | Maharashtra-domiciled SBC students in post-matric courses, income up to Rs. 2.50 lakh | Rs. 90 to Rs. 425 a month | Running |
| Post Matric Scholarship to VJNT Students, MaharashtraGovernment of Maharashtra, OBC, SEBC, VJNT & SBC Welfare Department | VJNT category residents of Maharashtra in government-approved post-matric courses | Up to Rs. 425 a month | Running |
| Post-Matric Scholarship for Persons with Disability (Maharashtra)Government of Maharashtra, Social Justice and Special Assistance Department | Maharashtra domicile students with 40% or more disability, studying Class 11 to PhD | Up to Rs. 1,200 a month | Running |
| Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Caste Students, AssamGovernment of Assam, Directorate of Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes (state); scheme guidelines by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India | Assam-domiciled SC students in recognised post-matric courses, Class 11 and above | Up to Rs. 13,500 a year | Running |
| Tuition Fees and Examination Fees to OBC Students, MaharashtraVJNT, OBC and SBC Welfare Department, Government of Maharashtra | OBC residents of Maharashtra in approved post-matric courses (CAP for professional) | 100% or 50% of fees | Running |
| Tuition Fees and Examination Fees to VJNT Students, MaharashtraOBC, SEBC, VJNT & SBC Welfare Department, Government of Maharashtra | VJNT students from Maharashtra, post-matric; professional seats via CAP | 100% of fees | Starts after admission, ends at the last exam date Running |
| Annal Ambedkar Overseas Higher Education Scholarship Scheme, Tamil NaduGovernment of Tamil Nadu, Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department | SC, ST and Adi Dravidar Christian convert students from Tamil Nadu for study abroad | Up to Rs. 36 lakh | Once a year, April-May (2026 window was April-May 2026) Closed |
| Chief Minister Scholarship Scheme (CMSS), MeghalayaGovernment of Meghalaya, Education Department (Directorate of Higher and Technical Education) | Permanent residents of Meghalaya in regular or full-time courses, Class XI to Ph.D. | - | 6 Nov 2026 Closed |
| Chief Minister’s Overseas Scholarship Scheme for Minorities, TelanganaMinorities Welfare Department, Government of Telangana | Telangana resident minority student, PG or PhD abroad, family income under Rs. 5 lakh | Up to Rs. 20 lakh | Closed for now |
| CM Researcher Scholarship, KeralaDirectorate of Collegiate Education, Government of Kerala | Full-time PhD scholars in 15 Kerala state universities, admitted Jan or Jul 2025 | Rs. 10,000 a month | 7 Oct 2025 Closed |
| Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (for least developed countries and vulnerable states)Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office | Citizens of 17 least developed or vulnerable Commonwealth countries. Not India. | £1,712 a month + fees | 20 Oct 2026 Closed |
| Incentive for Full-time Ph.D. Scholars, Tamil NaduGovernment of Tamil Nadu, Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department | Full-time PhD students from SC and ST families, income up to Rs. 8 lakh a year | Rs. 1,00,000 a year | 15 Feb 2026 Closed |
| Inlaks Shivdasani ScholarshipInlaks Shivdasani Foundation | Indian passport holders in India with an overseas postgraduate offer, born 1996 or later | Up to USD 120,000 | Closed for now |
| J.N. Tata Endowment for the Higher Education of IndiansJ.N. Tata Endowment for the Higher Education of Indians (public charitable trust, Mumbai) | Indian citizens up to 45, 60% in an Indian degree, for overseas PG, PhD or postdoc study | Up to Rs. 20 lakh loan | 29 Mar 2026 Closed |
| Jawaharlal Nehru Scholarships for Doctoral StudiesJawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund | Indian nationals and other Asian nationals already registered for a PhD in India | Not stated in the official pages read; the JNMF says it is in the Information Sheet | 31 Aug 2026 Closed |
| L’Oréal For Young Women in Science ProgramL'Oréal India | Women in UG, PG or PhD science courses; family income up to Rs. 6 lakh | Up to Rs. 1,00,000 | 21 Nov 2025 Closed |
| Nagaland State Research ScholarshipGovernment of Nagaland, Department of Higher Education (Directorate of Higher Education, Kohima) | ST and Indigenous students of Nagaland doing a Ph.D or D.Litt at an Indian university | Not stated in the official guidelines. Funded 100% by Government of Nagaland. | 31 Oct 2026 Closed |
| Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship ProgrammeNarotam Sekhsaria Foundation | Indian national in India, under 30 on 31 Jan 2026, graduate or final-year student | Full or part tuition | 23 Mar 2026 Closed |
| National Overseas Scholarship for ST StudentsMinistry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India | ST students, family income up to Rs. 6 lakh, QS top 1000 university admission | USD 15,400 a year (US) | 31 Jul 2026 Closed |
| NBHM Doctoral Scholarship 2026National Board for Higher Mathematics, Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India | Indian nationals in a full-time qualifying PhD, chosen by written test and interview | Up to Rs. 42,000 a month | 25 Dec 2025 Closed |
| Post-Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Caste Students (PMS-SC), Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and DiuMinistry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, implemented by the UT Administration of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | SC students domiciled in DNH and DD, Class 11 onward, income up to Rs. 2.5 lakh | Rs. 2,500-13,500 a year | 31 Oct 2026 Closed |
| Post-Matric Scholarship to OBC and EBC Students, Andaman and Nicobar IslandsDirectorate of Social Welfare, Andaman and Nicobar Administration (central PM-YASASVI umbrella: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India) | OBC and EBC students of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, from Class XI onwards | Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 20,000 | 31 Oct 2026 Closed |
| Rhodes Scholarship for IndiaRhodes Trust (in partnership with the Second Century Founder, John McCall MacBain O.C.) | Indian citizens (Indian passport), studied in India; aged 18-23 on 1 Oct 2026 | Fees + £20,400 a year | 23 Jul 2026 Closed |
| National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) ScholarshipMinistry of Education, Government of India; implemented by NCERT | Class 10 students of Indian nationality; scheme stalled, no 2026-27 exam | Rs. 1,250-2,000 a month | Discontinued |
| Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for Minorities (Central Sector)Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India | Minority students, Class 11 to PhD; 50% marks; family income up to Rs. 2 lakh | Up to Rs. 10,000 a year | Discontinued |
| Post-Matric Scholarship for Students Belonging to the Minority CommunitiesMinistry of Minority Affairs, Government of India | Minority students, not open to fresh applicants since 2022-23 | Up to Rs. 10,000 a year | Discontinued |
| Vanier Canada Graduate ScholarshipsGovernment of Canada, administered by CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC | Doctoral students nominated by a Canadian university (no longer open) | CAD 50,000 a year | 30 Oct 2024 Discontinued |
Questions students ask
Which scholarships for PhD scholars are open now?
Taking applications today: Financial Support to the Students of North Eastern Region for Higher Professional Courses (NEC Merit Scholarship) (till 30 Nov 2026); Gates Cambridge Scholarship (till 6 Jan 2027); State Horticulture Scholarship, Nagaland (till 31 Jan 2027); Felix Scholarship (till 26 Feb 2027).
How many scholarships are there for PhD scholars?
This directory has 39 scholarships (13 central government, 15 state government, 7 private and CSR, 1 university and institute, 3 study abroad) for the 2026-27 session, each written from its official page. New schemes are added as their notices come out.
Browse more scholarships
By state
Andaman and Nicobar Islands7Andhra Pradesh1Arunachal Pradesh5Assam2Bihar2Chhattisgarh1Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu4Delhi1Haryana2Himachal Pradesh2Jammu and Kashmir1Jharkhand5Karnataka2Kerala6Madhya Pradesh2Maharashtra26Manipur3Meghalaya1Nagaland7Odisha2Rajasthan1Tamil Nadu4Telangana3Uttar Pradesh1Uttarakhand4
By category
By course
Every scheme here has its own page written from its official notice and portal, with the sources listed at the end and the date they were checked. Amounts and dates change with each notification; the scheme's own portal is final.