Post Matric Scholarship for OBC/SEBC Students (Odisha) 2022‑23

The Post Matric Scholarship for OBC and SEBC students is a Government of Odisha scheme for students from these communities who continue their studies after Class 10. The ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department runs it. Students applying under this scheme apply through the department’s post-matric scholarship schemes for OBC and SEBC students. Applications go through the Odisha State Scholarship Portal, which replaced the older PRERANA portal for online applications from the academic year 2020-21.

The most recent official notices I could read are for 2021-22 and 2022-23. They set the family income limit at Rs. 2,50,000 a year for the parents or guardians, counted from all sources. They also require at least 50% marks in the previous examination. The official pages I could read do not give dates or amounts for 2026-27.

Some other websites give Rs. 1,50,000 as the OBC and SEBC income limit for 2026-27. I could not match that figure to an official document, so confirm the limit on the portal before you apply.

What you get

The official notices I could read do not state an amount for 2026-27 for OBC or SEBC students. An older department notice for 2011-12 listed maintenance rates by course group and by hostel or day scholar status. Those rates appear in a table for ST, SC, OBC and SEBC students, but they are more than a decade old. Check the portal for the rate that applies to your course.

Who can apply

• The applicant must belong to the OBC or SEBC community and be a permanent resident of Odisha.
• The student must continue post-matriculation studies in a general, technical or professional course at a Government or recognised private institution.
• Family income up to Rs. 2,50,000 a year, from all sources. The 2022-23 notice sets this ceiling for the parents or guardians.
• At least 50% marks in the previous examination. The 2021-22 notice applies the same marks rule to OBC and SEBC applicants.
• The official notices I could read do not set an age limit.

This scheme does not cover general category students. EBC students from the general category have a separate post-matric scholarship scheme on the same portal.

How to apply

1. Go to the Odisha State Scholarship Portal at scholarship.odisha.gov.in.
2. Register with your Aadhaar. A new ID is generated after Aadhaar authentication through OTP.
3. Check your name, gender and date of birth before you submit. These details are fetched from Aadhaar and cannot be edited on the form, so the Aadhaar record must be correct, including the spelling of your name and surname.
4. Get your caste and income certificates through the e-District Odisha portal. The notice advises this, especially for first-time applicants and students renewing in a new course, so that the checks can run automatically.
5. Choose fresh or renewal. The 2022-23 notice invited both renewal and fresh registrations on the portal.
6. Keep a working mobile number. The notice asks for an operative, active and unique mobile number, preferably one linked to WhatsApp.

Documents you need

The notices I could read name a caste certificate and an income certificate, both obtained through e-District Odisha. Under the scheme, payment is made only through Aadhaar-based payments, so your bank account must be linked to your Aadhaar. The official notices I could read do not give a full document list, so check the portal for the rest.

How students are selected

The official notices I could read do not describe how applications are ranked or how limited funds are shared. An older notice for 2011-12 said that sanctions for OBC and SEBC students were capped for each district, based on BPL population and the funds allotted by the Government of India. The later notices I could read do not repeat this rule.

Renewal

Renewal runs on the same state portal as fresh applications. The 2022-23 notice covered students renewing in the same course and students renewing in a new course. Renewing students must also meet the marks rule. The 2021-22 notice applies the 50% marks requirement to the previous examination.

Important dates

• 2022-23: Online registration on the state portal for OBC, SEBC and EBC students opened from 27 September 2022.
• 2026-27: the official pages I could read do not give the application window or the last date. Check scholarship.odisha.gov.in before you apply.