B.Sc Agriculture Scholarships 2026 in India: ICAR, Govt & State Schemes

B.Sc Agriculture students in India can access a wide range of scholarships in 2026 – the flagship being the ICAR National Talent Scholarship (NTS-UG) worth Rs 3,000 per month, alongside central Post-Matric scholarships for SC/ST/OBC students, the Central Sector Scheme for top Class 12 performers, and dozens of state agricultural university and private trust schemes. Most of these merit-based and means-tested awards are applied for through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in), and together they can cover a meaningful share of your tuition and living costs.

This page lists the major B.Sc Agriculture scholarships for 2026 – who is eligible, how much each pays, and where to apply. For the full course picture, see our B.Sc Agriculture complete guide, and use these awards to offset the tuition detailed in our B.Sc Agriculture fees breakdown.

B.Sc Agriculture Scholarships 2026: Quick Overview

The main scholarships for B.Sc Agriculture students fall into four buckets – ICAR/national talent awards, category-based Post-Matric scholarships, central merit schemes, and state agricultural university schemes. The table below summarises the flagship options.

Amounts are indicative ranges compiled from official portals and vary by year, category and state; always confirm on the scheme’s official notification.

1. ICAR National Talent Scholarship (NTS-UG)

The ICAR National Talent Scholarship is the single most recognised award for B.Sc Agriculture students, paying Rs 3,000 per month for the full duration of the degree. It is designed to encourage students to study at an agricultural university located outside their state of domicile.

Eligibility

• Admitted to an ICAR-recognised agricultural university through the all-India entrance route (historically AIEEA, now the CUET-UG / ICAR admission process).
• Studying in a university outside your home state.
• Maintaining satisfactory academic performance and good conduct; the award is renewed year on year on that basis.
• Recipients must study full-time and cannot take up paid employment during the scholarship.

Applications are typically made through the National Scholarship Portal, with a deadline around February each year. Because the award is tied to studying out of state, it pairs naturally with the all-India admission route explained in our B.Sc Agriculture admission 2026 guide.

2. Post-Matric Scholarships for SC, ST and OBC Students

Post-Matric Scholarships are the largest category-based support for B.Sc Agriculture students from SC, ST and OBC backgrounds, covering maintenance allowance and, in many cases, tuition reimbursement. They are administered centrally and applied for on scholarships.gov.in.

Income limits and exact amounts are revised periodically and can differ by state; verify on the National Scholarship Portal or your state social-welfare department.

These schemes are means-tested, so the actual benefit depends on your college’s fee structure and your family income. Since agriculture is a science-stream degree, students exploring options can also browse B.Sc colleges in India and wider top Science colleges in India to compare fees before deciding where these scholarships stretch furthest.

3. Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships (CSSS)

The Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships for College and University Students rewards high Class 12 performers who continue to a degree such as B.Sc Agriculture, paying Rs 12,000 per year at the undergraduate level. It is merit-based with an income ceiling.

Key Points

• Open to students in roughly the top percentile of their Class 12 board, within a defined family-income limit.
• Paid for the duration of the degree, subject to maintaining a minimum aggregate each year.
• Applied for through the National Scholarship Portal, usually in the October to December window.
• Cannot normally be combined with another scholarship covering the same expenses.

4. Merit-cum-Means and Minority Scholarships

Merit-cum-Means scholarships from the Ministry of Minority Affairs support students from notified minority communities pursuing professional and technical courses, including agriculture, by covering part of the course fee plus a maintenance allowance. Eligibility combines an academic minimum (a qualifying aggregate in the previous exam) with a family-income ceiling.

Several private trusts and foundations also run merit-cum-means awards for agriculture and science students. These are worth checking alongside the government schemes, as they often have separate, later deadlines.

5. State Agricultural University and State Government Scholarships

Almost every state agricultural university runs its own scholarships and stipends for enrolled B.Sc Agriculture students, on top of the state’s Post-Matric schemes. These are usually the easiest to access because you apply directly through the university.

• State Agricultural Universities such as ANGRAU (Andhra Pradesh), PAU (Punjab), GBPUAT (Uttarakhand), TNAU (Tamil Nadu) and others offer merit scholarships, need-based fee concessions and stipends for toppers.
• State Post-Matric schemes supplement central SC/ST/OBC scholarships and are applied for on the respective state scholarship portals.
• Farmer-family and rural-quota concessions are available at some universities for students from agricultural households.

Check your specific university’s website each academic year, as amounts and eligibility differ widely.

How to Apply for B.Sc Agriculture Scholarships

Most central and state government scholarships are applied for online through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in), while university and private-trust awards use their own forms. A typical application requires:

• Class 10 and 12 mark sheets and your latest college mark sheet
• College admission proof / bonafide certificate
• Income certificate (for means-tested schemes)
• Caste/category certificate (for SC/ST/OBC/minority schemes)
• Aadhaar, bank account details and a recent photograph
• Domicile certificate (for state and out-of-state schemes like ICAR NTS)

Scholarships help offset costs, but your long-term return depends on career outcomes – see our guides on B.Sc Agriculture salary in India and government jobs after B.Sc Agriculture to plan ahead.

Tips to Maximise Your Scholarship Chances

• Apply early – portals often close before the announced date once funds are exhausted.
• Keep your academic performance above the renewal cut-off; most schemes require a minimum aggregate each year.
• Do not apply to two schemes covering the same expense – overlapping claims can lead to cancellation.
• Prefer studying at an ICAR-recognised university outside your home state if you want to qualify for the NTS-UG award.
• Track both central (NSP) and state portals, plus your university notice board, so you do not miss university-specific stipends.

Explore more on FindMyCollege

Related pages for B.Sc in Agriculture aspirants on findmycollege.com:

• BSC colleges in India
• top Science colleges in India
• B.Sc in Agriculture overview
• Admission 2026
• Fees
• Syllabus
• Salary
• Scope & Career

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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