Karnataka Class 10 scholarships: Apply by September 30, 2026

Scholarship applications for students in Class 10 across India for the Academic Year 2026-27 are currently open, with various pre-matric schemes offered by central and state governments, as well as private organisations and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes. These scholarships aim to support the education of disadvantaged students, reduce drop-out rates, and support their progression to post-matric education.

The National Scholarship Portal (NSP) has been active for applications since June 1, 2026, for the current academic year. Students are required to complete a One Time Registration (OTR) on the NSP, a mandate since Academic Year 2024-25, to apply for these schemes. In Karnataka, the State Scholarship Portal (SSP) is also accepting applications, with several departmental deadlines approaching.

Application Process and Key Deadlines

Students seeking scholarships for the 2026-27 academic year must navigate specific application procedures depending on the scheme and state. For central schemes, the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) serves as the primary application route. In Karnataka, the State Scholarship Portal (SSP) is the unified platform for pre-matric and post-matric scholarships, developed by the Center for e-Governance.

A crucial step for OBC, SC, and ST students in Karnataka is to first complete a One-Time Registration (OTR) on the NSP to obtain an NSP ID, which is then used for applying through the SSP. The SSP portal has been noted to experience heavy traffic as deadlines approach, and students are advised to apply 3-4 weeks in advance to account for potential delays in OTP delivery or document uploads. All income and caste certificates submitted for SSP scholarships in Karnataka must include a valid RD Number issued by competent state authorities; certificates lacking this number are automatically rejected by the portal. The total charge for scholarship-related services at Common Service Centres (CSCs) is fixed at Rs 30.00 per candidate.

Key deadlines for SSP scholarships for the 2026-27 academic year are detailed below:

Eligibility Criteria for Pre-Matric Schemes

Eligibility for pre-matric scholarships varies by scheme and category. The Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Castes & Others, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, has specific requirements. For Component 1 of this scheme, applicable to SC students studying full-time in Class 9 and 10, the parents’/guardians’ annual income must not exceed Rs. 2.50 lakh. For Component 2, which supports children of parents/guardians engaged in unclean and hazardous occupations, there is no family income ceiling, and students from Class 1 to 10 studying full-time are eligible.

For the Pre-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities, applicants must have a 40 percent disability and be enrolled in Class 9 or 10. The National Means Cum Merit Scholarship (NMMS) is available for renewal in Class 10 for students who cleared a state exam in Class 8. The HDFC Parivartan ECSS programme supports children from Class 1 up to college. From Academic Year 2026–27, students are permitted to apply for one merit-based scholarship scheme and one or more welfare-based scholarship schemes.

Specific income limits for Karnataka’s SSP scholarships vary by category and class level:

Scholarship Amounts and State-Specific Schemes

The scholarship amounts provided under various pre-matric schemes differ based on the component and whether the student is a day scholar or a hosteller. For the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Castes & Others (effective from 2022-23), Component 1 offers Rs. 3500 per annum for day scholars and Rs. 8000 per annum for hostellers. Component 2 provides Rs. 7000 per annum for day scholars and Rs. 8000 per annum for hostellers (for classes III-X).

Several states also offer their own pre-matric scholarship schemes. In Rajasthan, specific pre-matric scholarships are available for SC, ST, and OBC students in Classes 9 and 10, for both girls and boys. Additionally, Rajasthan provides scholarships for children of those engaged in occupations involving cleaning and prone to health hazards, covering Classes 1 to 10 for all categories. Students moving from Class 10 into PUC in Karnataka are required to apply freshly on the Post-Matric portal.

A summary of government scholarships for Class 10 students, including approximate support, is provided below:

Steps for Application and Important Considerations

To apply for scholarships on the National Scholarship Portal, students must first log in to the UDID portal and provide consent to share their UDID details. Next, they should verify their Biometric Lock / Unlock status using the mAadhaar mobile app or My Aadhaar web portal, ensuring it is ‘Unlocked’ before proceeding with face authentication through the NSP OTR app. For Karnataka-specific scholarships, OBC, SC, and ST students must complete a One-Time Registration (OTR) on NSP to obtain an NSP ID, which is then used to apply through the SSP.

Students are advised to apply 3-4 weeks before their department’s last date to allow sufficient time for any necessary corrections or re-submissions. The SSP portal’s distinction between pre-matric and post-matric applications is important; students transitioning from Class 10 to PUC must apply afresh on the separate Post-Matric portal in Karnataka. The National Scholarship Portal is the official portal for central government schemes, while state-specific portals like SSP in Karnataka manage state-run programs.

Further reading

• Class 10 scholarships 2026-27: NSP, SSP open for pre-matric schemes, apply by September 30
• Karnataka Class 7 Mid-Term: Download answer keys after September 30, 2026
• Karnataka MSc Nursing 2026 applications open: apply by 26 September
• Karnataka M.Sc Nursing 2026: Apply online in September
• Karnataka Class 8 mid-term exam 2026-27 from September 23; question papers available after each subject

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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