Scholarships for Medical Students in India: A Complete List
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Even a government medical college seat in India comes with real ongoing costs once you account for hostel fees, textbooks, clinical equipment, and living expenses, and a private MBBS seat can run into tens of lakhs over the full course. Scholarships will not replace a NEET rank, but for a student who already holds an admission seat, they can meaningfully reduce that financial burden. This list brings together the scholarship options that are genuinely open to MBBS and other medical students in India right now, organised by who is offering them, so you can quickly check which ones you actually qualify for.
Central Government Scholarships (Apply via the National Scholarship Portal)
Most central government scholarships relevant to medical students are administered through a single common portal, the National Scholarship Portal. Rather than applying separately to each ministry, you register once, complete your One Time Registration and Aadhaar e-KYC, and then apply to whichever specific scheme you are eligible for.
Table
| Scheme | Who runs it | Typical annual amount |
|---|---|---|
| Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship (CSSS) for College and University Students | Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education | Roughly ₹10,000–₹12,000 for years 1–3 of a professional course, rising to roughly ₹20,000 for years 4 and 5 |
| Post-Matric Scholarship for SC Students | Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment | Covers tuition, admission and specified fees, plus a maintenance allowance; amount varies by course and state |
| Post-Matric Scholarship for OBC, EBC and DNT Students | Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment / State nodal departments | Similar structure to the SC scheme, with MBBS specifically listed as an eligible professional course |
| Post-Matric Scholarship for ST Students | Ministry of Tribal Affairs | Covers tuition and maintenance allowance for ST students in professional courses including MBBS |
| Central Sector Scholarship for the wards of ex-servicemen and ex-coast guard personnel | Kendriya Sainik Board, Ministry of Defence | A fixed monthly stipend for children of ex-servicemen and ex-coast guard personnel pursuing professional degrees |
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For the Central Sector Scheme specifically, eligibility generally requires scoring in the top 20 percent, referred to as the 80th percentile, of your Class 12 board in your stream, along with a family income cap that has varied between roughly 4.5 lakh and 6 lakh rupees across different notification years, so always check the current year's exact figure on the portal rather than an older reference. Around 82,000 fresh scholarships are awarded each year under this scheme nationally, split equally between male and female students, and it can be renewed annually through the course provided you maintain the required minimum marks and attendance.
The Post-Matric schemes for SC, ST, OBC, EBC and DNT students work slightly differently, since they are structured around covering course fees directly in addition to a maintenance allowance, and MBBS is explicitly listed as an example of an eligible professional course under the current guidelines. Because eligibility, income limits and disbursed amounts for these schemes are revised periodically and can also vary by state nodal department, treat the figures above as a general guide and confirm exact numbers on the National Scholarship Portal before applying.
PSU and Corporate Foundation Scholarships
Several public sector companies and corporate foundations run scholarship programmes specifically open to, or inclusive of, MBBS students, funded through their CSR budgets. These generally run outside the NSP portal, with their own separate application windows.
- ONGC Foundation Scholarship: open to first-year students in Engineering, MBBS, MBA, and Geology or Geophysics from SC, ST, OBC and General EWS backgrounds, offering roughly Rs 48,000 per year, renewable annually through the course, with 50 percent of awards reserved for female students and applications organised by geographic zone
- GSK Scholars Programme, run in partnership with the Foundation for Excellence (FFE): specifically for first-year MBBS students at government medical colleges from financially constrained backgrounds, offering financial assistance of up to roughly Rs 1,00,000 per year for up to 4.5 years to cover academic expenses
- SBI Foundation Asha Scholarship: runs a dedicated medical category for MBBS students meeting income and institution requirements, with support reported at up to roughly Rs 4.5 lakh per year in recent cycles, though exact figures and eligibility should be confirmed on the current scholarship notification
- Other CSR-funded professional course scholarships from banks and PSUs periodically open applications to MBBS students alongside engineering and management students; checking a consolidated scholarship listing platform each admission cycle is the most reliable way to catch these as they open
State Government Scholarships and Fee Reimbursement
Beyond the central schemes, most state governments run their own scholarship or fee reimbursement programmes for medical students, and these can be more generous than central schemes for students who meet a state's specific category and income conditions.
- Gujarat's Mukhyamantri Yuva Swavalamban Yojana (MYSY) supports meritorious students, including those in professional courses, through the state's own digital scholarship portal
- Tamil Nadu offers fee reimbursement for government-school students admitted to medical and dental courses through the state's 7.5 percent preferential admission quota, administered by the state's Backward Classes and Most Backward Classes Welfare Department
- Madhya Pradesh runs state and centrally sponsored scholarships for SC and ST students at its government medical colleges, generally covering tuition fully at government rates, applied for through the state's dedicated scholarship portal
- Most other states, including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and West Bengal, maintain their own state scholarship portals with category and income-based schemes that can apply to MBBS students; since state schemes change frequently, check your own state's scholarship or social welfare department portal directly for the current year's scheme list
College-Specific and Institutional Scholarships
A number of individual medical colleges also run their own internal scholarship or fee-waiver schemes, separate from any government scheme, funded through alumni trusts, welfare societies, or the institution's own budget. These are worth checking directly on your specific college's website once you have an admission seat, since they are not listed on any single national portal.
- Some centrally administered institutes run merit-cum-means scholarships for undergraduate students through their own alumni association trusts, disbursed as a fixed annual amount to selected students based on academic merit and financial need
- Armed forces-affiliated medical colleges frequently run their own welfare society scholarships for wards of serving and retired personnel, on top of any central government scheme the student may separately qualify for
- Several state government medical colleges extend additional state-specific SC, ST and OBC scholarship coverage directly through their own administration, layered on top of the central Post-Matric scheme
- It is worth emailing your college's dean's office or student welfare cell directly after admission to ask specifically what institutional scholarships exist, since many of these are not actively advertised and depend on the student applying rather than being automatically considered
Documents You Will Typically Need
- Aadhaar card linked to an active bank account in your own name
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and passing certificates
- NEET UG scorecard and college admission or bonafide certificate
- Income certificate issued by a competent authority such as a Tehsildar or Revenue Officer
- Category certificate (SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS) in the format specified by the particular scheme, where applicable
- Bank passbook copy or cancelled cheque for direct benefit transfer verification
- Passport-size photographs meeting the specific portal's size and format requirements
How to Apply: A General Step-by-Step Process
- Identify which schemes you are eligible for based on your category, family income, state, and year of study, rather than applying blindly to every scheme you come across
- For central government schemes, complete One Time Registration (OTR) on the National Scholarship Portal, including Aadhaar e-KYC verification
- Fill in academic, personal, income and bank account details accurately, since mismatches are one of the most common reasons applications get rejected
- Upload all required documents in the specified format and size limits exactly as instructed on the portal
- Submit the application well before the deadline, since your college or university must also verify your details online before the application is finalised, and this verification step can take time
- For PSU, corporate or state-specific schemes, apply directly on that scheme's own official portal, since these generally run independently of the National Scholarship Portal
- Track your application status regularly and respond promptly to any correction requests from your institution's nodal officer
Common Mistakes That Get Applications Rejected
- Applying for multiple major scholarships simultaneously when a scheme's own rules explicitly disallow holding another active scholarship at the same time
- Submitting an income certificate that has expired or was issued in the wrong format for that particular scheme
- Missing the institutional verification step, since an application that is not verified by the college's nodal officer within the window is typically rejected regardless of eligibility
- Using a bank account not linked to Aadhaar, which blocks the direct benefit transfer even after an application is otherwise approved
- Assuming last year's income cap or amount still applies without checking the current year's official notification
Related Resources
The links below are grouped for reference. Internal links point to CaderaEdu predictor tools and individual medical college profiles, several of which mention their own scholarship provisions; external links point to official government and foundation scholarship portals.
- NEET College Predictor
- NEET PG College Predictor
- AIIMS New Delhi
- AIIMS Mangalagiri
- AIIMS Nagpur
- Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi
- Government Medical College, Buldhana
- Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Bhubaneswar
- Army College of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
- Bundelkhand Medical College, Sagar
- Mahatma Gandhi Mission Medical College, Navi Mumbai
- Bhagwan Mahavir Institute of Medical Sciences, Pawapuri
- Surat Municipal Institute of Medical Education & Research (SMIMER), Surat
- CaderaEdu Homepage
- College Compare Tool
- College Predictor Tool
Official Resources
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the main scholarship portal for MBBS students in India?
Most central government scholarships relevant to MBBS students, including the Central Sector Scheme and the Post-Matric scholarships for SC, ST, OBC, EBC and DNT students, are applied for through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in). PSU, corporate and state-specific scholarships generally run on their own separate portals.
Can a private medical college MBBS student get government scholarships?
Some central and state schemes are open to students regardless of whether they are in a government or private college, while a few, such as the GSK Scholars Programme, are specifically restricted to government medical college students. Always check the specific eligibility criteria of each scheme rather than assuming private college students are excluded.
Is there a scholarship specifically for MBBS students, or only general professional-course scholarships?
Both exist. Some schemes, like the GSK Scholars Programme, are MBBS-specific. Others, like the Central Sector Scheme and the ONGC Foundation Scholarship, are broader professional-course scholarships that include MBBS alongside engineering, MBA and other courses.
What is the income limit for most MBBS scholarships in India?
Income limits vary by scheme and are revised periodically, but many major schemes cap eligibility somewhere between roughly 4.5 lakh and 8 lakh rupees in annual family income. Always check the exact current-year limit on the scheme's own official notification rather than relying on a previous year's figure.
Can I hold more than one scholarship at the same time?
Generally, no. Most major scholarship schemes explicitly require that you are not simultaneously receiving another major scholarship, and holding two active awards at once is one of the most common reasons applications get cancelled during verification.
Do individual medical colleges offer their own scholarships beyond government schemes?
Yes. Many medical colleges, particularly those affiliated with alumni trusts, welfare societies, or specific institutional funds, run their own additional scholarship or fee-waiver schemes. These are usually not listed on national scholarship portals, so it is worth checking directly with your college's administration after admission.
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