Merit Based Scholarships 2022: Merit Scholarship offers financial support to the meritorious students for fulfilling their career in life. The merit-based scholarships estimate the student’s merit based on their academic records or performance in scholarship exams. Many government or private organizations offer merit scholarships for encouraging students to pursue higher education. Read the article below to know the complete information about National Merit Scholarship for degree students, and Merit Scholarship for Intermediate.
Students can also find more Scholarship Articles for 12th passed, 10th passed Students and many more.
List of Government Funded Merit Scholarships
The National Merit Scholarships which have been implemented by the State Government or Central Government comes under the Government Funded Scholarships. The State Scholarships are awarded to needy outstanding students of a particular state. Whereas the Central Government Scholarships are awarded to the needy outstanding students across the country. Refer below merit scholarship list of some of the top Merit Scholarships funded by either the State or the Central Government.
| Scholarship Name | Date | Conducting Body | |
| INSPIRE Scholarship | October/ December | Ministry of Science and Technology, GOI | |
| KVPY – Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana | July/August | Department of Science and Technology, GOI | |
| NTSE Scholarship | September | NCERT | |
| NEC Scholarship – Merit Scholarship, Tripura | April | Directorate of Higher Education, Govt of Tripura | |
| Medhabruti Scholarship | January | Govt of Odisha | |
| Swami Vivekananda Merit cum Means Scholarship | September | Govt of West Bengal | |
| UGC Merit Scholarship – PG Merit Scholarship for University Rank Holders | March | University Grants Commission | |
INSPIRE Scholarship
INSPIRE Scholarship is a government scholarship that offers financial support to meritorious students for higher education. Students studying Bachelor and Master degrees in Natural & Basic Sciences are eligible for this scholarship. Around 10000 merit scholarships are disbursed every year under this scholarship. The scholarship awarded for a maximum duration of 5 years if the selected scholar shows good academic performance every year. The application for this scholarship will be submitted online.
Eligibility
- Students must be within the top 1% of aggregate marks in class 12th board examination.
- Students must be pursuing B.Sc. or Integrated M.Sc. in Natural and Basic Sciences.
- Students must be within the top 10000 rankers of NEET, JEE-Mains, or JEE-Advance and will choose for Natural & Basic Sciences.
- Students who have admitted to DAE-CBS, NTSE, IISER, KVPY, JBNSTS, NISER & Science Olympiad medallists choosing for Natural & Basic Sciences are also eligible.
- The student’s age group must be within 17 to 22 years.
Reward: Each selected student will be awarded the amount of Rs. 80,000/- per annum.
Application Deadline: The deadline for submitting the INSPIRE Scholarship application is October/December every year.
Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY) Scholarship
Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY) is a government-funded National Merit Scholarship. It offers scholarship amount along with a contingency grant to meritorious students who are studying in class 11 & 12 or 1st year of B.Sc/BS/BStat/BMath or Integrated M.Sc course in Basic Sciences. Students have to go through an aptitude test and interview rounds before the final selection for this scholarship.
Eligibility
- Class 11 & 12 students must have secured at least 75% marks in Maths & Science subjects in the 10th class examination.
- 2nd-year students studying in Cambridge International exam board are eligible. These students must have secured at least 75% marks in Maths & Science subjects in the 10th class exam.
- Students studying in 1st-year of B.Sc or B.Stat or B.Math or Integrated M.Sc or MS of Basic Science related subjects. These students should have secured at least 60% marks in Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology in the 12th class board exam.
- SC/ST/PWD students have given a relaxation of 10% in marks.
Reward
- Each selected student will be awarded the amount of Rs. 5000/- per month during the 1st to 3rd year of B.Sc/BS/B.Stat/ B.Math/ Integrated M.Sc/MS courses. Whereas the contingency grant of Rs. 20,000 per annum will also be awarded to the selected students.
- Each selected student will be awarded the amount of Rs. 7000/- during the 4th & 5th years of Integrated M.Sc/MS/M.Math/ M.Stat courses. Whereas a contingency grant of Rs. 28,000 per annum will also be awarded to the selected students.
Application Deadline: The deadline for submitting the KVPY Scholarship application is July/August every year.
NTSE Scholarship
This is a National Talent Search Examination conducted by NCERT for class 10th students. It has conducted at two stages, i.e., State and National. Around 1000 scholarships awarded to qualified talented students under this scholarship. NCERT organizes this scholarship to offer financial support to talented students up to the doctoral level of their studies.
Eligibility
- Students studying in the 10th class from a recognized school.
- Students studying in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) education are also eligible.
Reward
- Selected students will be awarded the scholarship amount of Rs. 1250 per month at 11th & 12th class level.
- UG & PG level students will be awarded the scholarship amount of Rs. 2000 per month.
- Ph.D. level students will be awarded the scholarship amount as per UGC norms.
Application Deadline: The deadline for submitting the NTSE Scholarship application is September.
NEC Merit-Based Scholarship
This is one of the top Merit Scholarship funded by the government. This scholarship offers financial support to the meritorious students of Tripura. Students who are pursuing professional/ technical/ management/M.Phil/ Ph.D. courses within or outside North-East can apply for this scholarship. Students can apply online for this scholarship through the National Scholarship Portal.
Eligibility
- Students must be a domicile of Tripura state.
- Students must have secured at least 70% of marks in the last qualifying exam for diploma/degree/PG/M.Phil and Ph.D. courses.
- Students must have secured at least 60% of marks in the last qualifying exam for diploma/degree/PG/M.Phil and Ph.D. courses.
- The student’s family income must not be more than 4.5 Lakh per annum.
- Students must not be availing any other scholarship from any other sources.
Reward
- The shortlisted candidates will receive a scholarship amount of Rs. 20,000 per annum for diploma level courses.
- The shortlisted candidates will receive a scholarship amount of 22,000 per annum for degree level courses.
- The shortlisted candidates will receive a scholarship amount of Rs. 25,000 per annum for PG courses.
- Whereas the scholarship amount of Rs. 30,000 per annum will be received for M.Phil/Ph.D. courses.
Application Deadline: The deadline for submitting the NEC Merit-Based Scholarship application is April.
Medhabruti Scholarship
This is a Merit Scholarship funded by the Odisha state government. This Scholarship initiated to offer financial support to meritorious students of Odisha for pursuing higher education in general, technical and professional courses.
Eligibility
- Students must be a domicile of Odisha state.
- Students must have secured at least 60% marks in the previous examination.
- The student’s family income must not be more than 6 Lakh per annum.
Reward
- The shortlisted candidates will receive a scholarship amount of Rs. 10,000 at the Junior level.
- The shortlisted candidates will receive a scholarship amount of Rs. 3000 at the Senior level.
- The shortlisted candidates will receive a scholarship amount of Rs. 1500 at the PG level
- The scholarship amount of Rs.10,000 will be awarded for the technical/professional courses.
Application Deadline: The deadline for submitting the Medhabruti Scholarship application is January.
Swami Vivekananda Merit Cum Means Scholarship
This is a Merit Cum Means Scholarship offers financial support to meritorious and needy students of minority communities. This scholarship is available for the students of West Bengal studying in 11th class up to the doctoral level.
Eligibility
- Students must be a domicile of West Bengal state.
- Students should be studying in West Bengal.
- Students studying higher secondary/diploma/UG level must have secured at least 75% marks in class 10 & 12th.
- Students studying PG level must have secured at least 53% marks in graduation in general studies. But, 55% of marks in engineering studies.
- The student’s family income must not be more than 2.5 Lakh per annum.
Reward: The selected students will be awarded the scholarship amount of Rs. 8000 per month.
Application Deadline: The deadline for submitting this scholarship application is September.
UGC Merit Scholarship
This scholarship offers financial support to rank holders of undergraduate courses. Students registered in a master’s degree at a recognized college/university can apply for this scholarship. Students who are less than 30 years of age can apply for this scholarship. Students who are pursuing their first postgraduate degree are eligible for this scholarship. Students studying a postgraduate degree through distance mode cannot apply for this scholarship.
Eligibility
- First or second rank holders at UG level are eligible.
- Students must be registered in a full-time PG degree.
- Students must have completed graduation in Life Sciences/Physical Sciences/Chemical Sciences/Commerce, etc.
- The student’s age must not be more than 30 years.
Reward: The selected students will be awarded the scholarship amount of Rs. 3100 per month for two years.
Application Deadline: The deadline for submitting the UGC Merit Scholarship application is March.
Private Funded Merit Scholarships
Private Funded Merit Scholarships are funded by corporates, NGOs, Trusts, and other organizations. Some of these scholarships awarded to needy students of a particular area. Whereas some offered to needy students from all over India. Refer below the list of some of the top Merit Scholarship in India funded by private organizations.
| Scholarship Name | Tentative Date | Conducting Body | |
| Aditya Birla World Academy Scholarship | July/August | Aditya Birla World Academy | |
| Dhirubhai Ambani Scholarship | August | Reliance Foundation | |
| Atul Maheshwari Scholarship | August | Amar Ujala Foundation | |
| Fair and Lovely Scholarship | October | Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) | |
| AKANKSHA Scholarship | December/ January | DLF Foundation | |
Aditya Birla World Academy Scholarship
Aditya Birla World Academy Scholarship is a National Merit Scholarship funded by the corporate. This scholarship offers financial support to students who are studying in the 11th class (IB DP or A-Level) in Aditya Birla World Academy. Outside students can also apply for this scholarship if they are seeking admission in the 11th class (IB DP or A-Level). But, they have to fill the ‘Application for Admission’ and ‘Aditya Birla World Academy Merit Scholarship Application Form’.
Eligibility
- Students who are studying in the 11th Class (IB DP or A-Level) in Aditya Birla World Academy.
- Students who are seeking admission in the 11th Class (IB DP or A-Level) in Aditya Birla World Academy.
Reward: The selected students will receive the full tuition fee as the scholarship benefit.
Application Deadline: The Deadline for Submitting this Scholarship Application is July/August.
Dhirubhai Ambani Scholarship
Dhirubhai Ambani Scholarship is one of the top National Merit Scholarship initiated by the Reliance Foundation. This scholarship offers financial support to class 12th pass out meritorious students. This scholarship is available for those students who want to pursue a graduate degree in specific courses. These courses are science, pharmacy, medical, business management, engineering, law, and other social sciences.
Eligibility
- Class 12th pass out students who are in the merit list of the respective state board or CBSE board.
Reward
- The scholarship amount of Rs. 36,000 per annum will be awarded to engineering students throughout their course.
- The scholarship amount of Rs. 40,000 per annum will be awarded to medical students throughout their course.
Application Deadline: The Deadline for Submitting the Dhirubhai Ambani Scholarship Application is August.
Atul Maheshwari Scholarship
Atul Maheshwari Scholarship is a Merit Cum Means Scholarship. This scholarship offers financial support to the students of class 9th to 12th.
Eligibility
- Class 9th to 12th students who have secured at least 60% of marks in the previous exam.
- The student’s family income must not be more than 1 Lakh per annum.
Reward
- The scholarship amount of Rs. 30,000 will be awarded to 18 students of class 9th to 10th.
- Whereas the scholarship amount of Rs. 50,000 will be awarded to 18 students of class 11th to 12th.
Application Deadline: The Deadline for Submitting the Atul Maheshwari Scholarship Application is August.
Fair and Lovely Scholarship
Fair and Lovely is a National Merit Scholarship. This scholarship offers financial support to Girl students who are within the age limit of 15 to 30 years. Around 55 Girl students selected for the disbursal of Fair and Lovely scholarship.
Eligibility
- Students must be only girls.
- The student’s age must be within 15 to 30 years.
- Class 12th pass out students are eligible.
- Students must be secured at least 60% of marks in class 10th and 12th board exams.
- The student’s family income must not be more than 6 Lakh per annum.
Reward: The one-time scholarship amount of Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 50,000 will be awarded to each student.
Application Deadline: The Deadline for Submitting the Fair and Lovely Scholarship Application is October.
AKANKSHA Scholarship
AKANKSHA Scholarship is one of the Merit Scholarship initiated by the DLF Foundation. This scholarship offers financial support to meritorious students of the first-year undergraduate or postgraduate degrees. This scholarship is available for the first-year students of Paramedics, CS/CA /ICWA, LLB, BBA, B.Tech, MBBS, M.Tech, MBA, Hotel Management, and Mass Communication. Students who are seeking admission to Ivy League colleges are also considered for this scholarship.
Eligibility
- Meritorious students studying in a UGC/NAAC approved college.
- The student’s family income must not be more than 5 Lakh per annum.
- Exceptions will be made in case of exemplary academic performance by students if their family income falls within 5-8 Lakh per annum.
Reward: The scholarship amount of Rs. 50,000 per annum will be awarded until the completion of the study. So that the student fulfills all the academic criteria every year of the course.
Application Deadline: The Deadline for Submitting the AKANKSHA Scholarship Application is December/January.
FAQ’s on Merit Scholarship
Question 1.
What is Merit Scholarship?
Answer:
Merit Scholarship estimates the student’s merit based on their academic records or performance in scholarship exams.
Question 2.
Who offers Merit Scholarships?
Answer:
Many government or private organizations offer merit scholarships for encouraging students to pursue higher education.
Question 3.
What are the Government Funded Merit Scholarships?
Answer:
The National Merit Scholarships which have implemented by the State Government or Central Government comes under the Government Funded Scholarships.
Question 4.
What are the Private Funded Merit Scholarships?
Answer:
The Private Funded Merit Scholarships are funded by corporates, NGOs, Trusts, and other organizations.
Question 5.
What is the State or Central Government Scholarship?
Answer:
The State Scholarships are awarded to needy outstanding students of a particular state. Whereas the Central Government Scholarships are awarded to the needy outstanding students across the country.
Hope this article will help you to know more about Merit Scholarship. For any queries related to Merit Scholarship, leave it in the comment box.