6 Big Scholarships 2026: Apply Class 10 to Professional Degree

School and college admissions are currently underway. Given the rising costs of higher education, applying for national and private scholarship programs is one of the best ways to secure financial support for your studies.
Multiple high-value scholarships are open for applications this month, catering to students from Class 9 to engineering, medical, nursing, pharmacy, and other professional degree programs. Below is a complete guide to six major scholarship opportunities available right now.

Top 6 Scholarship Opportunities in 2026

1. Cummins Scholarship

Designed to assist economically weaker students pursuing professional engineering degrees or diploma courses.

• Eligibility: Candidates must be enrolled in a professional engineering degree or diploma program and have scored at least 60% in previous exams. Maximum age is 25 years. Annual family income must not exceed ₹6 Lakh. Students must be studying in designated regions (such as Ahilya Nagar, Indore, Jamshedpur, Guna, Phaltan, Pune, Dharashiv, Vidisha, Osmanabad, or Ranchi).
• Benefits: Full tuition fee coverage, mentorship from industry experts, laptops, access to alumni networks, and continued support until completion with 60% marks.
• Selection: Aptitude test scheduled for October.

2. PM Yashasvi Scholarship

A government initiative catering specifically to students from OBC, EBC, and DNT categories to support education from school to college levels.

• Eligibility: Annual family income must not exceed ₹2.5 Lakh. Maximum two siblings per family can benefit. Requires enrolment in Top Class School schemes (Class 9–12) or full-time courses in Top Colleges.
• Benefits:
  • Class 9–10: Up to ₹75,000 annually.
  • Class 11–12: Up to ₹1.25 Lakh annually.
  • College Level: Up to ₹2 Lakh annually, plus ₹3,000 for living expenses and ₹5,000 for stationery.

3. IDFC FIRST Bank Scholarship

A dedicated engineering scholarship targeting deserving and meritorious students pursuing B.E. or B.Tech programs.

• Eligibility: Open to Indian citizens admitted to the first year of B.E./B.Tech programs (2026–30 batch) in empanelled colleges. Annual family income must be below ₹6 Lakh.
• Benefits: Up to ₹1 Lakh per year, totaling up to ₹4 Lakh across 4 years.
• Deadline: September 20, 2026.

4. Central Sector Scholarship

A scheme aimed at financially weak college students, reserving 50% of seats for female applicants, with direct bank transfer (DBT) disbursal.

• Eligibility: Class 12 board passed students within the 80th percentile rank of their stream. Enrolled in regular UG/PG courses in recognized colleges/institutions. Annual family income under ₹4.5 Lakh. Must not be receiving fee reimbursement from other schemes.
• Benefits:
  • UG (1st to 3rd year): ₹10,000 per year.
  • 4th Year (B.Tech, etc.): ₹20,000 per year.
  • 5th Year (Integrated/Professional): ₹20,000 per year.

5. Netflix-IICT Scholarship

Specialized support for 100 students and professionals pursuing studies in Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Creative Technologies.

• Eligibility: Enrolled in courses related to Animation, VFX, Gaming, or Creative Tech. Covers 1-year or 2-year diplomas and 6-month (4-certificate) programs at IICT. Available to working professionals as well.
• Benefits: Up to 80% course fee assistance along with industry-aligned technical training.

6. Mahindra EmpowerHer Scholarship

Designed to support economically disadvantaged female students across school and higher education levels.

• Eligibility: Female students in Class 9 to 12, or currently enrolled in UG/PG programs. Minimum 50% marks in the previous qualifying examination. Annual family income limit of ₹4 Lakh. Priority given to SC, ST, and OBC female candidates.
• Benefits: Financial grant of ₹5,500 lump sum.
• Deadline: September 21, 2026.

Required Documents for Scholarship Applications

Make sure you have the following essential documents ready before filling out online forms:

• Passport-size Photograph
• Government-issued Identity Proof (Aadhaar Card, etc.)
• Admission Proof / College Allotment Letter
• Marksheets of Previous Qualifying Exams
• Income Certificate issued by competent authority
• Caste Certificate (if applicable for SC/ST/OBC/EBC/DNT categories)