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Can you apply for more than one NSP scholarship? (2026)

PM-USP renewals: students (closed) Oct312026 Passed

From academic year 2026-27 you may apply for one merit-based scheme and one or more welfare-based schemes, if you meet each scheme's rules. The official pages do not say how long an application takes. The student deadline for the two PM-USP renewals was 31 October 2026 and has now passed; no general deadline is stated.

Central Government Checked 2026-11-01 National Scholarship Portal (NSP)

Steps

  1. Click Apply For One Time Registration (OTR)
    This is on the home page. You need an OTR to apply for scholarships.
    Open this page
  2. Open Schemes on NSP
    Also on the home page.
  3. Read each scheme's rules
    Open the notice for each scheme and note who it is for.
  4. Click Apply For Scholarship
    Use it to start an application.
  5. Pick a scheme whose rules you meet
    Choose one from Schemes on NSP.
  6. Open Application Status
    Check the progress of each application you submit.
  7. After the last step
    Track each application under Application Status on the portal.
    The NSP OTR App is on the Google Play Store, if you want to get your OTR on your phone.
    If something goes wrong, use the NSP Helpdesk menu on the NSP home page.

Raju's example: choosing scholarship schemes

For example, Raju is a college student looking for scholarships for 2026–27. He finds 1 merit-based scheme and 2 welfare-based schemes whose eligibility rules he meets.

  1. Get his OTR Raju completes One Time Registration before applying.
  2. Choose a merit-based scheme He applies for 1 merit-based scheme whose rules he meets.
  3. Choose welfare-based schemes He also applies for 2 welfare-based schemes whose rules he m…
  4. Check progress He checks each application through Application Status.

Raju can submit these 3 applications. Applying does not guarantee that he will receive a scholarship.

The official rule: From academic year 2026–27, students may apply for one merit-based scholarship scheme and one or more welfare-based scholarship schemes, subject to each scheme's eligibility rules. OTR is required before applying.

Raju and his figures are an example; the rule is the official one.

What this is

From 2026-27 you may apply on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) for one merit-based scholarship and one or more welfare-based scholarships. Each scheme's own rules decide who qualifies. The notice does not explain the two types, so check the rules first.

Who this is for

Students who meet the rules of each scheme they choose.
Students who want to apply for more than one NSP scholarship scheme.
Meet the rules of each scheme you pick.

What you need

  • An OTR number. You can generate it using your Aadhaar or Aadhaar Enrolment number (EID).
  • Other documents are not listed on the official page.
The NSP home page fixes the Common Service Centre (CSC) charge at Rs 30.00 per candidate, inclusive of all applicable taxes. Pay only this official CSC charge; do not pay any other person.
The fee for applying on the portal itself is not stated on the pages checked.

What you can apply for from 2026-27

Needed first One Time Registration (OTR) Made once with your Aadhaar or EID; required since 2024-25.
Up to 1 One merit-based scheme Only if you meet that scheme's rules.
1 or more Welfare-based schemes Each one only if you meet its rules.
More than one is allowed Your NSP applications Check each scheme under Schemes on NSP before you apply.

Students may apply for one merit-based scholarship scheme and one or more welfare-based scholarship schemes from AY 2026–27, as per scheme eligibility criteria.

Where to find it

Home Announcements Open the official page

Which version this is for

National Scholarship Portal (NSP), academic year 2026-27
The rule is in the Announcements section of the portal home page. The screens after you log in could not be seen, so those steps are not confirmed.

If something goes wrong

Eligible for one scheme but not another?
Each scheme applies its own eligibility criteria. Apply only for schemes whose rules you meet.

Official help

NSP home page
NSP home page

Words used on this page

NSPNational Scholarship Portal, the government website for scholarship applications.
OTROne Time Registration. A unique 14-digit number, based on your Aadhaar or EID, used for NSP scholarships for your whole studies.
EIDAadhaar Enrolment ID, the number given when you enrol for Aadhaar.
Merit-basedA term used by NSP for one type of scholarship. The official notice does not define it.
Welfare-basedA term used by NSP for one type of scholarship. The official notice does not define it.
CSCCommon Service Centre. A local centre where NSP services are also offered, for a fixed charge of Rs 30.00.
AYAcademic Year, the school or college year, here 2026-27.
PM-USPThe short name NSP uses for 'PM-USP – Central Sector Scheme Of Scholarship For College And University Students (CSSS)'. The portal does not spell out the letters PM-USP.

Sources and how we checked

Last checked against the official source: 2026-11-01

Known limits

Read on 1 November 2026. We have not tested the steps ourselves; if a screen looks different, follow the official website.