Scholarships for West Bengal Students 2026-27: NSP and State Portals Explained
Which scholarship portal applies, the National Scholarship Portal dates for 2026-27, and the status of the state schemes after the May 2026 changes.
01Two Routes for Scholarships
Scholarships for a student in West Bengal come through two channels. The National Scholarship Portal (NSP) at scholarships.gov.in carries central and some state schemes. West Bengal runs its own portals for state schemes such as the Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means Scholarship, Aikyashree and Oasis.
02NSP Dates for 2026-27
| Step | Last date |
|---|---|
| Student application | 31 October 2026 |
| Institute verification | 15 November 2026 |
| L2 (nodal) verification | 30 November 2026 |
The NSP opened for 2026-27 on 1 June 2026. A news report of 30 September 2026 says the pre-matric deadline was extended from 30 September to 31 October. Some states set their own verification dates, so the college or school should confirm the local date.
03NSP Rules to Know
- A student can apply for one merit-based scheme and one or more welfare-based schemes.
- One-Time Registration (OTR) is available through the NSP OTR app.
- Aadhaar face authentication and eKYC are required. If face authentication fails, the Aadhaar biometric lock should be set to “Unlocked” in mAadhaar or My Aadhaar. Error 904 means the UIDAI AadhaarFACERD app needs an update.
- Payment goes to an Aadhaar-seeded bank account whose seeding status shows “Active”. Bank details are no longer captured on the portal.
- Help at a Common Service Centre costs a fixed ₹30 per candidate.
04Income Limits Seen in 2026-27 Notices
| Scheme | Family income limit |
|---|---|
| PM-YASASVI | ₹2.5 lakh |
| Top Class, SC | ₹8 lakh |
| Top Class, ST | ₹6 lakh |
| Top Class, students with disabilities | ₹8 lakh |
| Post-matric for persons with disabilities | ₹2.5 lakh |
05West Bengal State Schemes
- Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means (SVMCM): portal svmcm.wbhed.gov.in. Reported terms are family income up to ₹2.5 lakh and minimum marks of 60% for higher secondary and undergraduate courses, with about ₹12,000 to ₹96,000 a year. No official 2026-27 window was found.
- Aikyashree: a news report gives a 2026-27 window of 1 August 2026 to 15 February 2027, with post-matric support of up to ₹16,500. The scheme’s status after the May 2026 decision to end religion-based allowances is not confirmed.
- Oasis (SC, ST, OBC): a report says an NSP OTR must now be linked to the Oasis profile. This is unverified.
- Shikshashree: no 2026-27 information was found.
06Documents Commonly Needed
- Previous marksheet and admission proof
- Income certificate; caste certificate for reserved-category schemes
- Aadhaar-seeded bank account details
- Aadhaar for eKYC
07Official Links
08Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last date for NSP 2026-27?
31 October 2026 for student applications, as shown on the portal homepage.
Can a student apply for more than one scholarship?
One merit-based scheme plus one or more welfare-based schemes is allowed on the NSP.
Is Aadhaar mandatory on the NSP?
Aadhaar face authentication and eKYC are required for the schemes covered by the circulars read, and payment goes to an Aadhaar-seeded account.
Is SVMCM open for 2026-27?
No official window was found. The Higher Education helpline can confirm.
This page is updated periodically. Benefit amounts, limits, dates and portal menus change; for the most current and binding information, always refer to the official portal or the implementing office.