Scholarships for Engineering Students in India 2026: New Opportunities, Deadlines & How to Apply

With the cost of technical education rising steadily, 2026 brings a wave of scholarship opportunities for engineering students across India. From government-backed schemes to corporate-funded programs, students pursuing BTech and related courses now have multiple ways to ease their financial burden while also gaining access to mentorship and career support.

Major Scholarships for Engineering Students in 2026

1. INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE)

The Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) scheme, under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), supports talented students aged 17–22 years. It awards 12,000 scholarships annually of ₹80,000 per year, plus mentoring. Open to top Class 12 board performers and high JEE rank holders pursuing basic sciences (including engineering‑related degrees). No fixed deadline – applications are invited through the online portal.

• Portal: https://www.online-inspire.gov.in

2. AICTE Scholarships (Pragati & Saksham)

• Pragati for Girls & Saksham for Differently Abled: ₹50,000/year for AICTE‑approved engineering students with family income < ₹8 lakh. Applications are processed through the National Scholarship Portal. The 2026‑27 cycle typically opens in July‑August 2026 – not yet passed.

• Portal: https://scholarships.gov.in

3. Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships (CSSS)

Merit‑cum‑means scholarship for students scoring above 80th percentile in Class 12 with an income < ₹8 lakh. Amount: ₹10,000–₹20,000/year. The 2026‑27 cycle will open mid‑2026.

• Portal: https://scholarships.gov.in

4. Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme (PMSS) for Armed Forces/CAPF

For dependents of ex‑servicemen/CAPF personnel pursuing engineering. ₹2,500/month (male) or ₹3,000/month (female). The 2026‑27 application window typically opens in August‑September 2026.

• Portals: https://www.ksb.gov.in / https://scholarships.gov.in

5. Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) for J&K and Ladakh

For students from J&K and Ladakh pursuing engineering outside these UTs. 250 engineering seats annually. Income < ₹8 lakh. The 2026‑27 cycle usually opens in June‑July 2026.

• Portal: https://www.aicte-jk-scholarship.gov.in

6. ONGC Scholarship

Merit‑based scholarship for SC/ST/OBC/General engineering students with ≥60% in Class 12; 50% reserved for girls. The 2026‑27 application period is expected to open in September‑October 2026.

• Portal: https://ongcscholar.org

  
  

Private & Corporate Scholarships (Apply Now!)

These scholarships have deadlines after April 21, 2026. Do not miss them.

1. IET India Scholarship Award 2026

Open to all undergraduate engineering students (1st to 4th year) with ≥60% marks or 6.5 CGPA. Applications opened April 13, 2026 and close on June 30, 2026.

• Apply: https://scholarships.theietevents.com

• Deadline: June 30, 2026

2. Sunstone’s Bright Minds Scholarship

Merit‑based scholarship for B.Tech students across Sunstone partner campuses. Amount: ₹1,00,000 to ₹5,00,000. Rolling admissions – apply anytime.

• Apply: https://sunstone.in

3. Foundation For Excellence (FFE) Scholarship 2026

For first‑year engineering students based on merit and financial need. Covers tuition, living allowance, etc. Applications open year‑round.

• Apply: https://ffe.org

4. Cadence/Invecas Scholarship Program 2026–27

For meritorious students from low‑income families (Class 12 ≥80%). Preference to female and STEM candidates. Open to residents of Delhi NCR, Bangalore, Pune, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad.

• Apply: https://www.b4s.in/sen/TCSP6

• Deadline: May 10, 2026

5. Sitaram Jindal Foundation Scholarship

Monthly assistance of ₹500–₹3,200 for engineering students. Merit‑cum‑means, no application fee.

• Apply: https://www.sitaramjindalfoundation.org

• Deadline: April 30, 2026

6. Adani University Scholarships

Merit‑based tuition waivers for B.Tech students based on JEE Main percentile:

• 90+ percentile → 100% fee waiver

• 85–89 percentile → partial scholarship

• Apply: https://www.adaniuni.ac.in (see “Scholarship Policy”)

7. NIIT University Merit Scholarships 2026

Annual merit scholarships ₹50,000–₹2,00,000; exceptional merit holders get 100% tuition waiver.

• Apply: https://niituniversity.in/admissions/fee-structure/scholarships

8. BML Munjal University Scholarships

Merit‑based engineering scholarships for B.Tech students.

• Apply: https://www.bmu.edu.in (see “Scholarship for B.Tech”)

9. Manipal University Jaipur – Sir M. Visvesvaraya Scholarship

200 scholarships for B.Tech in CSE, Electronics, Mechanical, etc. First‑come, first‑served.

• Apply: https://jaipur.manipal.edu/indian-scholarship.php

• Helpline: 1800 1020 128

10. MIT-WPU Scholarships, Pune

Scholarships based on JEE 2026 or MHT‑CET 2026 scores: 100%, 50%, or 25% fee waiver.

• Apply: https://mitwpu.edu.in/scholarships

  
  

Upcoming Deadlines (As of April 2026)

Scholarship	Deadline
Sitaram Jindal Foundation Scholarship	April 30, 2026
Cadence/Invecas Scholarship Program	May 10, 2026
IET India Scholarship Award 2026	June 30, 2026
Kalpana Chawla Chhatravratti Yojna (Haryana)	April 24, 2026
Shah & Anchor Kutchhi Engineering College Scholarships	Rolling (check portal)

All other government scholarships (INSPIRE, AICTE, PMSS, PMSSS, ONGC) will open their 2026‑27 cycles in the coming months – watch their portals.

Step‑by‑Step Application Guide

Step 1: Research & shortlist – Focus on scholarships whose deadlines are still ahead (see table above).

Step 2: Prepare documents – Class 10/12 marksheets, entrance exam scores, income/caste/disability certificates, bank details, Aadhaar, and photos.

Step 3: Register on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) – https://scholarships.gov.in for all central government schemes.

Step 4: Fill & submit – Enter accurate details, upload documents, review carefully, and submit before the deadline.

Step 5: Track status – Log in to NSP or the respective portal to check verification status.

Step 6: Follow up – For private scholarships, monitor email for test/interview calls.

Tips for Success

• Start now – Several deadlines are just days away (April 24, April 30, May 10).

• Apply to multiple – Don’t rely on a single scholarship.

• Double‑check documents – Mismatches cause rejection.

• Keep digital copies – PDFs & JPEGs ready for upload.

• Meet deadlines strictly – Late applications are not accepted.

• Prepare for tests – IET India, for example, includes an online test.

  
  

Active Scholarships at a Glance

Scholarship	Type	Award	Eligibility	Deadline
IET India Award	Professional	Variable	All UG engineering	June 30, 2026
Cadence/Invecas	Corporate	Educational expenses	Class 12 ≥80%, low income	May 10, 2026
Sitaram Jindal	Trust	₹500–₹3,200/month	Merit‑cum‑means	April 30, 2026
Sunstone Bright Minds	Private	₹1–5 lakhs	Merit‑based	Rolling
Foundation For Excellence	NGO	Tuition + living	First‑year, merit+need	Rolling
Adani University	University	100% or partial fee	JEE Main percentile	Rolling
NIIT University	University	₹50k–₹2L/year	Merit	Rolling
MIT-WPU	University	25–100% fee	JEE/MHT‑CET 2026	Rolling
Manipal Jaipur	University	200 scholarships	B.Tech applicants	Rolling

Conclusion

As of April 2026, many excellent engineering scholarships are still within reach. Act immediately on those with fast‑approaching deadlines – especially Sitaram Jindal (April 30) and Cadence/Invecas (May 10). For government schemes, mark your calendar for mid‑2026 when AICTE, PMSS, and ONGC open their new cycles. Bookmark the official portals, prepare your documents, and apply without delay.

Good luck with your 2026 engineering scholarship applications! Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Scholarship details may change, so please verify them with official sources such as the National Scholarship Portal and the All India Council for Technical Education. We are not responsible for any errors or changes.