Government Schemes for Students in India: Scholarships, Laptops and Skill Programmes

Government schemes for students in India include merit and means-based scholarships through the National Scholarship Portal, state-run free laptop programmes, and skill training under PMKVY and Skill India. Central scholarships are applied for free at scholarships.gov.in. Skill courses are free and placement-linked. No legitimate scheme charges any application fee.

• Key Takeaway 1: Most central scholarships are applied for through a single portal, scholarships.gov.in. You don’t need an agent or a paid service.
• Key Takeaway 2: Free laptop schemes are almost entirely state-government programmes. There is no single all-India central government free-laptop scheme currently running at scale.
• Key Takeaway 3: Skill India and PMKVY courses are genuinely free and can lead to paid work. They’re not just certificates on paper.
• Key Takeaway 4: Paid intermediaries who charge to “process” your scholarship application are committing fraud. Every official scheme has a free application process.
• Key Takeaway 5: Deadlines matter enormously. Missing the National Scholarship Portal window by even one day means waiting a full academic year.

Scholarship and Financial Support Schemes for Indian Students

The National Scholarship Portal (NSP), run by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, is the single largest aggregator of government schemes for students in India. As of the 2023-24 cycle, the NSP processed applications for over 100 scholarship schemes and disbursed funds to more than 1.5 crore students, according to data published on the NSP dashboard.

The portal covers pre-matric and post-matric scholarships for SC, ST, OBC and minority students, as well as merit scholarships for general category students. Every application is Aadhaar-linked and the money goes directly to the student’s bank account, cutting out middlemen entirely.

AICTE Pragati and Saksham Scholarships

If you’re a technical student, these two government schemes for students are worth knowing. The AICTE Pragati Scholarship supports girl students in degree and diploma programmes at AICTE-approved institutions, offering up to Rs 50,000 per year. The AICTE Saksham Scholarship does the same for students with disabilities. Both are applied through the NSP and are renewed annually on the basis of academic performance.

The AICTE website confirms that each scheme covers tuition fees, incidentals and a book grant. You must be in the first year of your programme at the time of first application, and your family income must not exceed Rs 8 lakh per annum.

PM-YASASVI Scheme

The PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India (PM-YASASVI) replaced several older OBC and EBC scholarship programmes. It is administered by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and targets students from OBC, EBC and DNT communities studying in Classes 9 to 12. Selection is through a centralised test called the YET (YASASVI Entrance Test), conducted by NTA. According to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment’s scheme guidelines, top scorers receive Rs 75,000 to Rs 1,25,000 annually depending on class.

Central Sector Scholarship Scheme

This scheme from the Ministry of Education targets students who scored in the top 20 percentile in their Class 12 board exams and whose family income is below Rs 8 lakh per year. It pays Rs 10,000 per year for the first three years of an undergraduate degree and Rs 20,000 in the fourth and fifth years for professional courses. The NSP is the only official application channel for this student government scheme.

Key Government Schemes for Students in India: Benefits and Application Portals

Scheme Name	Administering Body	Annual Benefit	Application Portal
NSP Post-Matric Scholarship (SC)	Ministry of Social Justice	Up to Rs 1,23,000	scholarships.gov.in
AICTE Pragati Scholarship	AICTE	Up to Rs 50,000	scholarships.gov.in
PM-YASASVI	Min. of Social Justice	Rs 75,000 to Rs 1,25,000	yet.nta.ac.in / NSP
Central Sector Scholarship	Ministry of Education	Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000	scholarships.gov.in
AICTE Saksham Scholarship	AICTE	Up to Rs 50,000	scholarships.gov.in

Laptop and Device Schemes: What’s Actually Available

There is a lot of misinformation online about a central government free laptop scheme. As of mid-2025, there is no single nationwide government laptop scheme for students run by the Union government that distributes physical laptops to all students. What does exist are state-level programmes and a few centrally-sponsored digital access initiatives.

The confusion often comes from the Digital India programme, which funds digital infrastructure broadly but does not directly hand out laptops to individual students. Some states have tied their laptop schemes to Digital India branding, which adds to the mix-up.

State-Level Laptop Schemes Worth Knowing

Several state governments run active laptop schemes for students that are well-funded and have verifiable track records. Tamil Nadu’s Pudhumai Penn scheme provides free laptops to girls who passed Class 12 from government schools and enrolled in higher education. The Uttar Pradesh government announced a free smartphone and tablet scheme targeting students in Classes 10 and 12 under its Digi Shakti initiative, though distribution timelines have varied. Rajasthan’s Indira Gandhi Smartphone Yojana targeted women students specifically.

Each of these schemes is administered by the respective state education department or a designated state agency. Applications are typically handled through the school or college directly, not through a separate portal. If anyone asks you to pay a fee to register for a state laptop scheme, walk away.

AICTE One Student One Laptop Initiative

AICTE launched the One Student One Laptop initiative as a CSR-backed programme, encouraging institutions and corporates to provide laptops to economically weaker and specially-abled students. This is not a direct government-to-student scheme but is facilitated through AICTE-approved colleges. Check with your institution’s student welfare office to see if your college is participating.

Skill and Internship Government Schemes for Students to Earn Money

This is where government schemes for students to earn money become genuinely practical. Skill programmes do not just give you a certificate; the better ones connect you to employment or self-employment within weeks of completion.

The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), now in its 4.0 phase, is the flagship skill scheme under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. It offers short-term training in over 300 job roles across sectors like IT, healthcare, retail, construction and more. According to the Ministry’s official PMKVY 4.0 guidelines, the training is free and students receive a placement-linked stipend in many sector skill councils. Over 1.4 crore candidates were trained under PMKVY 1.0 and 2.0 combined, per government press releases from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

If you want to build skills that complement any government scheme for students you are enrolled in, the online certification courses at 3.0 University cover Cybersecurity, Ethical Hacking, AI, Blockchain and Web3, all designed for students who want practical, industry-ready skills alongside their government training.

Skill India and the National Career Service Portal

Skill India (skillindia.gov.in) is the umbrella brand for multiple training programmes, including recognition of prior learning, apprenticeships and online courses. The National Career Service (NCS) portal at ncs.gov.in lets students register for free, find apprenticeship openings under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), and access career counselling tools. NAPS pays a government stipend share directly to apprentices, making it one of the more direct ways students can earn while learning under a central government scheme.

Indian Government Sponsored Schemes for Student Personality Development

The phrase “Indian government sponsored scheme for student personality development” refers to a cluster of programmes embedded in college curricula. The key ones are the National Service Scheme (NSS), the National Cadet Corps (NCC), Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, and AICTE’s Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP).

NSS has over 40 lakh student volunteers enrolled across 501 universities, according to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. NSS certificates are recognised in government job applications and competitive exams including UPSC. To enrol, contact your college’s NSS programme officer directly. NCC enrolment works the same way through your institution’s NCC unit.

How to Apply and How to Stay Safe

For central scholarships, the only legitimate route is the National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in. You will need your Aadhaar, bank account, income certificate, previous year marksheet and bonafide certificate from your institution. The portal opens annually, usually between August and November, though deadlines vary by scheme.

For skill programmes, register directly at skillindia.gov.in or ncs.gov.in. For state schemes, go through your school or college administration or the state education department’s official website.

A warning that cannot be repeated enough: no legitimate government scheme charges a processing fee. If a website, WhatsApp group or consultant asks you to pay Rs 200, Rs 500 or anything else to apply for a government scholarship or laptop scheme, it is a scam. Report it to the Cyber Crime portal at cybercrime.gov.in.

Stay updated on the latest government schemes for students and education policy changes by following the 3.0 University blog, which covers career paths, technology trends and scholarship updates regularly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What government schemes are available for students in India?

India has scholarship schemes through the National Scholarship Portal, state-level laptop and device programmes, and skill training under PMKVY and Skill India. There are also internship and apprenticeship opportunities via the National Career Service portal. The right scheme depends on your category, income level, course type and the state you study in. All applications are free.

Which government scheme gives free laptops to students?

There is no single central government free laptop scheme for all students. Free laptop programmes are run by state governments. Tamil Nadu’s Pudhumai Penn scheme and Uttar Pradesh’s Digi Shakti initiative are well-known examples. AICTE’s One Student One Laptop initiative works through colleges and corporate CSR funding. Always apply through your college or the official state education department website.

How can students earn money through government schemes?

The most direct routes are PMKVY skill training with placement-linked stipends, apprenticeships under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme where the government co-funds your stipend, and NSS activities that build your profile for government jobs. Some state scholarship schemes also pay a monthly maintenance allowance on top of tuition fees, which is real money in your account.

Who is eligible for student scholarship schemes in India?

Eligibility varies by scheme. Most NSP scholarships require an income certificate showing family income below Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 8 lakh per annum, depending on the scheme. Category-based scholarships require SC, ST, OBC or minority certificates. Merit scholarships like the Central Sector Scheme require top 20 percentile board results. You must be enrolled in a recognised institution and have an Aadhaar-linked bank account.

Where do you apply for student government schemes in India?

Central scholarships are applied for at scholarships.gov.in. Skill programmes are registered at skillindia.gov.in or ncs.gov.in. State laptop and device schemes are applied for through your school, college or the official state education department website. Never pay anyone to process your application. All legitimate government portals are free to use and do not require third-party agents.

Last updated: June 2025. Reviewed by the 3University editorial team.