Post Matric Scholarship For Students With Disabilities

1. Policy foundations

Article 41 and Article 46 of the Constitution (Directive Principles) support state action for education and weaker sections; Article 38(2) speaks to reducing inequalities. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016: Section 31(1) affirms education rights for children with benchmark disability; Section 17(h) contemplates scholarships in appropriate cases. DEPwD implements the umbrella scheme with six components; Post-Matric covers recognised higher-secondary and higher-education courses up to master’s level (subject to guideline text), distinct from Top Class (Annexure‑I institutes, Rs. 8 lakh income ceiling) and from Pre-Matric (classes IX–X).

2. Broad features (Post-Matric row)

The guidelines’ summary table states that Post-Matric applies to: XI, XII, post-matriculation diplomas/certificates, bachelor’s degree or diploma in India, master’s degree/diploma from any university recognised by UGC/AICTE. 17,000 slots (including renewal cases), parental/guardian income ceiling Rs. 2.5 lakh per annum, 50% reservation of slots for female candidates (unutilised female slots may go to eligible male candidates if sufficient female candidates are not available).

Slots: Fresh applications are considered only against leftover slots after all renewal cases are processed—meeting eligibility does not guarantee an award. DEPwD may interchange slots among Pre-Matric, Post-Matric and Top Class subject to approved outlay and approval of the Secretary, DEPwD.

3. General conditions of eligibility (all NSP-onboarded DEPD streams)

• Indian nationals only.
• Benchmark disability (40% or more under RPwD, 2016), valid disability certificate, Aadhaar biometric authentication, UDID or UDID enrolment as required.
• Not more than two children with disabilities of the same parents—if the second child is a twin, both twins may receive benefits.
• Scholarship for a given class/year: one year only; repeating a class disqualifies that year.
• No other scholarship/stipend; if another award is taken, this scholarship stops—choose the more beneficial award and inform through the head of institution (per FAQ).

4. Post-Matric eligibility (guidelines §5)

Post-Matric scholarship is for study of all recognised post-matriculation or post-secondary courses (up to Master degree level) in recognised institutions/universities, with these rule texts:

• Same stage, different subject: Candidates who, after passing one stage of education, study the same stage in a different subject (e.g. B.Com. after B.A. in another subject) are not eligible. However, students pursuing L.L.B./B.Ed./B.El.Ed. after B.A./B.Sc./B.E. etc. are eligible.
• Two courses simultaneously: Scholarship for one course only, if pursuit of both is permissible under the education authority’s rules.
• After UG in Arts/Science/Commerce: Students who fail or pass UG and then join recognised professional or technical certificate/diploma/degree courses may be awarded the scholarship if otherwise eligible.
• Correspondence/distance: Students pursuing studies through correspondence courses are eligible; “correspondence” includes distance and continuing education (FAQ: SwDs are eligible for correspondence only under Post-Matric among these three schemes).
• Employed students: If the student’s income combined with parents’/guardian’s income does not exceed the prescribed ceiling, they are eligible to the extent of reimbursement of all compulsorily payable non-refundable fees (guidelines).

5. Courses not awarded Post-Matric scholarship (NOTE 1)

Post-matric scholarships are not awarded for training courses such as:

• Training courses like Aircraft Maintenance Engineer’s Courses and Private Pilot licence Courses;
• Courses at Training at Ship Dufferin (Now Rajendra);
• Courses of training at the Military College, Dehradun;
• Courses at Pre-examination Training Centres of all India and State levels.

6. Quantum of financial assistance (Post-Matric)

Maintenance, renewal windows, admission-after-20th rule, internship and conduct rules are set out in guidelines §8–§9 (see sections below).

7. Application and selection (guidelines §7)

• Applications through NSP (scholarships.gov.in), by the last prescribed date, with documents such as photograph, age proof, disability certificate, parental income certificate, tuition fee receipt, last qualification certificate, as required for upload.
• Institutes register on NSP and verify student details; state nodal oversight and digital sign-off in PFMS for disbursement.
• Permanent resident of State A, studying in State B: application should be recommended by the Education/Welfare Department of the state of permanent residence.
• State-wise slots: Eligible applications and state-wise population share of persons with disabilities feed into slot distribution.
• Merit: Percentage of disability on the certificate; for Specific Learning Disability where the certificate shows 40% or above without a specific percentage, use 40% for merit.
• Tie-breaker: Older candidate preferred.

8. Duration and renewal (Post-Matric highlights)

• Award continues to completion of the course subject to good conduct and attendance; renewed year to year if promoted to the next higher class within the continuous course duration.
• First failure in an examination: For Post-Matric, if the student fails for the first time, the award may be renewed. For second and subsequent failures, the student bears expenses until promoted to the next higher class.
• Unable to appear in the annual exam (illness or unforeseen events): renewal may be allowed with medical certificate and head of institution certification that the scholar would have passed.
• Regulation-based promotion without passing lower exams: scholarship for the class to which promoted if otherwise eligible.

9. Other conditions (maintenance months, internship, conduct)

• False statements: Cancellation, recovery, blacklisting, permanent debarment.
• Subject/course change from the awarded course may cancel the scholarship.
• Discontinuation: Refund of scholarship may be required at DEPwD discretion.
• Maintenance from 1 April or month of admission (whichever is later) to the month examinations end (including holidays); if admission is after the 20th of a month, payment from the following month. Renewals: from the month after the last-paid month if the course is continuous.
• No scholarship during M.B.B.S. internship/housemanship or practical training in other courses if the student receives remuneration or stipend during that period.
• Conduct/progress: Cancellation or withholding if the head of institution reports unsatisfactory progress or misconduct (e.g. strikes without permission, irregular attendance).

10. Income proof (NOTE 2)

Self-employed parents/guardians: income certificate from Revenue Officers authorised by the State/UT. Employed parents/guardians: consolidated certificate from the Revenue Officer for any additional source of income beyond salary. The FAQ states Form 16 is not acceptable as the parental income certificate—use the revenue-authority certificate the scheme requires.

11. Disbursal: NSP, DBT, PFMS

Pre-Matric, Post-Matric and Top Class amounts are credited to Aadhaar-linked bank accounts via DBT through NSP. After state verification, PFMS validates bank details (IFSC, account number); incorrect details block payment until corrected on NSP where permitted.

12. Monitoring and verification

DEPwD monitors via NSP. States maintain district-wise and category-wise beneficiary lists. At least 10% of units undergo physical verification (blocks/district/state), randomly selected.

13. DEPD FAQ themes (Post-Matric–relevant)

Courses: Post-Matric covers recognised institutions from class XI to post-graduate degree/diploma in full-time and distance education, subject to guideline eligibility (FAQ Q2(ii), Q3).

Income: Post-Matric parental/guardian income from all sources not above Rs. 2.5 lakh per annum (FAQ Q4).

Documents: If total scholarship is below Rs. 50,000, students may not need to upload documents on the portal but must submit listed items to the institution; above Rs. 50,000, upload photograph, income certificate, Aadhaar, disability certificate, marksheet, fee receipt, bank passbook/cancelled cheque, etc. PDF or JPEG, each file ≤ 200 KB, readable (FAQ Q13).

Fresh vs renewal, defects, nodal officers, PFMS tracking—same portal mechanics as other DEPD NSP schemes; use “Check your Status” and PFMS “Track NSP Payment” as in the FAQ.

14. Practical checklist (non-exhaustive)

1. Confirm course is Post-Matric-eligible and not under NOTE 1 training exclusions.
2. Benchmark disability certificate, UDID/Aadhaar as required.
3. Income certificate from the correct revenue authority; employed + other income documented.
4. Fee receipts and non-refundable fee documentation for reimbursement claims.
5. Institute registered on NSP; coordinate verification before deadlines.
6. Cross-state study: home-state recommendation pathway.
7. Bank account Aadhaar-verified; update IFSC if bank merged.
8. Declare other scholarships; choose one if conflicted.