Scholarships for girls in India: schemes, eligibility and how to apply

Why there are dedicated scholarships for girls

Government bodies, universities and companies run special scholarships for girls to reduce dropouts after school and to increase women's participation in higher education, science and technical courses. Because the applicant pool is smaller, the chances of selection are often better than for general scholarships.

Main categories of schemes

Girls can usually apply to these in addition to general and category-based schemes.

• AICTE schemes for girls in technical degree and diploma courses
• Schemes for single girl children pursuing postgraduate studies
• State government schemes for girls who complete class 10 or 12, often linked to marks or family income
• Corporate CSR scholarships for women in STEM, engineering and medicine
• University-level fee waivers and hostel support for women students

Typical eligibility conditions

Most schemes combine three conditions: the course level (school, diploma, undergraduate or postgraduate), a family income ceiling, and minimum marks in the previous exam. Some technical schemes also limit the number of girls per family who can receive the award. Always read the official notification for the exact numbers, because they are revised from time to time.

Application tips

Keep your admission letter, previous marksheet, income certificate and a bank account in your own name ready. If a scheme asks for a statement of purpose, write about your goals and the specific obstacle the scholarship will help you overcome — reviewers remember concrete stories, not general statements. Apply to every scheme you qualify for; you can usually accept the best one if you are selected for more than one.

Find schemes that fit you

On ScholarX, set your gender, course, state and income in your profile. Scholarships meant only for girls appear with a match score, and listings you cannot apply for are hidden automatically.