A comprehensive list of scholarships for Indian students 2020-21

Thousands of students across the country are not able to pursue higher education due to financial restrictions. Things like textbooks, tuition, supplies, housing, and dues add up quickly when you get to campus. Luckily, there are over thousands of crores worth scholarships for Indian students available today. These cater to both meritorious students, and those who require financial aid. 

Such scholarships for Indian students are diverse in the course they provide. From mechanical engineering to fashion studies, our country aims to cater to the varied interests a student might develop throughout the course of their academic life. Read further to learn about the many opportunities for scholarships you can apply for today!

IIT-Kharagpur research fellowship  

The Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT-Kharagpur) is a public technical and research university established by the government of India in 1951. The first amongst all IITs to be established, it is recognised as an Institute of National Importance. IITs across the country are renowned for their provision of scholarships for Indian students.

Description

IIT-Kharagpur is currently accepting applications for the Department of Mechanical Engineering Junior Research Fellowship 2020 from BTech/BE/MS/MTech degree holders. The fellows are required to work on the project titled, “CFD based Design of Mechanical Heart Valves (DHV)”.

Accepted applicants will receive up to Rs. 31,000 per month during the course of their fellowship.

Eligibility

The fellowship is open to candidates who:

1. Hold a BTech/BE degree in Mechanical Engineering with valid GATE/NET score OR hold an MTech/MS or equivalent degree in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering with specialization in Fluid – Thermal/Aerodynamics.
2. Have scored first division throughout their career (from class 10).
3. Have experience in working with CFD solvers and have C/Fortran programming skills.

Application process

IIT-Kharagpur is accepting online applications for the fellowship on their website. The last date to apply is 24 August 2020.

NIFT financial assistance scheme

Set up in 1986, the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) is a pioneer amongst the institutes of fashion education in the country. It has been in the vanguard of providing professional human resources to the textile and apparel industry. Over the years, it has aimed to provide scholarship to Indian students interested in the fashion industry. 

Description

NIFT is inviting applicants for SARTHAK, its financial assistance scheme for the academic year 2020. The scheme is meant to provide financial assistance to meritorious, needy and deserving students, belonging to the economically weaker sections of society. The scheme will guarantee 100% of the tuition fee. 

Eligibility

The financial scheme is applicable for:

1. Undergraduate and postgraduate students of the regular programme of NIFT (excluding those admitted under NRI/ NRI sponsored category).
2. Students who fall within the parental income slab of –

• Up to INR 1.5 lakh 
• Between INR 1.5 lakh and INR 2.5 lakh 
• Between INR 2.5 lakh and INR 4 lakh

Application process

Those interested in NIFT’s financial scholarship for Indian students can apply by hand or by post. The last date for applications is 24 August 2020.

Pondicherry University research associateship

Pondicherry University is known for its brilliant infrastructure and is among the top-ranked central universities in the entire country. It has more than 100 affiliated colleges for various streams, including Arts, Engineering, Science, Commerce, Education, all of which provide scope for scholarships for Indian students.

Description

Pondicherry University is inviting applications for its Department of Ecology & Environmental Sciences Research Associateship/Junior Research Fellowship 2020 from masters and PhD degree holders. The fellowship is meant for the project titled, “Assessment of Changes for the Conservation and Management of Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve”. 

Accepted applicants will receive up to Rs. 47,000 per month during the course of their fellowship.

Eligibility

The fellowship is open for candidates who are:

• Below 28 years of age and:

1. Hold an MSc degree in Ecology/ Environmental Science/ Botany/ Zoology/ Forestry/ Life Science/ Wildlife Science with 55% marks.
2. Are UGC/CSIR NET or GATE qualified in a relevant field. 

• Below 35 years of age and:

1. Hold a PhD degree in above-mentioned fields.
2. Have experience in plant taxonomy
3. Have published research work in peer-reviewed journals and have shown evidence of independent research work.

Application process

The university is accepting applications via post and email. The last date for applications is 31 August 2020.

Such scholarships and fellowships are encouraging opportunities for students who lack financial aid. It also emphasises on honing certain skills that students hold. If you are an Indian student and are currently in the process of seeking scholarships, the following articles might pique your interest:

1. 5 Government scholarships for every graduate and postgraduate students
2. Best scholarships for MBA students of India
3. AICTE doubles engineering scholarships for women
4. DRDO launches special scholarships for engineering students