The Ishan Uday Scholarship is an initiative of the University Grants Commission (UGC) aimed at supporting students from the North Eastern Region (NER) in pursuing higher education. The scheme focuses particularly on encouraging students from economically weaker families to continue their studies at the undergraduate level.
Through this programme, 10,000 fresh scholarships are offered every year to eligible students enrolled in general degree, technical and professional programmes, including medical and paramedical courses.
For the academic session 2026–2027, eligible students from the North Eastern states can submit their applications online through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). This article covers the scholarship amount, eligibility conditions, participating states, application steps and important deadlines.
Ishan Uday Scholarship 2026
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Scholarship Name | Ishan Uday Scholarship |
| Academic Session | 2026–2027 |
| Implementing Authority | University Grants Commission (UGC) |
| Scholarship Category | Undergraduate Scholarship |
| Total Fresh Scholarships | 10,000 per year |
| Eligible Courses | General, Technical, Professional, Medical and Paramedical |
| Scholarship Amount | ₹5,400 or ₹7,800 per month |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Portal | National Scholarship Portal |
| Eligible Region | North Eastern Region |
| Last Date to Apply | 31 October 2026 |
Scholarship Helpdesk
Phone: 0120-6619540
Working Hours: 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, all days except holidays
Email: helpdesk@nsp.gov.in
Ishan Uday Scholarship Amount
The financial assistance under the Ishan Uday scheme varies according to the type of undergraduate programme pursued by the selected student.
| Course Category | Scholarship Amount |
|---|---|
| General Degree Courses | ₹5,400 per month |
| Technical, Medical and Paramedical Courses | ₹7,800 per month |
The scheme provides financial support to students during their eligible undergraduate studies, subject to the applicable scholarship rules.
States Eligible for Ishan Uday Scholarship
Students belonging to the following seven North Eastern states can apply, provided they satisfy the prescribed eligibility conditions:
Arunachal Pradesh
Assam
Manipur
Meghalaya
Mizoram
Sikkim
Tripura
Applicants must possess a valid domicile certificate issued by a state in the North Eastern Region.
Objectives of the Ishan Uday Scholarship Scheme
The UGC introduced this scholarship programme to improve access to higher education and encourage more students from the North Eastern Region to pursue undergraduate studies.
The major aims of the scheme include:
Improving access to higher education: Creating better opportunities for students from the North Eastern states to continue their studies.
Increasing enrolment: Raising the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in the region.
Encouraging professional courses: Promoting participation in technical, professional, medical and paramedical education.
Supporting regional development: Making effective use of budgetary allocations for the North Eastern Region.
The scheme envisages providing 10,000 new scholarships every year, beginning with the academic session 2014–15.
Eligibility Criteria for Ishan Uday Scholarship
Students interested in applying should carefully review the following eligibility requirements.
1. Eligible Educational Institutions
The scholarship is available to students pursuing undergraduate degree programmes in the following categories of institutions:
Universities, colleges and institutions covered under Section 2(f) of the UGC Act, 1956, with valid NAAC accreditation.
Deemed-to-be Universities recognised under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, with valid NAAC accreditation.
Institutes of National Importance.
Institutions recognised by other statutory councils, within or outside the country, as specified under the scheme.
2. Admission and Academic Qualification
Applicants must have secured admission to the first year of an undergraduate degree programme at an eligible university, college or institution in India.
Students who have already completed or obtained a degree are not eligible to apply under the scheme.
The original eligibility information also contains an academic-year example referring to 2020–21. Applicants for the 2026–27 session should confirm the applicable admission-year condition in the current official guidelines.
3. Eligible Course Types
Students enrolled in general undergraduate degree programmes, technical courses and professional programmes, including medical and paramedical courses, may be considered.
For integrated or dual-degree programmes, scholarship assistance is applicable only to the undergraduate component, as mentioned in the scheme conditions.
4. Regular Course Requirement
Only students studying through the regular/full-time mode are eligible.
Candidates enrolled in the following modes are not eligible:
Open learning.
Distance education.
Correspondence courses.
Private mode.
Part-time programmes.
5. Annual Family Income
The combined annual income of the applicant's parents must not exceed ₹4.5 lakh.
Students from families exceeding this income limit are not eligible under the stated conditions.
6. Domicile Requirement
Applicants must have a valid domicile certificate from any one of the seven North Eastern states:
Assam
Arunachal Pradesh
Manipur
Meghalaya
Mizoram
Sikkim
Tripura
Who Cannot Apply for Ishan Uday Scholarship?
The following categories of students are excluded from the scheme under the supplied eligibility conditions:
Students enrolled in courses offered by Open Universities.
Students already receiving another scholarship for their undergraduate programme under a different scheme.
Candidates admitted through the management quota.
Students pursuing diploma programmes or courses that do not lead to a degree.
Applicants whose parents' annual income is more than ₹4.5 lakh.
Candidates should check the latest UGC guidelines to understand all applicable exclusions before submitting an application.
How to Apply for Ishan Uday Scholarship 2026?
Applications are submitted online through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). Students must complete the One-Time Registration (OTR) process before filling out the scholarship application.
Follow these instructions to apply:
Step 1: Visit the official National Scholarship Portal at https://scholarships.gov.in.
Step 2: Open the One-Time Registration (OTR) section.
Step 3: Enter the required information and complete the registration process.
Step 4: After registration, obtain your OTR number and proceed to the scholarship application section.
Step 5: Select the Ishan Uday Scholarship application for the relevant academic session.
Step 6: Log in using the required credentials and fill in the application form.
Step 7: Upload the necessary documents and provide the requested academic, personal and bank details.
Step 8: Review the information entered in the form and submit the application.
Step 9: Download or print a copy of the submitted application for future reference.
What is One-Time Registration (OTR)?
One-Time Registration is a unique 14-digit identification number issued through the Aadhaar or Aadhaar Enrolment ID (EID)-based registration process.
OTR is designed to simplify scholarship applications on the National Scholarship Portal. Once generated, the number can be used throughout a student's academic career, reducing the need to complete a fresh registration every year.
Students are required to obtain an OTR number to apply for scholarships through the NSP.
Important Dates of Ishan Uday Scholarship 2026
Candidates should keep track of the following application and verification deadlines.
| Details | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Application Begins | 16 September 2026 |
| Last Date for Online Application | 31 October 2026 |
| Defective Application Verification Deadline | 15 November 2026 |
| Institute-Level Verification Deadline | 15 November 2026 |
Applicants are advised to complete their forms well before the closing date to avoid last-minute technical problems.
Important Web Links
| Particulars | Link |
|---|---|
| National Scholarship Portal | https://scholarships.gov.in |
| Online Application | National Scholarship Portal |
| One-Time Registration (OTR) | National Scholarship Portal |
| Scholarship Helpdesk Email | helpdesk@nsp.gov.in |
| Scholarship Helpline | 0120-6619540 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the Ishan Uday Scholarship?
Ishan Uday is a UGC scholarship scheme created to support students from the North Eastern Region who wish to pursue undergraduate higher education.
2. How many scholarships are offered every year?
A total of 10,000 fresh scholarships are envisaged annually under the scheme.
3. What is the scholarship amount?
Eligible students pursuing general degree courses can receive ₹5,400 per month, while students in technical, medical and paramedical courses can receive ₹7,800 per month, as stated in the supplied details.
4. Who can apply for this scholarship?
Students from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura who meet the prescribed academic, income and other eligibility conditions can apply.
5. What is the annual family income limit?
The parents' combined annual income should not exceed ₹4.5 lakh.
6. Where can students submit their applications?
Applications must be submitted online through the National Scholarship Portal at https://scholarships.gov.in.
7. What is the last date to apply for the 2026–27 session?
The supplied schedule lists 31 October 2026 as the final date for online application submission.
Conclusion
The Ishan Uday Scholarship 2026–2027 offers financial assistance to eligible undergraduate students from the North Eastern Region. With 10,000 fresh scholarships planned every year, the scheme aims to make higher education more accessible and encourage students to pursue general, technical and professional degree programmes.
Students who meet the eligibility requirements should complete their OTR registration, prepare the necessary information and submit their applications through the National Scholarship Portal before 31 October 2026.