Digital Gujarat Scholarship 2026-27: Post Matric Scholarship for SC and Developing Caste Students, Apply Online till 30 September 2026

The Digital Gujarat Scholarship 2026-27 online application window is open. Students of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Developing Caste (SEBC, OBC, EBC, NT-DNT and Minority) categories can apply for post matric scholarship and assistance schemes on the Digital Gujarat Portal from 6 July 2026 to 30 September 2026.

Two separate guideline circulars have been issued for the academic year 2026-27. One is issued by the Director, Scheduled Caste Welfare, Gujarat State, Gandhinagar for SC students, and the other by the Director, Developing Caste Welfare, Gujarat State, Gandhinagar for Developing Caste students. Both circulars state that every eligible student must apply online only through digitalgujarat.gov.in. Applications filed from any other place will not be accepted, and no student will be paid scholarship offline.

Students who received scholarship in 2025-26 as per rules do not need to apply fresh - their form is placed automatically in Renewal mode. Fresh applicants must select the financial year 2026-27 and choose the scheme they are eligible for. This page covers the eligibility, scheme-wise amount, income limits, documents, Aadhaar eKYC and OTR rules, the step-by-step apply process, and the exact instructions printed in both circulars.

Digital Gujarat Scholarship 2026-27 Notification PDF and Official Link

The scheme details, application window and scheme-wise rates for 2026-27 are published in the following two official guideline circulars:

• Guideline for SC Students (Digital Gujarat Portal) 2026-27 - issued by the Director, Scheduled Caste Welfare, Gujarat State, Gandhinagar
• Developing Caste Welfare (DCW) Guideline 2026-27 - issued by the Director, Developing Caste Welfare, Gujarat State, Gandhinagar

Both circulars carry a closing note stating that all details given in the guideline are for guidance only, and the final interpretation will be made as per the Government Resolution (Tharav) of the concerned scheme.

Digital Gujarat Scholarship 2026-27 Overview

Digital Gujarat Scholarship 2026-27 Important Dates

Both circulars specify the same application window for the academic year 2026-27, and both instruct students not to wait until the last date.

Digital Gujarat Scholarship Eligibility Criteria 2026-27

Who Can Apply

• The student must belong to Gujarat. Native Gujarat students studying in a recognised institution outside Gujarat are also eligible and must apply online on the same portal.
• The student must belong to a Scheduled Caste or a Developing Caste (SEBC, OBC, EBC, NT-DNT or Minority), as required by the specific scheme.
• The student must be studying a post matric course - that is, Std 11 onwards, or a college / ITI / Diploma / professional course, depending on the scheme.
• The family income must be within the limit fixed for that particular scheme.
• The caste certificate and income certificate must be issued by the competent authority. Only such certificates can be uploaded.
• The student's Aadhaar number must be linked and seeded with the bank account, because payment is made only to the Aadhaar-seeded account.
• For the centrally sponsored SC scheme (BCK-6.1), the student's Aadhaar Based Biometric eKYC status must show "Yes" - otherwise the application cannot be submitted.
• Scholarship is payable once in one academic session, as per the recognised academic session of the college, institute or university.

Digital Gujarat Scholarship Income Limit 2026-27 (Scheme-wise)

The income limit is not the same for every scheme. It varies by scheme, by category, and in two schemes by gender. The table below reproduces the limits exactly as printed in the two circulars.

An important routing rule appears in both circulars. SC students and Developing Caste students whose annual family income is ₹2.50 lakh or less must apply in the Government of India scheme - BCK-6.1 for SC students, and PM YASASVI for OBC, EBC and DNT students. The state government schemes (BCK-5, BCK-5A, BCK-78) are meant for students with income above ₹2.50 lakh.

Digital Gujarat Scholarship Educational Qualification

• The student must have passed Std 10 and be studying a post matric course. Year-wise final year marksheets of Std 10 and every course studied after it must be uploaded in sequence.
• If there is a break in study after Std 10, the student must upload a declaration (Ekrarnamu) stating that no course was pursued and no scholarship was availed during that break period, and submit it to the institution along with the application.
• Institution type matters and differs by scheme - Government, Grant-in-Aid, Self-Financed, Government ITI, or Open University. Each scheme's remarks column specifies which institution types are covered.
• For Private Tuition Coaching Assistance to SC Students (BCK-7) and the Tuition Assistance Scheme for Developing Caste students, the student must have secured 70% or more marks in Std 10.
• For the state government schemes BCK-5 and BCK-5A, tuition fee becomes payable only after the 50% standard is checked, as per the conditions of the Government Resolution.
• Under BCK-11 (SC) and BCK-98 (Developing Caste), Ph.D. and M.Phil fellowship is linked to submission of the thesis; BCK-98 further states that Ph.D. assistance is payable to students studying in the final year.
• Under BCK-12 (SC) and BCK-80 (Developing Caste), instrumental assistance is payable only to students studying in the first year of Medical, Engineering or Diploma.

Digital Gujarat Scholarship Amount 2026-27

Scholarship Amount for SC Students (Director, Scheduled Caste Welfare)

Scholarship Amount for Developing Caste Students (Director, Developing Caste Welfare)

The Developing Caste circular does not define which courses fall under Group A, Group B, Group C or Group D. It only states that Groups A to C apply to college and institution level students, and Group D applies to higher secondary school students. Students should confirm their group with their school or college.

Aadhaar eKYC, OTR and Family ID Rules for SC Students

These three requirements are stated in the SC guideline circular for 2026-27. Developing Caste students should check the position with their institution, as the Developing Caste circular does not mention them.

Aadhaar Based Biometric eKYC

The central government has made Aadhaar Based Biometric eKYC compulsory for all students under the centrally sponsored post matric scholarship schemes (BCK-6.1, both with Freeship Card and without Freeship Card) from the year 2025-26.

The Food and Civil Supplies Department is already carrying out Aadhaar Based Biometric eKYC of all beneficiaries in the ration card database. Other state departments are required to integrate online with that database through an API service and fetch the eKYC details, so a separate eKYC is not required. This integration is already done on the Digital Gujarat Portal - the student enters their ration card member ID while filling the online form and the eKYC data is fetched.

Under central government schemes, a student can fill and submit the online application only if the Aadhaar Based Biometric eKYC status shows "Yes". The status will show "Yes" only if the eKYC has already been done in the Food and Civil Supplies Department ration card database. A student can complete it through any of these options:

1. Through the "My Ration" mobile application, by the student themselves
2. By visiting the supply branch of the Mamlatdar office, or the zonal office in a municipal corporation area
3. Through the VCE at the Gram Panchayat office
4. School principals can also do it

For eKYC, the student must have a ration card, their name must appear in the ration card, and the Aadhaar number must be seeded in the ration card.

Family ID Project

Under the Family ID project, instructions have been received to collect the Aadhaar number, ration card number and ration card member ID for the state sponsored post matric scholarship scheme (BCK-5). Students enter the member ID and click Get Details - the information available in the ration card database is fetched through the API.

The circular instructs students to make sure they fetch only their own data, and instructs principals to verify that the data fetched belongs to the correct student. Principals must ensure no application is forwarded for approval using another student's data.

OTR (One Time Registration)

The central government has directed implementation of OTR under the centrally sponsored post matric scholarship scheme (BCK-6.1), and this integration is already done on the Digital Gujarat Portal. Students must generate the OTR number on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) and then enter that OTR number while filling the form on the Digital Gujarat Portal.

Freeship Card Students: Which Scheme to Apply In

SC students who obtained admission on the basis of a Freeship Card must apply only in the Freeship Card version of their scheme:

• Post Matric Scholarship for SC Students (GOI) (Freeship Card Students Only) (BCK-6.1)
• Post Matric Scholarship for SC Girls Student Only (Having annual family income more than 2.50 Lac) (State Government Scheme) (FreeShip Card Student Only) (BCK-5)
• Post Matric Scholarship for SC Boys Students Only (Having annual Family Income between 2.50 to 6.00 Lac) (State Government Scheme) (Freeship Card Student Only) (BCK-5A)

As per the revised guideline of the Government of India, from academic year 2021-22 the education fee of Freeship Card holding students is also credited into the student's own account. Once the scholarship is credited, the student must compulsorily pay the payable fee to the college or institution within 7 days. If the student does not pay within this time limit, the college or institution can take action against the student as per rules.

The circular also warns that if a Freeship Card holding student does not apply online and does not receive the scholarship, the responsibility will lie with that student or institution.

Digital Gujarat Scholarship Application Fee

Neither the SC circular nor the Developing Caste circular mentions any application fee for the 2026-27 online application. The application fee is Not specified in the source circulars. Students should confirm this on the Digital Gujarat Portal or with their institution.

Documents Required for Digital Gujarat Scholarship 2026-27

Both circulars instruct students to scan and keep all original documents ready before starting the online form.

• Caste certificate of the student, issued by the competent authority
• Income certificate of the guardian, issued by the competent authority
  • If the father is not alive - the father's death certificate
  • If the parents are divorced - on producing the divorce order or proof, the mother's income certificate will be valid
  • If the father or guardian is in government service - the Income Tax Form-16 must also be uploaded along with the income certificate
• Year-wise final year marksheets, in sequence, of Std 10 and every course studied after Std 10
• First page of the bank passbook showing the account number, IFSC code and bank branch. If a passbook is not available, a cancelled cheque showing the same details. For merged banks, a passbook or cheque with the new IFSC and new account number
• Declaration (Ekrarnamu) if there was a break in studies after Std 10, stating that no course was pursued and no scholarship was availed during that period
• Hosteller certificate for students staying in a hostel - the format is available on the portal for download, and must carry the signature and stamp of the competent authority
• Disability certificate issued by the competent authority, if the student is a divyang student
• Fee receipt paid by the student (annual). SC circular note: this is not applicable to Freeship Card holding students
• Passport size photograph
• Marriage certificate, in the case of a married female student
• Aadhaar number. SC circular additionally requires: ration card number
• Any other supporting evidence demanded by the District Officer, if required

Important document notes from both circulars:

1. Only original documents should be scanned and uploaded. A copy may be uploaded only if the original cannot be made available.
2. While submitting the form to the institution, the student must give self-attested copies of the uploaded documents along with the form.
3. Only caste and income certificates issued by the competent authority should be uploaded.

How to Apply for Digital Gujarat Scholarship 2026-27 Online

Step 1: New Registration on Digital Gujarat Portal

1. Open the Digital Gujarat Portal and click the Login option, then go to Citizen Login / Registration.
2. Click New Registration (Citizen).
3. Register using your mobile number, email ID and a password you set yourself. Both the email ID and mobile number are mandatory.
4. Keep this password safe - it is permanent for this portal. Keep the mobile number active until the full scholarship or assistance for your course is received.
5. Log in again using your mobile number as the username and the password you created.
6. Update your profile using My Profile. The Developing Caste circular states that a student can apply online only if My Profile has been updated.

Students who registered on the Digital Gujarat Portal in an earlier year - whether for a scholarship scheme or for any other scheme on the portal - should not register again. They can log in with their earlier Login ID and password and apply directly. If you have forgotten last year's password, click Forgot Password on the login page, get the OTP on your registered mobile number and create a new one. Your mobile number remains your User ID.

If your registered mobile number is lost or has been closed for any reason, contact the district SC / ST / OBC office, establish your identity, and get the mobile number changed in your profile.

Step 2: Apply for the Scholarship Scheme

1. After logging in, go to the Services menu and click on Scholarship Services. Applications cannot be filed from anywhere else on the portal.
2. Click the Request a New Service button.
3. In the Select Financial Year drop-down menu, select 2026-27 only.
4. Under the heading (Director Scheduled Caste Welfare) - or (Director Developing Caste Welfare) for Developing Caste students - click on the scheme you are eligible for.
5. Click Continue to Service.
6. Carefully fill in all the details asked - Registration Detail, Bank Detail, Academic Detail, Disability Detail and so on.
7. Upload all applicable documents in the Attachment section. Scan and upload original documents.
8. Upload your latest passport size photograph.
9. After the complete application form is filled, click Verify Mobile Number, get the OTP on your mobile number, and complete Confirm & Final Submit. Your application will then be submitted online into the login of your school, college, university or institution.
10. Take a printout of the submitted application, attach the required supporting evidence, and submit it to your school, college or institution.

Students in rural areas can also get their form filled online at an E-gram centre, as stated in the Developing Caste circular.

How to Check Digital Gujarat Scholarship Application Status

Neither circular gives a separate step-by-step process for checking the current year's application status. What both circulars do state is how to view earlier applications:

1. Log in to the Digital Gujarat Portal.
2. Go to Services and click Scholarship Services.
3. In the academic year drop-down menu, select any year from 2017-18 to 2025-26.
4. If an online scholarship application was filed in that year, it can be viewed here.

The step-by-step status check process for 2026-27 is Not specified in the circulars. For any difficulty while filling the form on the Digital Gujarat Portal, the circulars direct students to contact the help desk on 18002335500.

Digital Gujarat Scholarship Renewal Process 2026-27

Students who applied online in 2025-26 and received the scholarship as per rules do not need to apply fresh. Their renewal application for the current year is placed automatically in Renewal mode.

1. Log in to the Digital Gujarat Portal and go to Services and then Scholarship Services.
2. Click the Renewal button.
3. Check all your details - Registration Detail, Bank Detail, Academic Detail, Disability Detail and the rest.
4. Upload the required attachments. Scan and upload original documents.
5. Send the application online.
6. Take a printout, attach the supporting evidence, and submit it to your school, college or institution.

If you received the scholarship last year but your form does not appear automatically in Renewal mode this year, click Request a New Service, select 2026-27 in the Select Financial Year drop-down, and file a fresh form in the applicable scheme.

Verification and Selection Process

The circulars describe an application-and-verification flow rather than a merit list:

• The student files the online application and completes Confirm & Final Submit. Only then does the application reach the login of the school, college, university or institution.
• The student must also submit the printout with all documents to the institution. An application that is not final submitted, or whose printout is not submitted to the institution with all documents, will not be considered.
• After final submission the student cannot make any change. If a correction is needed, the institution must return the application to the student and inform the student accordingly.
• A Withdraw facility is now available in the student's login. If the institution has not yet taken any action on the application, the student can withdraw it, make corrections and send it again.
• Caste and income certificates are accepted only if issued by the competent authority.
• Under BCK-5 and BCK-5A, tuition fee is payable after the 50% standard is checked as per the conditions of the Resolution.
• Native Gujarat students studying outside the state must additionally submit their documents to the Developing Caste or Scheduled Caste office of their home district.
• Scholarship is payable once in one academic session as per the recognised academic session of the college, institute or university.

Common Rejection Reasons and Important Instructions

Both circulars list the situations in which a student loses the scholarship or the application is not taken up. These are the points to check before submitting:

• Application not final submitted. If the application is not final submitted, or if the printout with all documents is not submitted to the institution, the application will not be considered.
• Applying in the wrong scheme. If a student mistakenly applies in another scheme, the difference amount will not be payable later.
• Aadhaar not linked with the bank account. Since 2022-23, payment under the Government of India post matric scholarship scheme is Aadhaar-based only. Scholarship is credited only to the bank account linked with the student's Aadhaar number. Students who have not done Aadhaar and bank account linking or seeding must get it done immediately.
• Wrong bank account number. If a wrong bank account number is entered and the scholarship is credited to another account, the entire responsibility is the student's.
• Dormant or inactive bank account. An account that has not been operated for a long time - no withdrawal or deposit transaction - becomes dormant or stopped. Scholarship cannot be credited to such an account. Confirm with the bank before filling the form.
• Bank KYC not completed. Check that the KYC (Know Your Customer) form is filled as per bank rules so that the account remains active.
• Wrong institution or course selected. If a wrong institution or course is selected, the application will be sent online to some other school, college or university, and the responsibility will be the student's. If your course does not appear in the menu, inform your institution - once the institution adds the course in its login, you will be able to select it after some time.
• False or hidden information. If any information is filled or selected wrongly, or if any information is concealed, the student will not be allowed to fill the scholarship form again in any manner. A student who tries to obtain scholarship by concealing information will be blacklisted for scholarship. Students are requested not to attempt duplicate applications.
• Waiting until the last date. Students are requested not to wait until the last date and to complete the form as early as possible under the guidance of the institution.
• Wrong session end date. Obtain the approximate session end date from your institution. Fill the annual date - do not fill the date as per the semester system.
• Freeship Card students applying in the wrong scheme. Freeship Card holders must apply only in the Freeship Card version of the scheme.
• eKYC status not "Yes". For centrally sponsored SC schemes, an application cannot be filled or submitted unless the Aadhaar Based Biometric eKYC status is "Yes".
• No offline payment. All scholarship work is done online. No student will be paid scholarship offline. Students and principals should note this.

Gujarat Students Studying Outside the State

Native Gujarat students of SC or Developing Caste category who are studying in a recognised institution outside Gujarat must also apply online only on the Digital Gujarat Portal under the Government of India scholarship scheme. Along with the submitted application form, they must submit the following to the Scheduled Caste or Developing Caste office of their home district, with a forwarding letter from the institution:

• Copies of all documents uploaded with the application form
• Copy of the recognition of the institution
• Copy of the recognition of the course
• Copy of the fee approval order of the institution

Both circulars clarify that a student who selects a state other than Gujarat in Registration Detail → Current Address State while filling the scholarship form will be treated as studying outside the state.

Digital Gujarat Scholarship 2026-27 Important Links