Best 5 Government Schemes for Students in India

The Indian education scene has witnessed dramatic changes over the last decade, with the extension of financial aid, skill-development, and study support to students from various socio-economic sectors by the government. Some flagship schemes still provide strong benefits to students, enabling them to pursue school education, technical degrees, internships, or professional courses and not incur the financial burden of university or job requirements as of November 2025.

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Following a detailed review of the currently active national programs in place at present, We have defined the five most helpful government schemes for students of India.

1. PMSS (Prime Minister's Scholarship Scheme)

Under its umbrella, the Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme (PMSS) is a well-established and immensely effective policy intervention which aids the wards and widows of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), State Police, Assam Rifles and Railway Protection Force (RPF/RPSF) it was launched in 2006–07.

Why the Scheme Matters

PMSS remains an essential platform through which professional and technical education is made available to the families of the uniformed personnel who must toil through harsh conditions. The programs are designed to enable these students to follow postgraduate and career pathways in engineering, medicine, pharmacy, MBA, MCA and some other degree programs.

Key Benefits

• Monthly Scholarship: ₹3,000 for girls and ₹2,500 for boys.
• Annual support: Up to ₹36,000 for girls and ₹30,000 for boys.
• Broad-based coverage across all large technical and professional courses.

Eligibility Highlights

Applicants must be in their first year of a professional course, have passed, at least 60% of the 12th class. and belong to a CAPF or police family category which qualifies.

Application Window

Usually from June to November, applications are accepted through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).

2. The Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PM Internship Scheme)

The program launched in October 2024, and it is one of the largest skill-development and sector-linked training programs ever launched in India. Its objective: Offer 1 crore internships across five years in partnerships with India’s top 500 corporations.

Why the Scheme Matters

The internship program aims to link classroom instruction with the realities of industry practice. Within a short time, there was massive popularity for the scheme, bringing in more than 650,000 applications for the first 1.25 lakh jobs.

Key Benefits

• 12 month paid internship exposure to real job scenes.
• ₹5,000 per month pay-per-month allowance (Government ₹4,500 + Company CSR ₹500).
• ₹6,000 as one-off joining allowance.
• Insurance PMJJBY and PMSBY.
• Internships into 24 sectors such as automotive, banking, hospitality and logistics as well as to MSME.

Eligibility Highlights

• Indian citizens aged 21–24.
• You must have completed Class 12, ITI, Polytechnic or Graduation.
• Must not be studying or working full-time.
• Family income shall not exceed ₹8 lakh.
• Not open to Graduates from IITs, IIMs, NLUs, IISERs, NIDs, IIITs; CA/CMA/CS/MBA/PhD/MBBS/BDS holders; those with relative in government job or prior apprenticeships under certain schemes.

Application Window

Applications can also be found at: pminternship.mca.gov.in, and in January 2025 Phase 2 began with 1.18 lakh new seats.

3. PM-YASASVI Scholarship Scheme

The PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India (PM-YASASVI) is a special scholarship scheme for students from the OBC, EBC, and De-notified/Nomadic Tribe communities. The scheme offers substantial financial assistance in a bid to cut down on pupils dropping out from secondary and intermediate school at higher levels of education.

Why the Scheme Matters

PM-YASASVI is one of the very few schemes providing high-value scholarships at school level, helping ensure educational access for historically disadvantaged groups on an equal basis.

Key Benefits

• Full tuition fee and non-refundable charges (there will be a ceiling of ₹2.00 lakhs per annum per student for private sector institutions and ₹3.72 lakhs per annum per student for the private sector flying clubs for Commercial Pilot Training and Type Rating Courses)
• Living expenses to the beneficiary @ ₹3,000 per month per student
• Books and stationery @ ₹5,000 per annum per student
• A latest computer/laptop of a reputed brand with accessories like UPS and printer limited to ₹45,000 per student as one-time assistance during the course.

Eligibility Highlights

• Students in Class 9 or Class 11.
• Members of OBC, EBC, or DNT groups.
• Family income not more than ₹2.5 lakh.
• School must achieve 100% of board exam passes.

Selection and Application

The entrance exam system has given way to merit-based selection. The National Scholarship Portal will open applications June 2 to August 31, 2025.

4. The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS)

India’s most successful school-level scholarship scheme, introduced in 2008, which aims to decrease dropout rates after the age of class 8, is the NMMSS. A reinvigorated budget of ₹1,827 crore for 2021–26 still contributes to the education of 100,000 new students annually.

Why the Scheme Matters

NMMSS aims to equip strong students from poor families to keep them in the schools through Class 12. The scholarship provides a lifeline to many students in remote and economically distressed areas.

Key Benefits

• ₹12,000 a year from Class 9 to Class 12.
• Choice by MAT and SAT testing from States/UTs.
• Promotes academic and performance continuity.

Eligibility Highlights

• Students attending schools of government or government-aided.
• At least 55% in Class 7 (50% in SC/ST students).
• The annual parent income below ₹3.5 lakh.
• Not available to students of KVS, NVS, or residential schools.

Application Window

The last date for students to submit their fresh and renewal applications on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) was extended to September 30, 2025.

5. Vidya Lakshmi Education Loan Scheme + Central Sector Interest Subsidy (CSIS)

PM-Vidyalaxmi provides financial support to meritorious students so that financial constraints do not prevent any youth of India from pursuing quality higher education.

A special loan product has been introduced to enable for collateral free, guarantor free education loans to meritorious students who get admission in the top 860 quality Higher Educational Institutions (QHEIs) of the nation, translating to covering more than 22 lakh students every year. Loan amounts up to ₹7.5 lakhs will be provided a 75% credit guarantee by the Government of India, to support banks to expand coverage. Furthermore, for students with up to ₹8 lakhs annual family income, the scheme will also provide for 3% interest subvention on loans up to Rs 10 lakh.

Why the Scheme Matters

One of the major objectives of the Government is to ensure that no student is denied the opportunity to pursue higher education due to financial constraints.

Key Benefits

• Loan up to Rs 10 lakh free of collateral.
• Maximum interest subsidy during the period of moratorium.
• Application using the Common Education Loan Application Form (CELAF) form in one window.
• Live tracking of loan applications. Integration using scholarship data from NSP.

Eligibility for CSIS Subsidy

• Family income limited to ₹4.5 lakh annually.
• For professional/technical courses in India.
• Institutions must be NAAC/NBA accredited or Institution of National Importance.

Conclusion

Given the rising costs of education and increasing competition in education, government-backed financial support is necessary to maintain and increase access to equal opportunities. The PMSS, PM Internship Scheme, PM-YASASVI, NMMSS, and Vidya Lakshmi + CSIS are a holistic system comprising education, upskilling, technical degrees, scholarships, and academic education financing. Incorporating all eligible schemes, make applications via centralised portals like the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) and Vidya Lakshmi (vidyalakshmi.co.in) — and use these programmes to reduce economic pressure and optimise educational results.