National Scholarship Portal (NSP) 2026-27 Application Guide: One-Time Registration (OTR), Documents & Approval Flow

National Scholarship Portal (NSP) 2026-27: Complete Application & Verification Guide

The National Scholarship Portal (NSP), operated by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Department of Higher Education, Government of India, is the single unified gateway for over 100 Central, UGC, AICTE, and State Government scholarship schemes. Every year, millions of school, college, and university students receive direct bank transfers (DBT) ranging from ₹12,000 to ₹1,00,000 per year to fund their tuition, books, and living expenses.

Starting with the 2026-27 academic session, the Government of India has made One-Time Registration (OTR) and Aadhaar-based Face Authentication mandatory for all new and renewal applicants to eradicate ghost beneficiaries.

1. What is NSP One-Time Registration (OTR)?

OTR is a unique 14-digit reference number issued to every applicant based on their verified Aadhaar identity. Once you generate your OTR number, you do not need to re-enter your demographic details (name, date of birth, gender, father's name) in future academic years. Your OTR remains valid throughout your entire educational lifecycle from school to post-graduate studies.

Pre-Requisites for OTR Registration:

• Active mobile number linked with your Aadhaar card for receiving UIDAI OTPs.
• Android smartphone with front camera for Aadhaar FaceRD App biometric authentication.
• Active Aadhaar-seeded Bank Account (Bank account must be mapped with NPCI mapper for Direct Benefit Transfer).

2. Step-by-Step Online Application Procedure

1. Step 1: Download & Install Apps: Install the NSP OTR App and the official Aadhaar FaceRD App from Google Play Store.
2. Step 2: Generate OTR: Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number, verify the OTP sent to your linked mobile number, and complete the live facial scan. Upon successful verification, your 14-digit OTR number and temporary password will be sent via SMS.
3. Step 3: Log in to NSP Student Portal: Navigate to scholarships.gov.in, click on Student Login → Fresh Application 2026-27, and enter your OTR credentials.
4. Step 4: Select Your Scholarship Category:
   • Pre-Matric: For students studying in Classes 1 to 10.
   • Post-Matric / Top Class / MCM: For students enrolled in ITI, Diploma, Undergraduate (B.A., B.Sc., B.Com, B.Tech, MBBS), and Postgraduate courses.
5. Step 5: Fill Academic & Scheme Details: Select your Institute by its AISHE / DISE code. The portal will automatically display all central and state schemes you are eligible for based on your category, parental income, and course.
6. Step 6: Upload Verified Documents & Final Submit: Upload scanned copies of required certificates (under 200 KB in PDF/JPG format) and submit your application. Download and print the acknowledgement slip.

3. Mandatory Documents Checklist

4. Understanding the 3-Tier Verification & Approval Flow

After you submit your application online, it must pass three verification stages before funds are disbursed to your bank account:

• Level 1: Institute Nodal Officer (INO) Verification: Your college or university verifies your enrolment records, attendance, and bonafide status. Tip: Submit your printed application copy to your college scholarship cell immediately.
• Level 2: District Nodal Officer (DNO) / State Nodal Officer (SNO): The district welfare department validates caste and income certificates against state revenue databases.
• Level 3: Ministry Merit List Generation & PFMS Payment: The central ministry generates the final merit list and transfers funds directly into your Aadhaar-linked bank account via Public Financial Management System (PFMS).

For more national and state scholarships, visit our comprehensive Scholarships Directory.