CSSS Scholarship 2026 – Rs.20,000/Year for Class 12 Toppers, Apply NSP

Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship (CSSS) 2026 is India’s premier merit-cum-means scholarship for Class 12 toppers — offering Rs.12,000 per year during graduation and Rs.20,000 per year for post-graduation or professional courses (4th and 5th year), paid directly to your Aadhaar-linked bank account via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). If you scored above the 80th percentile in your Class 12 board exam and your family income is Rs.4.5 lakh or less per year, this complete guide covers eligibility, application process, documents, important dates, and step-by-step NSP portal instructions for the 2026-27 cycle. This article is for fresh Class 12 passouts, current UG students seeking renewal, parents, and school counsellors who want verified, official data about CSSS Scholarship 2026.

What Is CSSS Scholarship 2026 — Central Sector Scheme Explained

The Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship (CSSS), now officially termed the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Yojana, is a merit-cum-means scholarship administered by the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. Introduced in 2008 and significantly restructured in 2014, CSSS was designed with a singular goal: to support meritorious students from economically weaker families so that financial hardship never becomes a barrier to higher education.

CSSS 2026 awards a total of 82,000 fresh scholarships every year — split equally between boys (41,000) and girls (41,000) — distributed across all state and UT education boards on a population-weighted basis for the 18–25 age group. Selection is strictly merit-cum-means: students must be above the 80th percentile of successful candidates in their respective Class 12 board and stream (Science / Commerce / Humanities), AND their family’s annual income must not exceed Rs.4.5 lakh. All scholarship funds are disbursed directly to the student’s Aadhaar-linked bank account through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, eliminating middlemen and ensuring 100% of the scholarship reaches the beneficiary.

The scholarship is renewable for up to 5 years — covering the entire duration of a professional undergraduate programme like B.Tech or MBBS — and extends to postgraduate courses. Applications are submitted exclusively through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) at scholarships.gov.in. For the 2026-27 academic year, the renewal application cycle is currently open and the fresh application window is expected after Class 12 board results are published.

Who Should Apply for CSSS Scholarship 2026?

The CSSS 2026 scholarship is open to students across all streams and boards. These are the specific student profiles who must not miss this opportunity:

• 🎓 Fresh Class 12 Toppers (2026 Passout): Students who passed their Class 12 board exam in 2026 and are above the 80th percentile in their stream (Science/Commerce/Humanities) from CBSE, ICSE, or any state board. This is the primary target group for fresh CSSS applications.
• 📚 Current UG Students (Year 2, 3, 4, 5) — Renewal: Students who received CSSS in a previous year and are continuing their undergraduate or professional degree are eligible for annual renewal. Renewal requires minimum 50% marks in the previous year’s exam and 75% attendance.
• 🌾 Agriculture and Veterinary Degree Students: Students pursuing B.Sc. Agriculture, B.Tech Agricultural Engineering, B.V.Sc., or related courses at State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) or ICAR-affiliated institutions — CSSS covers all UGC/AICTE-recognised colleges including SAUs.
• 🏥 Medical and Engineering Students (B.Tech / MBBS): Students in 4–5 year professional programmes who scored above the board cut-off — the scholarship amount actually increases to Rs.20,000/year in the 4th and 5th year, providing greater support when course fees are typically highest.
• 🎨 Humanities and Commerce Students: Students often assume CSSS is only for Science toppers, but all three streams have separate 80th percentile cut-offs. A Humanities student above the 80th percentile in their board’s humanities category is equally eligible.
• 👩 Girl Students Across All Categories: 50% of the 82,000 annual slots are reserved exclusively for female students — meaning girl toppers face significantly less competition within their half of the quota.
• ♿ Students with Disabilities (PwD): A 5% horizontal reservation is provided for students with benchmark disabilities (40% or more disability) — PwD students who meet the 80th percentile and income criteria have a dedicated quota.
• 🔬 PG Students in Integrated 5-Year Programmes: Students in integrated M.Sc. or similar 5-year professional-UG-PG programmes receive Rs.12,000/year for the first 3 years and Rs.20,000/year for years 4 and 5.

CSSS Scholarship Amount 2026 — Year-Wise and Course-Wise Breakdown

The CSSS scholarship amount in 2026 is structured by year of study rather than by course type. Here is the complete year-wise and course-wise breakdown as per the official PM-USP scheme guidelines:

Year of Study	Course Type	Annual Scholarship Amount	Per Month (approx.)
Year 1	All UG courses (BA/B.Sc./B.Com./B.Tech/MBBS/BCA etc.)	Rs.12,000	Rs.1,000
Year 2	All UG courses (renewal)	Rs.12,000	Rs.1,000
Year 3	All UG courses (renewal)	Rs.12,000	Rs.1,000
Year 4	Professional/integrated degree (B.Tech, MBBS, B.Arch, B.Sc. Agri integrated etc.)	Rs.20,000	Rs.1,667
Year 5	Professional/integrated degree + PG (5-year integrated)	Rs.20,000	Rs.1,667
PG (1st–2nd year)	MA/M.Sc./M.Com./MBA/M.Tech/MD/MS etc.	Rs.20,000	Rs.1,667

All scholarship amounts are credited annually to the student’s Aadhaar-linked bank account via DBT. There is no separate tuition fee waiver component in CSSS — unlike PMS-SC (which reimburses tuition), CSSS provides a fixed annual stipend intended to cover living expenses, books, and incidental educational costs. The stipend is paid in one or two instalments per year depending on the state and NSP cycle processing timelines.

Eligibility Criteria for CSSS Scholarship 2026 — Complete Checklist

Every condition listed below must be fulfilled to qualify for CSSS 2026. Verify each point carefully before applying on the National Scholarship Portal:

• 📊 Merit Criterion — 80th Percentile: Must be above the 80th percentile of successful candidates in the relevant stream (Science/Commerce/Humanities) in Class 12 board exam. The 80th percentile cut-off is calculated board-wise and stream-wise — meaning cut-offs differ between CBSE Science, CBSE Commerce, UP Board Science, and so on. The actual cut-off marks for each board are published on NSP after results are declared.
• 💰 Family Income: Annual gross family income from all sources must not exceed Rs.4,50,000. An income certificate issued by a Tehsildar or equivalent gazetted officer is required for fresh applicants. Renewal applicants do not need to resubmit the income certificate.
• 🎓 Course of Study: Must be enrolled in a regular undergraduate or postgraduate degree course. Diploma courses, distance learning, correspondence courses, and part-time programmes are not eligible. The institution must be UGC/AICTE/MCI/BCI/PCI-recognised and have an active AISHE code.
• 🚫 No Other Scholarship: Must not be availing any other scholarship, fee waiver, or financial assistance from the Central Government, State Government, or any other source for the same course. Holding a state scholarship disqualifies from CSSS.
• 📅 No Academic Gap Year: Students who took a gap year (drop year) after Class 12 are not eligible for fresh CSSS applications. Only students who enrolled in college in the same academic session as their Class 12 result are eligible for fresh applications.
• 🏫 Institution Must Have Valid AISHE Code: The college or university must be registered in the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) database and must have a valid AISHE code. Students can verify their institution’s AISHE code at aishe.gov.in.
• 🆔 Aadhaar Linkage: Aadhaar card must be linked to the registered mobile number and NPCI-seeded to the student’s bank account for DBT credit. Scholarship payments fail if Aadhaar is not NPCI-seeded.
• 🔄 Renewal Requirements: For continuing students applying for renewal, the minimum academic requirement is 50% marks in the previous year’s examination and 75% attendance. Renewal applications must be submitted every year — there is no automatic renewal.

How to Apply for CSSS Scholarship on NSP 2026 — Step-by-Step Guide

The CSSS 2026 application is 100% online through the National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in. Follow these steps carefully to submit a complete, defect-free application before the deadline:

1. Complete One-Time Registration (OTR) on NSP: Visit scholarships.gov.in and click “New OTR Registration.” Complete Aadhaar-based face authentication using the NSP OTR mobile app (available on Google Play and App Store). Your OTR ID is permanent and can be reused for all future NSP scholarship applications and renewals — students who already have an OTR ID from a previous year skip this step.
2. Log In and Access Dashboard: Use your OTR ID and password to log into the NSP applicant dashboard. The system displays eligible scholarship schemes based on your academic profile. For Class 12 passouts, ensure your board result details are correctly entered during OTR so CSSS appears as an eligible scheme in your dashboard.
3. Select CSSS / PM-USP Scholarship: From the list of Central Sector Schemes under the Ministry of Education/Department of Higher Education, select “Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (CSSS).” The scheme may also appear as “PM-USP CSSS” on the portal.
4. Fill Academic and Personal Details: Enter your full name (as on Aadhaar), date of birth, Class 12 board name, roll number, year of passing, stream (Science/Commerce/Humanities), percentage/marks, current course, current institution (with AISHE code), and year of current enrolment. Every detail must match your supporting documents exactly — mismatches cause applications to be marked defective.
5. Enter Income and Bank Account Details: Enter your annual family income figure, income certificate number, issuing authority, and date of issue. Enter your Aadhaar-linked bank account number and IFSC code. Verify NPCI Aadhaar seeding before this step — check your status at resident.uidai.gov.in to confirm your Aadhaar is seeded for DBT.
6. Upload Required Documents: Upload all documents in JPG or PDF format, each file under 200KB. Use a proper scanning app with good lighting. Blurry, dark, or oversized files are flagged as defective. Required uploads: Class 12 mark sheet, income certificate, Aadhaar card, bank passbook (front page showing account number and IFSC), admission letter or bonafide certificate, and category certificate (if SC/ST/OBC/PwD).
7. Preview, Submit, and Save Application ID: Review every entered detail on the preview screen before final submission. Once submitted, most fields cannot be edited unless an institution or district officer marks the application defective. Download and save the Application ID confirmation slip.
8. Ensure Institute Verification on Time: After submission, your application is forwarded electronically to your institution’s Scholarship Nodal Officer for verification. Proactively inform your college’s accounts or scholarship office about your CSSS application and request timely online verification. Unverified applications are automatically invalidated after the verification deadline.

CSSS vs INSPIRE-SHE vs PM YASASVI — Scholarship Comparison 2026

Class 12 toppers and their parents often wonder which scholarship is best for their situation. Here is a direct comparison of the three most relevant Central Government scholarships for high-performing students in 2026:

Parameter	CSSS / PM-USP 2026	INSPIRE-SHE 2026	PM YASASVI 2026
Administered By	Dept. of Higher Education, MoE	Dept. of Science & Technology (DST)	Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
Target Group	All streams — Science, Commerce, Humanities	Science stream only (Natural/Basic Sciences)	OBC / EBC / DNT students only
Annual Amount (UG)	Rs.12,000/year (UG); Rs.20,000/year (4th/5th yr + PG)	Rs.80,000/year (all years)	Rs.75,000/year (9th–12th class)
Merit Criterion	Above 80th percentile in Class 12 board (all streams)	Top 1% in Class 12 board or NEET/JEE Advanced top 10,000	Merit-based selection via YASASVI exam
Income Criterion	Family income Rs.4.5 lakh or less	No income bar — open to all	Family income Rs.2.5 lakh or less
Courses Covered	All regular UG/PG at recognised institutions	Only Natural/Basic Science UG (B.Sc.) at UGC-recognised colleges	Class 9 and 11 students in OBC/EBC/DNT category
Total Slots	82,000 per year (fresh)	10,000 per year	15,000 per year
Application Portal	scholarships.gov.in (NSP)	online-inspire.gov.in (DST portal)	yet.nta.ac.in / NSP
Best For	All Class 12 toppers regardless of stream, especially income-constrained families	Science toppers pursuing B.Sc. in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Maths	OBC/EBC/DNT students in Class 9 or 11

Advantages and Disadvantages of CSSS Scholarship 2026

A balanced view of CSSS helps students and families make informed decisions and set realistic expectations about what the scholarship provides:

Advantages of CSSS Scholarship 2026

• ✅ Open to All Streams: Unlike INSPIRE-SHE (Science only) or PM YASASVI (OBC only), CSSS is available to toppers from Science, Commerce, and Humanities streams and to students of any category (General, OBC, SC, ST, PwD).
• ✅ High Number of Slots (82,000/Year): With 82,000 fresh scholarships distributed across all boards and states every year, the absolute number of beneficiaries is much higher than comparable central scholarships — increasing the probability of selection for eligible students.
• ✅ DBT Payment Directly to Student: Full scholarship amount is credited directly to the student’s Aadhaar-linked bank account via DBT — no institutional delays or partial disbursements.
• ✅ Amount Increases in 4th and 5th Year: Unlike flat-rate scholarships, CSSS rewards students who persist into professional degree years with an increased stipend of Rs.20,000/year — the highest years of a course often coincide with the highest expense.
• ✅ Renewable for 5 Years: Students who maintain academic progress (50% marks + 75% attendance) can receive uninterrupted financial support from Year 1 of UG through Year 2 of PG — a total support horizon of 5+ years.
• ✅ No Application Fee: Completely free to apply — zero financial barrier to access this government scholarship for eligible toppers.

Disadvantages of CSSS Scholarship 2026

• ❌ No Fee Reimbursement: Unlike PMS-SC or state scholarships that reimburse tuition fees, CSSS provides only a fixed annual stipend (Rs.12,000 or Rs.20,000) — which may not cover tuition fees at private colleges or professional programmes.
• ❌ Gap Year Disqualifies Fresh Applicants: Students who took a year off after Class 12 (for exam preparation, illness, or other reasons) are completely ineligible for fresh CSSS applications — a strict rule that penalises students who had legitimate reasons for a gap.
• ❌ 80th Percentile Bar is Board-Relative: The cut-off is calculated board-wise, not nationally — meaning students from high-performing boards (where the 80th percentile may correspond to 90%+ marks) face much stricter criteria than those from boards with lower average scores.
• ❌ Delayed Disbursement in Practice: Despite DBT, actual credit of CSSS amounts often happens 3–8 months after the academic year begins — students must independently arrange initial semester fees and living expenses and wait for reimbursement.

Important Terms Related to CSSS Scholarship 2026

Understanding these key terms will help students navigate the CSSS application and selection process with confidence:

• 🔑 PM-USP (Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Yojana): The official umbrella name under which CSSS operates since 2014. On the NSP portal, CSSS may appear as “PM-USP CSSS.” Both refer to the same scholarship scheme by the Department of Higher Education.
• 🔑 80th Percentile Cut-Off: The minimum mark threshold above which a student is in the top 20% of successful candidates in their board’s stream. This is the core merit criterion for CSSS. Cut-offs are published board-wise and stream-wise on NSP after Class 12 results. Students below the cut-off are ineligible regardless of their absolute percentage.
• 🔑 NSP (National Scholarship Portal): The Government of India’s single-window digital platform at scholarships.gov.in for applying to all Central and state government scholarships. CSSS applications are submitted exclusively on NSP.
• 🔑 OTR (One-Time Registration): Aadhaar-based permanent student registration on NSP. Mandatory for all NSP applications from 2024-25 onwards. The OTR ID is permanent — students use the same OTR ID for all future scholarship applications and annual renewals.
• 🔑 DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer): The Government of India’s payment infrastructure that transfers scholarship amounts directly to beneficiaries’ Aadhaar-linked bank accounts, bypassing institutions and intermediaries.
• 🔑 AISHE Code: All India Survey on Higher Education identification code assigned to every recognised college and university. Students must enter their institution’s AISHE code during CSSS application — institutions without a valid AISHE code are ineligible for NSP scholarships. Check at aishe.gov.in.
• 🔑 Merit-Cum-Means Scholarship: A scholarship that combines both merit (academic performance) and means (financial need) as selection criteria. CSSS is a merit-cum-means scholarship — students must qualify on both the 80th percentile merit criterion AND the Rs.4.5 lakh income ceiling.
• 🔑 NPCI Aadhaar Seeding: Linking Aadhaar to a bank account specifically for DBT payments through the National Payments Corporation of India. Distinct from simply adding Aadhaar to your bank profile — must be done via “Link Aadhaar for DBT/Subsidy” at bank branch or internet banking. Required for CSSS payment to succeed.
• 🔑 Institute Nodal Officer (INO): A designated faculty or administrative staff member at your college or university who is responsible for verifying scholarship applications on NSP on behalf of the institution. Contacting your INO proactively after submitting your CSSS application is essential — unverified applications are invalidated.
• 🔑 Defective Application: An NSP application flagged for missing, unclear, or mismatched documents or information. Students receive an SMS/email notification and are given a correction window. Failure to correct a defective application within the window results in automatic rejection.

Important Dates — CSSS Scholarship 2026-27

The CSSS application cycle for 2026-27 follows the NSP academic calendar. Save these dates and act well before the deadlines — NSP servers experience extremely high load in the final days before closing:

Event	Date / Deadline 2026-27	Action Required
NSP Portal Opens for Fresh + Renewal Applications	July 2026 (check scholarships.gov.in)	Complete OTR and begin application
80th Percentile Cut-Off Published on NSP	After Class 12 board results (June–July 2026)	Check your board’s cut-off before applying
Last Date — CSSS Fresh + Renewal Applications	September 30, 2026	Submit CSSS application before this date
Institute Nodal Officer Verification Deadline	October 31, 2026	Proactively follow up with your college’s nodal officer
District/State Nodal Officer Verification	November 2026 (varies by state)	Track application status on NSP dashboard
Selection List Published on NSP	December 2026 – January 2027 (estimated)	Check NSP dashboard for selection status
Expected DBT Credit to Students	January–March 2027 (estimated)	Ensure Aadhaar NPCI-seeded bank account is active
Renewal Applications Open (Continuing Students)	July 2026 (already open)	Renew using existing NSP/OTR login — do not create new account

Note: CSSS deadlines are set by the Department of Higher Education and NSP — these are confirmed timelines for the 2026-27 cycle as per NSP announcements current as of September 2026. In past years, NSP has occasionally extended deadlines by 1–2 weeks; however, never rely on extensions. Apply by September 30, 2026 without waiting. Verify the latest confirmed dates on the official NSP portal’s “Announcements” section before applying.

Important Links — CSSS Scholarship 2026

Link Name	URL
NSP — Official CSSS Application Portal	scholarships.gov.in
Dept. of Higher Education — Official Scheme Details	education.gov.in/scholarships
Aadhaar NPCI Seeding Status Check (UIDAI)	resident.uidai.gov.in
AISHE Code Verification	aishe.gov.in
MyScheme.gov.in — CSSS Overview	myscheme.gov.in/schemes/csss
NSP Helpline	0120-6619540 | helpdesk@nsp.gov.in
INSPIRE-SHE Scholarship 2026 — Rs.80,000 for Science Toppers	agrijob.in — INSPIRE-SHE Fellowship 2026
Post-Matric Scholarship SC Students 2026 — Full Guide	agrijob.in — Post-Matric SC Scholarship 2026
PM YASASVI Scholarship 2026 — OBC Students Guide	agrijob.in — PM YASASVI 2026
Reliance Foundation Scholarship 2026-27	agrijob.in — Reliance Foundation Scholarship

Conclusion — CSSS Scholarship 2026 Is for Every Class 12 Topper, Not Just Science Students

The Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship (CSSS) 2026 remains one of the most important and widely accessible Central Government scholarships for Class 12 toppers in India — offering Rs.12,000/year for undergraduate years 1 to 3 and Rs.20,000/year from the 4th year onwards, with 82,000 annual slots distributed across all state boards, streams, and categories. If you scored above your board’s 80th percentile cut-off in Science, Commerce, or Humanities and your family income is Rs.4.5 lakh or less, you are eligible to apply. Visit scholarships.gov.in, complete your OTR, and submit your CSSS application before the September 30, 2026 deadline. Bookmark this page — we update it every time official NSP dates, cut-off lists, or scheme guidelines change for the 2026-27 cycle.

Frequently Asked Questions About CSSS Scholarship 2026

What is the Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship (CSSS) 2026?

The Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship (CSSS) 2026, officially called PM-USP (Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan Yojana), is a merit-cum-means scholarship by the Department of Higher Education, Government of India. It awards 82,000 fresh scholarships per year to Class 12 toppers above the 80th percentile in their board exam, with family income Rs.4.5 lakh or less. The scholarship provides Rs.12,000/year for the first 3 years of undergraduate study and Rs.20,000/year for years 4–5 and postgraduate courses, paid directly to the student’s bank account via DBT.

Who is eligible for CSSS Scholarship 2026?

Students who have passed Class 12 in the current academic session from any recognized board (CBSE/ICSE/State Board), scored above the 80th percentile in their stream (Science, Commerce, or Humanities), are enrolled in a regular UG or PG degree course at a UGC/AICTE-recognised institution with a valid AISHE code, and whose family’s annual income does not exceed Rs.4,50,000 are eligible. Students with a gap year after Class 12, pursuing diploma or distance courses, or currently receiving another government scholarship are not eligible for fresh CSSS applications.

How much is the CSSS scholarship amount in 2026?

The CSSS scholarship amount in 2026 is Rs.12,000 per annum for the first three years of undergraduate study (approximately Rs.1,000 per month). From the 4th year of a professional or integrated course (such as B.Tech, MBBS, B.Sc. Agriculture 4-year programme) and for all postgraduate courses, the amount increases to Rs.20,000 per annum (approximately Rs.1,667 per month). The scholarship is paid in one or two annual instalments directly to the student’s Aadhaar-linked bank account via DBT.

What is the last date to apply for CSSS Scholarship 2026-27?

The last date to apply for the Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship (CSSS) on the National Scholarship Portal for the 2026-27 academic year is September 30, 2026 — both for fresh applicants and renewal students. Institute Nodal Officer (INO) verification must be completed by October 31, 2026. Students should apply at least 2–3 weeks before the deadline to allow time for document corrections and institutional verification processing.

How do I check the CSSS 80th percentile cut-off marks for my board?

The 80th percentile cut-off marks for CSSS are published separately for each state education board and stream (Science, Commerce, Humanities) on the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) after Class 12 board results are declared. To check your board’s cut-off: visit scholarships.gov.in, navigate to “Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship,” and look for the “80th Percentile Cut-Off List” document. The cut-offs are board-specific — CBSE Science will have a different cut-off from UP Board Science or Maharashtra Board Science.

Can I apply for CSSS if I took a gap year after Class 12?

No. Students who took a gap year (drop year) after Class 12 and enrolled in college in a different academic session are not eligible for fresh CSSS scholarship applications. This is a strict ineligibility condition mentioned in the official scheme guidelines. The CSSS is designed for students who transition directly from Class 12 to a regular degree course without an academic break. If you dropped a year after Class 12, explore other scholarships such as the Reliance Foundation Scholarship or state-specific scholarships that do not have this restriction.

How to apply for CSSS Scholarship on NSP 2026?

To apply for CSSS Scholarship on NSP 2026: (1) Visit scholarships.gov.in and complete OTR (One-Time Registration) using Aadhaar-based face authentication via the NSP OTR app. (2) Log in with OTR credentials and select “Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship (CSSS)” from the Ministry of Education schemes. (3) Fill in your Class 12 board details, current course, institution AISHE code, income details, and Aadhaar-linked bank account information. (4) Upload all documents (Class 12 marksheet, income certificate, Aadhaar card, bank passbook, category certificate if applicable) in JPG/PDF under 200KB each. (5) Submit before September 30, 2026 and follow up with your institution’s nodal officer for online verification before October 31, 2026.

Can I get CSSS and another scholarship at the same time?

No. The CSSS scheme explicitly prohibits students from simultaneously availing any other scholarship, stipend, fee waiver, or financial assistance from the Central Government or any State Government for the same course. Holding CSSS along with a state government scholarship would result in disqualification and potential recovery of the scholarship amount. However, students who hold only institution-level merit prizes (not government scholarships) are not affected. Science students interested in INSPIRE-SHE must choose one or the other, as both are Central Government schemes for the same course.

What is the CSSS renewal process for 2026-27?

Current CSSS holders who want to renew for 2026-27 must log into NSP at scholarships.gov.in using their existing OTR/login credentials and submit a renewal application under their existing CSSS profile — do not create a new account. Renewal eligibility requires a minimum of 50% marks in the previous year’s examination and 75% attendance. The renewal application window for 2026-27 opened in July 2026 and closes September 30, 2026. No income certificate is required for renewal — only bonafide certificate and previous year’s marksheet are needed.

Is CSSS scholarship available for agriculture students?

Yes. CSSS 2026 is available for students pursuing B.Sc. Agriculture, B.Tech Agricultural Engineering, B.Sc. Horticulture, B.V.Sc. (Veterinary Science), and all other agriculture-related degree courses at State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and ICAR-affiliated colleges, provided the institution is UGC/AICTE-recognised and has a valid AISHE code. Agriculture students who scored above the 80th percentile in their Class 12 board (typically under the Science stream) and whose family income is Rs.4.5 lakh or less are fully eligible for CSSS. Students in 4-year B.Sc. Agriculture programmes receive Rs.12,000/year for years 1–3 and Rs.20,000/year in year 4.

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