Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026 – Rs.1,000/Month, Apply Now

The Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026 is one of the most important Central Government scholarship schemes for undergraduate agriculture students in India — and thousands of eligible students miss it every year simply because they don’t know it exists. Administered by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), this scheme provides Rs.1,000 per month for the full duration of a UG degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, Home Science, Dairy Science, and Animal Husbandry to students whose family income does not exceed Rs.1,00,000 per year. Over a 4-year B.Sc. Agriculture degree, a selected student receives Rs.48,000 in total scholarship support — transferred directly to their bank account via DBT on the National Scholarship Portal. This complete 2026 guide covers eligibility criteria, scholarship amount breakdown, income limit (Means Test), list of eligible courses, required documents, step-by-step NSP application process, selection process, comparison with other agriculture scholarships, and the top 8 FAQs every agriculture student is searching for right now.

What Is the Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026?

The Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026 — officially titled “Merit-cum-Means Scholarships for Undergraduate Studies in Various Branches of Agriculture and Animal Science Subjects” — is a Central Government scholarship initiative by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India. Its core objective is to attract talented students from economically weaker families into undergraduate agriculture education and ensure they complete their degree without financial hardship.

Unlike competitive entrance-based scholarships, the Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026 evaluates candidates on a combination of 2 criteria: the Means Test (income eligibility) and Merit (academic performance in the qualifying exam). Both conditions must be satisfied simultaneously. Students with family income exceeding the Rs.1,00,000 annual limit may still receive a national prize of Rs.500 and a certificate of merit if their academics are outstanding — but the full monthly stipend of Rs.1,000 requires meeting the income threshold. All scholarship disbursements happen through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) via Direct Benefit Transfer to the student’s Aadhaar-linked bank account — making it fully transparent and paperwork-light for students in 2026.

This scholarship is especially significant for students from rural farming families in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh — where agricultural income remains low and first-generation college students face the greatest financial barriers to completing a 4-year agriculture degree. The 2026 NSP application window opened in August 2026 with a last date of October 31, 2026 — confirmed under the DARE component of centrally funded NSP schemes.

Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026 – Amount & Annual Earning Breakdown

Understanding the full financial benefit of the Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026 helps students plan their agriculture education budget. Here is a complete breakdown of what selected students receive:

The Rs.1,000 per month scholarship is a monthly endowed programme — meaning payments are made on a monthly basis for each active month of the academic year. The scholarship amount goes directly into the student’s bank account via DBT with no deductions. Students pursuing a 5-year integrated programme like B.V.Sc. or B.Tech Agricultural Engineering receive the highest total benefit of Rs.60,000 over 5 years. While the per-month amount may appear modest, it effectively covers textbooks, stationery, and daily essentials for a rural agriculture student — reducing family financial pressure by Rs.1,000 every single month throughout the degree.

Eligibility Criteria for Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026

The Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026 has 2 core eligibility pillars — Means (income) and Merit (academic performance). Every applicant must satisfy both conditions simultaneously. Here is the complete eligibility checklist:

• 🏡 Means Test (Income Limit): The applicant’s parents’ or guardians’ annual income from all sources — salary, agriculture, business, rent, or any other — must not exceed Rs.1,00,000 per annum. This is a strict ceiling with no relaxation. Income certificate must be issued by a competent authority such as a Tehsildar, SDM, or Block Development Officer.
• 📝 Merit (Minimum Marks): The student must have secured a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent grade points in the qualifying examination (Class 12 board exam or equivalent). This is the academic entry bar. In case of CGPA/grade-based marking systems, the equivalent percentage as per the institution’s conversion formula is used.
• 🌾 Course & Institution Eligibility: Must be pursuing an undergraduate degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, Home Science, Dairy Science, or Animal Husbandry at a UGC-recognised and ICAR-affiliated agricultural university or college. Deemed universities and private colleges must have explicit ICAR affiliation to qualify.
• 🇮🇳 Nationality: Must be an Indian national or a person domiciled in India. There is no caste-based restriction — students from all communities (General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, PwBD) are eligible, provided they meet the income and merit criteria.
• 🚫 No Dual Scholarship: A student who is already receiving any other major Central Government scholarship through the National Scholarship Portal cannot simultaneously apply for the Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026. Only 1 NSP scholarship is permitted per student per academic year.
• 📚 Full-Time Enrollment: The student must be enrolled full-time in the UG agriculture course. Part-time, distance, or correspondence students are not eligible. Attendance and academic progress must be certified by the Head of the Institution each year for renewal.
• ⚖️ Tie-Breaker Rule: When 2 or more students have identical qualifying marks, preference is given to those with higher marks in Science subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Mathematics) in the Class 12 board examination.
• 🔄 Annual Renewal Requirement: The scholarship is renewable for each year of the degree, subject to satisfactory academic performance, minimum attendance, and continued fulfilment of income eligibility. Renewal applications must be submitted on NSP every academic year.

Eligible Agriculture Courses & Universities for Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026

The Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026 covers a comprehensive range of undergraduate agriculture and allied science courses. Below is the authoritative list of eligible disciplines and institution types under the ICAR-DARE scholarship framework:

• 🌾 B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture — 4-year degree at State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and ICAR-affiliated colleges. Total scholarship benefit: Rs.48,000.
• ⚙️ B.Tech Agricultural Engineering — 4-year or 5-year engineering degree at SAUs and ICAR-affiliated engineering colleges. Total scholarship benefit: Rs.48,000–Rs.60,000.
• 🏠 B.Sc. Home Science — 3 or 4-year degree at recognised women’s agricultural colleges and home science institutions under SAU umbrella. Total scholarship benefit: Rs.36,000–Rs.48,000.
• 🐄 B.Sc. Dairy Technology / B.Tech Dairy Engineering — 4-year degree at ICAR-affiliated dairy technology institutes including NDRI Karnal and state dairy institutes. Total scholarship benefit: Rs.48,000.
• 🐾 B.V.Sc. & Animal Husbandry (B.V.Sc. & AH) — 5-year professional degree at veterinary colleges affiliated to State Veterinary Universities and SAUs. Total scholarship benefit: Rs.60,000.
• 🍎 B.Sc. (Hons.) Horticulture — 4-year degree at SAUs and autonomous horticultural colleges under UGC recognition. Total scholarship benefit: Rs.48,000.
• 🐟 B.F.Sc. Fisheries Science — 4-year degree at ICAR-affiliated fisheries science colleges including CIFE Mumbai and state fisheries institutes. Total scholarship benefit: Rs.48,000.
• 🌲 B.Sc. Forestry — 4-year degree at forestry colleges affiliated to SAUs or ICAR-linked institutions under the Ministry of Environment. Total scholarship benefit: Rs.48,000.

India has over 63 State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and more than 700 affiliated agriculture colleges that qualify under this scheme. Key institution examples include IARI New Delhi, PAU Ludhiana, TNAU Coimbatore, ANGRAU Guntur, MPKV Rahuri, BAU Ranchi, NDUAT Faizabad, RPCAU Pusa, and JNKVV Jabalpur. Students can verify their institution’s eligibility on the ICAR official website or by checking the NSP scheme guidelines for DARE.

Who Should Apply for Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026?

The Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026 is designed for a specific profile of agriculture student. Here are the 8 candidate types who must not miss this application window:

• 🌾 First-Generation Agriculture College Students from Farming Families: If your parents are farmers with annual income below Rs.1 lakh and you are the first in your family to pursue a B.Sc. Agriculture degree, the Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026 is built precisely for you. Apply immediately — this scholarship is your right, not charity.
• 📚 High-Scoring Class 12 Agriculture Students (60%+ Marks): Students who scored 60% or above in Class 12 and secured admission in a recognised agriculture UG programme at any SAU or ICAR-affiliated college qualify for the merit component. High scores in Science subjects give you a tie-breaker advantage over other applicants.
• 👩‍🌾 Women Students in Agriculture (All Castes): The Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026 has no gender-based restrictions and is open to all communities. Given the national push for women’s agricultural education, female students from rural farming backgrounds with family income under Rs.1 lakh are strongly encouraged to apply — competition may be relatively lower in some states.
• 🐾 B.V.Sc. & Animal Husbandry Students (5-Year Degree): Students pursuing the 5-year B.V.Sc. degree receive the maximum total scholarship benefit of Rs.60,000 over the full course — the highest total payout under this scheme. Veterinary students from low-income families should prioritise this scholarship.
• 🔬 SC / ST Students in Agriculture Science: There are no separate category-wise quotas under this scheme, but SC/ST students from farming families almost always meet the Rs.1 lakh income ceiling and the 60% marks criterion, making this one of the easiest Central Government scholarships for them to access alongside other reserved category benefits.
• 🐄 Dairy Technology & Food Science Students: Students pursuing B.Tech Dairy Engineering or B.Sc. Food Technology at ICAR-affiliated colleges like NDRI Karnal, NIFTEM, or state dairy institutes are eligible under the Animal Science and allied subjects provision of this scheme.
• 🌲 Horticulture, Forestry & Fisheries Students (OBC/EWS): OBC and EWS students in B.Sc. Horticulture, B.Sc. Forestry, and B.F.Sc. Fisheries from ICAR-affiliated colleges who are not receiving any other NSP scholarship should apply. This scholarship provides steady Rs.1,000/month support throughout their degree — critical for students in residential or hostel settings.
• 🏘️ Rural Students from Aspirational Districts: Students from NITI Aayog-identified Aspirational Districts — predominantly in Bihar, UP, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Northeast India — whose family income is below Rs.1 lakh and who have been admitted to agriculture colleges through state counselling processes are among the most deserving and most likely to meet all eligibility criteria for the Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026.

Documents Required for Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026

Before beginning your Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026 application on NSP, ensure all documents are ready in digital format (PDF or JPG, maximum 200KB per file). Missing or incorrect documents are the #1 reason for application rejection in the DARE scholarship category:

1. 📋 Aadhaar Card — Must be linked to your registered mobile number and an active savings bank account for DBT. For students under 18, parent’s Aadhaar with a minor consent declaration is accepted.
2. 💰 Income Certificate — Issued by a competent authority (Tehsildar / SDM / BDO) confirming that annual family income from all sources is Rs.1,00,000 or below. Must be in the prescribed state government format and not older than 1 year at the time of application.
3. 📝 Marksheet of Last Qualifying Examination — Class 12 or equivalent board marksheet showing a minimum of 60% aggregate marks. For CGPA-based results, the institution’s official percentage conversion certificate is required.
4. 🏫 Institution Verification / Enrollment Certificate — Official letter from your agriculture college confirming full-time enrollment in the current academic year, issued by the Principal or Head of Department. This form is available on NSP under the DARE scholarship guidelines.
5. 💳 Fee Receipt of Current Academic Year — Original or digitally signed fee receipt showing the tuition and other charges paid for the 2026–27 academic year. Must bear the institution’s official seal.
6. 🏦 Bank Account Passbook / Cancelled Cheque — Must clearly show your name, account number, and IFSC code. The account must be in your name (not parent’s name) and must be Aadhaar-seeded for DBT disbursement. Verify your Aadhaar-bank linkage at resident.uidai.gov.in.
7. 📍 Domicile / Residential Certificate — Issued by competent authority confirming Indian nationality and state of domicile. Required for state-level verification on NSP.
8. 🖼️ Passport-Size Photograph — Recent colour photograph with white background in JPEG format, under 100KB, taken within the last 6 months.

How to Apply Online via NSP for Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026

The entire Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026 application process is online through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in). Follow these 9 steps carefully to submit a defect-free application before October 31, 2026:

1. Step 1 — Visit the NSP Portal: Open scholarships.gov.in on a desktop or laptop browser. Mobile browsers may cause form errors on the NSP portal — always use a full browser for best results.
2. Step 2 — Complete One-Time Registration (OTR): New students must click “New Registration” and complete Aadhaar-based OTR using the NSP OTR mobile app or UIDAI face authentication. You will receive a Student Application ID and OTP-verified password on your registered mobile number. OTR is permanent — done once, used for all future NSP scholarships.
3. Step 3 — Log In to NSP Dashboard: Use your OTR-generated Student Application ID and password to log in. Your dashboard will display all Central Government scholarship schemes for which you are eligible based on your registered profile.
4. Step 4 — Select the DARE / ICAR Scholarship Scheme: From the list of Central Sector Schemes, look under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare / DARE category and select the Merit-cum-Means Scholarships for UG Agriculture and Animal Science Studies. Confirm the scheme name and academic year (2026–27) before proceeding.
5. Step 5 — Fill Personal & Academic Details: Enter your full name (exactly as on Aadhaar), date of birth, gender, state of domicile, category, mobile number, and email ID. In the academic section, enter your institution name, AISHE/ICAR code, current year of study, course name (e.g., B.Sc. Agriculture), and qualifying exam marks (Class 12 percentage).
6. Step 6 — Enter Bank Account Details: Provide your Aadhaar-linked bank account number and IFSC code for DBT disbursement. Double-check that the name on the bank account exactly matches your Aadhaar name — any mismatch will cause DBT failure. Verify Aadhaar-bank seeding status at least 7 working days before applying.
7. Step 7 — Upload All Documents: Upload each required document in the prescribed format (PDF or JPG, under 200KB). Required uploads: income certificate, Class 12 marksheet, institution enrollment certificate, fee receipt, Aadhaar card, bank passbook, domicile certificate, and passport-size photo. Preview each upload to confirm legibility before moving to the next field.
8. Step 8 — Save as Draft & Review: Click “Save as Draft” before final submission to review all entered information carefully. Check name spelling, marks percentage, income amount, IFSC code, and all uploaded documents one final time. Incorrect data after final submission cannot be corrected without a formal correction request to the Institute Nodal Officer.
9. Step 9 — Final Submit & Save Application ID: Click “Final Submit” to submit your application. Download and print the application confirmation page showing your NSP Application ID. Track your application status, institute verification, and district/state nodal officer approval at scholarships.gov.in using this Application ID. The payment status can also be checked via the PFMS portal using your Aadhaar number or bank account number.

Selection Process – Merit-cum-Means Test Explained for 2026

The Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026 uses a structured 2-stage selection process that is transparent, merit-driven, and income-verified. Here is exactly how ICAR-DARE selects students for the award:

• ✅ Stage 1 — Means Test (Income Verification): All applications are first filtered by the income eligibility criterion. Only students whose family annual income certificate shows Rs.1,00,000 or below pass Stage 1. Applications without a valid income certificate from a competent authority are rejected outright at the Institute Nodal Officer (INO) verification stage on NSP.
• 📊 Stage 2 — Merit Evaluation (Academic Ranking): Students who pass the Means Test are then ranked by their qualifying examination percentage (Class 12 board marks). Minimum threshold is 60%. Students are ranked from highest to lowest marks to generate a merit list. In case of equal percentage, Science subject marks serve as the tie-breaker.
• 🏫 Institute Nodal Officer (INO) Verification: After student submission on NSP, the application moves to the Institute Nodal Officer at the agriculture college. The INO verifies enrollment status, course details, AISHE code, fee receipts, and document authenticity. INO verification deadline: November 15, 2026.
• 🏛️ District & State Nodal Officer Verification: Post-INO approval, the District Nodal Officer (DNO) and State Nodal Officer (SNO) conduct a secondary verification check on the NSP platform. Documents including income certificate and domicile are cross-checked against DigiLocker-integrated government databases. State verification closes: November 30, 2026.
• 📋 Final Merit List & Ministry Approval: After state verification, the Ministry Nodal Officer (MNO) at DARE/ICAR conducts the final review and approves the merit list. The approved category-wise and state-wise merit list is published on NSP.
• 💳 DBT Disbursement: Selected students receive scholarship payment directly in their Aadhaar-linked bank account via PFMS-integrated DBT. Payment status is trackable at both the NSP portal and the PFMS portal (pfms.nic.in) using the NSP Application ID, Aadhaar number, or bank account number.

Means-cum-Merit Scholarship vs Other Agriculture Scholarships 2026

Agriculture students in India have access to several Central Government scholarship options in 2026. Here is a comprehensive comparison to help you identify the best scholarship for your situation:

High-Value Agriculture Scholarship Terms You Must Know in 2026

Understanding key terms related to the Means-cum-Merit Scholarship and India’s agriculture scholarship ecosystem helps students apply correctly, avoid rejections, and plan their educational finances effectively:

• 🔑 ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research): India’s apex national body for coordinating, guiding and managing research, education and extension in agriculture and allied disciplines. ICAR administers the Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026 through its DARE mandate and disburses scholarship funds via NSP to eligible UG students at over 700 agriculture colleges nationwide.
• 🔑 DARE (Department of Agricultural Research and Education): The department within the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare that oversees ICAR and manages all ICAR-administered scholarships on NSP. The DARE scholarship component has an NSP application deadline of October 31, 2026 for the 2026–27 academic year.
• 🔑 Means Test: The income-based eligibility filter in the Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026. Family annual income from all sources must not exceed Rs.1,00,000. Students who fail the Means Test are ineligible for the monthly stipend but may receive a Rs.500 national prize if their academic merit is exceptional.
• 🔑 SAU (State Agricultural University): One of India’s 63+ state-run agricultural universities — including TNAU, PAU, IARI, ANGRAU, BAU, and RPCAU — that are recognised under the ICAR-DARE framework and whose UG students qualify for the Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026.
• 🔑 NSP (National Scholarship Portal): The centralised online platform at scholarships.gov.in that manages all Central Government and many state scholarship schemes. The Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026 application, institute verification, state-level approval, and DBT disbursement all happen through NSP.
• 🔑 OTR (One-Time Registration): Permanent Aadhaar-based student registration on NSP introduced from 2024–25 onwards. A student registers once, gets a permanent OTR ID, and uses it to apply for any NSP scholarship each year — including the Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026.
• 🔑 DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer): The Government of India’s system for transferring scholarship funds directly to the student’s Aadhaar-linked bank account — bypassing all intermediaries. The Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Rs.1,000/month is paid monthly via DBT through the PFMS platform.
• 🔑 AIEEA-UG (All India Entrance Examination for Admission – UG): ICAR’s national entrance exam for admission to B.Sc. Agriculture and allied courses at State Agricultural Universities. Students who cleared AIEEA-UG for their current agriculture college admission may qualify for both the Means-cum-Merit Scholarship and the ICAR NTS-UG, but must choose only one per NSP guidelines.
• 🔑 PFMS (Public Financial Management System): The Government of India’s financial management portal at pfms.nic.in through which all DBT scholarship payments are tracked. Students can check their Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026 payment status using their NSP Application ID, Aadhaar number, or bank account number at PFMS.
• 🔑 Category-Wise Age Relaxation: While the Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026 has no age ceiling, SC/ST/PwBD students benefit from a 5% marks relaxation in some state-level scholarship schemes that run parallel to this Central Government scholarship — making it easier for reserved category agriculture students to meet the 60% qualifying marks requirement.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026

What is the Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026 for agriculture students?

The Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026 is a Central Government scholarship administered by ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) under DARE for undergraduate students pursuing Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, Home Science, Dairy Science, and Animal Husbandry at recognised agricultural universities. It provides Rs.1,000 per month for the full duration of the UG degree course to students whose family income does not exceed Rs.1,00,000 per annum and who have scored at least 60% in the qualifying exam. Applications are submitted online at scholarships.gov.in by October 31, 2026.

What is the scholarship amount under Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026?

The Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026 provides Rs.1,000 per month per selected student for the entire duration of the undergraduate agriculture degree. This equals Rs.12,000 per year, or Rs.48,000 total over a standard 4-year B.Sc. Agriculture degree and Rs.60,000 total over a 5-year B.V.Sc. or B.Tech Agricultural Engineering programme. The amount is transferred monthly via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the student’s Aadhaar-linked savings bank account through the PFMS system.

What is the income limit for the Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026?

The income limit for the Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026 under the ICAR-DARE component is Rs.1,00,000 (Rs.1 lakh) per annum from all sources. This is strictly verified through the Means Test using an income certificate from a competent authority. Students whose family income exceeds this limit are not eligible for the Rs.1,000/month stipend but may receive a one-time national prize of Rs.500 plus a certificate of merit if their academic performance qualifies them on merit criteria alone.

Which agriculture courses are eligible for Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026?

Eligible courses under the Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026 include B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture, B.Tech Agricultural Engineering, B.Sc. Home Science, B.Sc. Dairy Technology, B.V.Sc. & Animal Husbandry, B.Sc. Horticulture, B.F.Sc. Fisheries Science, and B.Sc. Forestry. All courses must be pursued at ICAR-affiliated and UGC-recognised agricultural universities or colleges. India’s 63+ State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and their affiliated colleges are the primary eligible institutions.

What is the last date to apply for Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026?

The last date to apply for the Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026 under the ICAR-DARE component on the National Scholarship Portal is October 31, 2026. Students must complete their full online application at scholarships.gov.in before this deadline. Institute Nodal Officer verification closes November 15, 2026, and State Nodal Officer verification closes November 30, 2026. Students are strongly advised to apply at least 15 days early — by October 15, 2026 — to avoid NSP server overload and last-minute DBT seeding issues.

How is selection done for the Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026?

Selection for the Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026 follows a 2-stage merit-cum-means process. Stage 1 is the Means Test: only students with a family annual income of Rs.1,00,000 or below (verified via official income certificate) proceed further. Stage 2 is merit ranking: students are ranked by their qualifying exam percentage (minimum 60% in Class 12). In case of equal marks, higher Science subject scores serve as the tie-breaker. No entrance test is required. A final merit list is prepared by ICAR-DARE after NSP-based institute, district, and state-level verification.

What documents are needed for Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026?

Required documents for the Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026 include: Aadhaar card (linked to mobile and bank), income certificate (family income ≤ Rs.1,00,000 from competent authority), Class 12 marksheet (minimum 60%), institution enrollment/verification certificate from the agriculture college, current year fee receipt, Aadhaar-linked bank account passbook with IFSC code, domicile/residential certificate, and a recent passport-size photograph. All documents must be uploaded digitally on the NSP portal in PDF or JPG format (under 200KB each). Community certificate is required only if applying under a reserved category scheme simultaneously.

Can a student receive the Means-cum-Merit Scholarship along with ICAR NTS-UG?

No. A student cannot simultaneously receive both the Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026 and the ICAR NTS-UG (National Talent Scholarship for UG) in the same academic year. The National Scholarship Portal restricts each student to a maximum of 1 Central Government scholarship per year. Students who qualify for both must choose the most financially beneficial option. The ICAR NTS-UG provides a higher stipend of Rs.3,000/month (vs Rs.1,000/month) but requires inter-state enrollment at an ICAR-funded university. If you study within your home state, the Means-cum-Merit Scholarship 2026 is your primary option.

For the latest updates on agriculture scholarships, recruitment notifications, and career guidance for agriculture students in India, visit Agrijob.in — India’s #1 Agriculture Job and Career Portal. For official scholarship information, always refer to the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) and the ICAR official website (icar.org.in).

Fulbright Scholarship 2026 for Indian Agriculture Researchers

DAAD Scholarship Germany 2026 – Agriculture Students Apply from India