Overview
Postgraduate students in India can look at three kinds of scholarships: the central PM-USP scheme, post-matric scholarships for SC, ST and OBC students, and state schemes. The PM-USP Central Sector Scholarship pays ₹20,000 per year at the postgraduate level, and post-matric schemes cover postgraduate and professional courses, with a family income limit of ₹2.5 lakh for SC and ST students. No central scholarship written specifically for MD, MS or MDS turned up in the sources I checked, so these general schemes are the main routes (Source: scheme details as listed on the National Scholarship Portal and published guides).
Type
This is a guide to scholarships for postgraduate courses, including MD, MS and MDS.
It covers central, category-based and state schemes.
Authority
PM-USP is run by the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education.
Post-matric scholarships are run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for SC students and by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for ST students, with state schemes alongside them.
Key Schemes
PM-USP Central Sector Scholarship: ₹20,000 per year at postgraduate level, meant for regular full-time degree courses. Fresh applicants need family income up to ₹4.5 lakh and must meet the Class 12 merit criterion, which is the top 20 percentile of the board. You cannot hold another scholarship or fee waiver together with it.
Post-matric scholarship for SC students: covers courses from Class 11 up to PG and professional courses, with a family income limit of ₹2.5 lakh. It pays compulsory fees and an academic allowance, which is up to ₹13,500 per year for degree and PG professional courses.
Post-matric scholarship for ST students: the same ₹2.5 lakh income limit, with fees and a monthly maintenance allowance.
OBC post-matric schemes: the income limit differs between sources and between states, with figures of ₹1 lakh, ₹1.5 lakh and ₹2.5 lakh reported, so check your own scheme page.
State schemes: for example, West Bengal's OASIS post-matric scheme lists a ₹2.5 lakh income limit for SC and ST students and ₹1 lakh for OBC students, with annual amounts of ₹1,000 to ₹13,500, applied through oasis.gov.in.
MD, MS and MDS Students
Many MD, MS and MDS students work as resident doctors and receive a monthly stipend, which varies by state and college. Check the stipend and fee structure of your allotted college, since these affect how much funding you need. For fees, an education loan for MD, MS and MDS can cover what a scholarship does not.
Documents Usually Required
Aadhaar, bank account details and a passport-size photograph.
Income certificate, and caste certificate for category-based schemes.
Previous marksheets and the admission letter or fee receipt.
Institute verification of your enrollment.
What Candidates Should Do Now
List the schemes you qualify for by category, income and state.
Check the application window on the National Scholarship Portal and your state portal. Several central schemes listed 31 October 2026 as the last date, so confirm whether your window was extended.
Confirm on the portal whether PM-USP accepts fresh applicants at PG level or only renewals.
Our verified college database can help you compare PG college fees before you decide how much funding you need.
If you need help planning the cost of your seat, our counselling services can guide you. See our pricing for plans, or contact our team for personal support.
Key Things to Remember
PM-USP gives ₹20,000 per year at PG level, with a family income limit of ₹4.5 lakh.
SC and ST post-matric scholarships cover PG and professional courses, with a ₹2.5 lakh income limit.
Income limits and windows differ by scheme and state, so verify them on the official portal before applying.
For the complete rules, check the National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in and your state scholarship portal.
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