NEC Merit Scholarship 2026 – Online Application, Eligibility & Last Date
Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Government of India
Students of the North East Region who are pursuing Diploma, Degree, Post Graduate, M.Phil, or Ph.D courses can apply for the NEC Merit Scholarship 2026, awarded by the North Eastern Council under the Ministry of DoNER, Government of India. This scholarship is open to eligible students studying inside as well as outside the North East, but within India, and is applied for entirely online through the National Scholarship Portal. Below is complete, easy-to-understand information on eligibility, scholarship amount, documents, and the step-by-step application process.
NEC Merit Scholarship 2026 – Overview
| Scholarship Name | NEC Merit Scholarship |
| Awarding Authority | North Eastern Council, Ministry of DoNER, Government of India, Shillong |
| Academic Year | 2026 – 2027 |
| Total Scholarships | 1,600 (across all 8 NE states) |
| Application Mode | Online via National Scholarship Portal (NSP) |
| Official Website | scholarships.gov.in |
| Helpline | 0120-6619540 | helpdesk@nsp.gov.in |
Eligibility Criteria
- Residency: Must be a permanent resident of one of the 8 North Eastern States — Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, or Tripura.
- Family Income: Parent/guardian’s annual income from all sources must not exceed Rs 8 lakh.
- Other Scholarship: Applicant must not be receiving any other scholarship or financial assistance at the same time. Working/in-service or fully sponsored candidates are not eligible.
- Year of Award: Fresh scholarship is granted only in the first year of the course; students continue via renewal in later years.
- M.Phil/Ph.D Applicants: Research topic/synopsis must be finalized and registered with the university, and should be relevant to North East issues.
| Level of Course | Qualifying Examination Required |
|---|---|
| Diploma | HSLC/HSSLC or equivalent with min. 60% marks |
| Degree | HSSLC/Senior Secondary with min. 60% marks |
| Post Graduate | Degree (BA/BSc/BE/BTech/MBBS/LLB/BCA/BBA etc.) with min. 60% marks |
| M.Phil/Ph.D | PG Degree with min. 60% marks |
NEC Merit Scholarship Amount 2026
| Level of Study | Amount (Per Annum) |
|---|---|
| Diploma | ₹20,000 |
| Degree | ₹22,000 |
| Post Graduate | ₹25,000 |
| M.Phil/Ph.D | ₹30,000 |
Amount is the same for both fresh and renewal cases.
State-wise Fresh Scholarship Slots (Assam & Others)
| State | Total | Diploma | Degree | PG | M.Phil/PhD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assam | 320 | 30 | 200 | 80 | 10 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 209 | 20 | 130 | 52 | 7 |
| Manipur | 192 | 18 | 120 | 48 | 6 |
| Meghalaya | 192 | 18 | 120 | 48 | 6 |
| Mizoram | 192 | 18 | 120 | 48 | 6 |
| Nagaland | 192 | 18 | 120 | 48 | 6 |
| Sikkim | 111 | 10 | 70 | 28 | 3 |
| Tripura | 192 | 18 | 120 | 48 | 6 |
Documents Required
- Permanent Residential Certificate (PRC) issued by Dy. Commissioner/ADC/SDO of the respective NE state (Certificate of Identification for Sikkim residents) — Mandatory
- Income Certificate issued by competent authority — Mandatory
- Bank Account Passbook in applicant’s own name — Optional
- Mark sheet/details of the qualifying examination — Mandatory
- Synopsis signed by project guide/Director (Research) — required only for M.Phil/Ph.D applicants
- Any other document as required under NSP guidelines
How to Apply for NEC Merit Scholarship 2026
- Visit the official National Scholarship Portal: scholarships.gov.in
- New applicants must first complete One Time Registration (OTR) on the portal.
- After registration, log in with your credentials and select the NEC Merit Scholarship scheme.
- Fill in personal, academic, bank, and income details carefully.
- Upload scanned copies of all mandatory documents (PRC, Income Certificate, mark sheet, etc.)
- Review the filled application and click Submit.
- Take a printout of the submitted application form for your records.
- Ensure your application is verified at the institute level before the verification deadline.
Important Dates (Renewal Cycle 2026-27)
| Start of Online Application (Renewal) | 15 July 2026 |
| Last Date of Online Application (Renewal) | 31 October 2026 |
| Last Date of Defect Verification | 15 November 2026 |
| Last Date of Institute Verification | 30 November 2026 |
Dates shown above apply to the renewal cycle. Fresh applicant dates are notified separately on the NSP portal — bookmark this page, we’ll update it as soon as they’re announced.
Important Links
| Apply Online | Click Here |
| One Time Registration | Register Here |
| Scheme Guidelines (PDF) | Download |
| Official NEC Website | Visit Site |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for the NEC Merit Scholarship 2026?
Permanent residents of the 8 North Eastern states, studying Diploma, Degree, PG, M.Phil, or Ph.D courses, with minimum 60% marks in the qualifying exam and family income up to Rs 8 lakh per annum.
Is there any reservation or quota under this scheme?
No. There is no reservation or quota based on category, religion, or gender. Selection is purely merit-based.
How much is the NEC Merit Scholarship amount?
Rs 20,000 for Diploma, Rs 22,000 for Degree, Rs 25,000 for Post Graduate, and Rs 30,000 per annum for M.Phil/Ph.D students.
Where do I apply for the NEC Merit Scholarship?
Applications are submitted online only through the National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in.
Can I hold another scholarship along with this one?
No. A student receiving any other scholarship or full financial assistance is not eligible for the NEC Merit Scholarship.
My M.Phil/Ph.D topic is not finalized yet — can I apply?
No. Only students whose research topic/synopsis has been submitted and registered with the university can apply.
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