The Ministry of Education has opened the application window for the Central Sector Scholarship Scheme for College and University Students (CSSS), with the last date for submission set for November 30, 2025. The scheme, which supports meritorious students from economically weaker backgrounds, is accepting both fresh applications and renewal requests through the National Scholarship Portal. According to the latest update, students must submit their applications exclusively on scholarships.gov.in, and institutions have been instructed to complete the verification process within the official timelines.
Fresh and Renewal Applications Accepted Online
The Ministry has clarified that fresh applications are meant for students who completed the Intermediate Public Examination (IPE) in 2025. These applicants fall under the new cycle of the scholarship for the academic session 2025–26. Renewal applications, on the other hand, are for students who were selected for the scholarship in previous years and are continuing their undergraduate or postgraduate studies. They must renew their applications to continue receiving the financial support for the upcoming academic year. The portal will remain open until November 30, 2025, for both categories. Students who fail to apply within the time frame will not be considered in the current cycle.
Verification Deadline for Institutions
The Ministry has also set the Institute Nodal Officer (INO) verification deadline for December 15, 2025. Institutions must verify all pending forms before this date so that eligible students can receive timely scholarship disbursal. Officials have advised students to submit the application early so that institutions have sufficient time to complete the verification process. Any form that remains unverified after December 15 will be automatically rejected.
List of Provisionally Selected 20th Percentile Candidates Released
The Telangana Board of Intermediate Education (TGBIE) has published the 20th percentile list for IPE 2025, which includes students provisionally selected for consideration under the National Merit Scholarship. The list is available on tgbie.cgg.gov.in, and features a total of 61,135 candidates across various categories. This includes:
- General Category: 18,696 candidates
- OBC Category: 33,932 candidates
- SC Category: 8,446 candidates
- ST Category: 5,361 candidates
- PH Category: 43 candidates
Students included in this percentile list are eligible to apply, but final selection depends on fulfilling all required criteria and documentation.
Important Instructions for Applicants
Students applying for the National Merit Scholarship must ensure the following:
- All details submitted online must match the information in official records.
- A valid bank account in the applicant’s name is mandatory.
- Aadhaar number or Aadhaar enrolment ID must be provided.
- Renewal candidates must upload the progress report for the previous academic year.
- Institutions must verify both academic details and bank account information before approval.
Final Reminder
With the deadline approaching, the Ministry has urged all eligible students and institutions to complete the application and verification process well before November 30, 2025. The CSSS scholarship remains one of the most significant financial support schemes for undergraduate and postgraduate students across the country. Follow KollegeApply for the latest updates on College Admissions, Courses, Exam Dates, Results, Scholarships, Career Guidance, Education News, and Policy Changes — everything needed to stay ahead in the education journey
