Education is still unfeasible for many students due to their financial background. A considerable number of dropouts, especially post-matric, are recorded every year in West Bengal. Therefore, the Indian Government initiated schemes to draw students back into the classrooms.

Merit-cum-Means scholarship is one such scheme that ensures every brilliant student can pursue their higher secondary school. Read further to know the objective, eligibility criteria, features and application process.

The Ministry of Minority Affairs announced Merit-cum-Means based scholarship scheme from the academic year of 2006-2007. The Government of India will provide financial aid through this new scholarship scheme to ensure the higher education of poverty-ridden meritorious students.

The primary objective of this scheme is the financial reinforcement of poor, meritorious students to continue their post-matric studies. It mainly focuses on financially deprived students belonging to minority communities.

Followings are some salient features of this scheme:

• It is a chief program of the Ministry of Minority Affairs for minority communities.
• This scheme is a Central Sector Scheme.
• India’s Ministry of Minority Affairs funds 100% of this scholarship scheme.
• Total 60,000 new scholarships are bestowed every year under this scheme.
• Students can renew their scholarships until they complete their courses.

Below are the eligibility criteria for Merit-cum-Means scholarship:

• Students from the identified minority communities are qualified for this scheme. Those communities include- Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Zoroastrians or Parsis.
• They must obtain at least 50% marks or a grade equivalent in their last final examination.
• The gross annual income of their parents must not surpass ₹ 2,50,000.
• Students must pursue their course from India in an affiliated school, institution, college or university.
• The minimum duration of their course should be 1 year.

Here is a step-by-step process to apply for Merit-cum-Means Scholarship Scheme:

• Step 1: Visit the official portal of NSP, hover to the ‘New Registration’ button and click.
• Step 2: Select the agreements and click on ‘Continue’ to fill out the details on the ‘Fresh Registration Application’ form. 
• Step 3: Click on ‘Submit’ after filling in all the details.
• Step 4: You will receive a Student Application ID and Password on your registered mobile number.
• Step 5: Now, click on ‘Login’ and enter the Application ID and Password to Log in to the website.
• Step 6: Then, choose the ‘Ministry of Minority Affairs’ option from the websites’ home page.
• Step 7: Open the ‘Merit-cum-Means Scholarship for Professional and Technical Courses CS’ application form and fill it out carefully.
• Step 8: Lastly, submit the form by following the further steps.

Below are the documents to upload on the NSP website to apply for this scheme:

• Verification form produced by a student’s Institution.
• Annual income certificate of student’s family.
• Aadhaar number of the student.
• Previous qualifying exam’s mark sheet at the higher secondary or undergraduate level. 
• A community certificate-
  • Self-certified if the applicant is or above the age of 18 years.
  • Certified by parents or a guardian if the applicant is below 18 years.
• Applicant’s bank account number and the account holding branch’s IFSC Code.
• Receipt of the present course fee.
• Residential or Habitation Certificate.