🎓 Top Scholarship Exams After 12th in India (2025) – Apply & Study for Free!

College education in India is getting expensive — but scholarships can make your dream education affordable or even free. Whether you're from a science, commerce, or arts background, there are many scholarship exams after 12th that can help you get financial support for higher studies.

In this blog, you’ll find the top scholarship exams after 12th in India, including eligibility, benefits, and how to apply in 2025.

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🏆 Why Apply for Scholarships?

• 💸 Reduce tuition and hostel fees

• 📚 Support for books, travel, and other academic costs

• 
  🏛️ Admission into top colleges/universities

• 🌍 Many offer opportunities to study abroad!

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📋 List of Top Scholarship Exams After 12th (2025)

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1. 🧠 Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY)

For: Science stream students
Offered by: Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India
Eligibility: 12th passed or pursuing B.Sc./B.S./B.Stat/B.Math

Benefits:

• Monthly stipend of ₹5,000 to ₹7,000

• Access to summer camps at IISc, IITs

Apply at: kvpy.iisc.ac.in

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2. 🧮 National Scholarship Exam (NSE)

For: Students of all streams (10th to PG level)
Conducted by: NICE Foundation
Eligibility: 12th pass from any recognized board

Benefits:

• Cash prizes up to ₹35,000

• Certificates and national recognition

Apply at: nicescholarship.com

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3. 🇮🇳 INSPIRE Scholarship (SHE) by DST

For: Top 1% scorers in Class 12 (Science stream)
Eligibility: Must pursue basic science degrees like B.Sc., M.Sc.

Benefits:

• ₹80,000 per year (₹60,000 scholarship + ₹20,000 summer research)

Apply at: online-inspire.gov.in

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4. 🎓 AICTE Pragati Scholarship for Girls

For: Girl students in technical diploma/degree courses
Eligibility: Family income < ₹8 lakh/year

Benefits:

• ₹50,000 per year for tuition/living expenses

Apply at: scholarships.gov.in

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5. 📚 National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMSS)

For: Economically weaker students
Eligibility: 12th pass with income below ₹1.5 lakh/year

Benefits:

• ₹12,000/year for higher studies

Apply at: scholarships.gov.in

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6. 🧾 HDFC Bank Parivartan’s ECSS Scholarship

For: Students in UG, PG, diploma courses
Eligibility: Income < ₹2.5 lakh/year

Benefits:

• ₹15,000 – ₹75,000 per year

Apply at: buddy4study.com

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7. 🏛️ College-Specific Scholarships (Private/Deemed Universities)

Many private universities offer merit-based scholarships based on:

• 12th board marks

• Entrance exam scores

• Sports/cultural achievements

Examples:

• Amity University

• Shiv Nadar University

• Manipal University

• Ashoka University

Check individual college websites for details.

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8. 🌐 Study Abroad Scholarships After 12th

• Inlaks Scholarship (for Indian students to study abroad)

• J N Tata Endowment

• Commonwealth Scholarship

• DAAD Germany Undergraduate Scholarships

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📆 When to Apply?

Scholarship Name	Application Period
KVPY	June – August
INSPIRE SHE	October – December
Pragati AICTE	August – November
HDFC Parivartan	May – September
NSE – NICE	July – October

✅ Always check official websites for the latest dates and updates.

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📌 Tips to Win a Scholarship

1. Start early – Don’t wait for deadlines

2. Prepare well for aptitude-based exams

3. Keep documents ready – income certificate, marksheet, ID

4. Apply to multiple scholarships to increase your chances

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🧾 Documents Usually Required:

• Class 10 & 12 mark sheets

• Income certificate

• ID proof (Aadhar, PAN)

• Passport-size photos

• Admission proof (if already enrolled)

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🧠 Final Thoughts

Getting a scholarship after 12th can reduce your financial burden and help you study stress-free. Whether you’re from a science, commerce, or arts background, there are multiple options available.

🎯 Tip: Use platforms like Buddy4Study or NSP (scholarships.gov.in) to explore more scholarship opportunities.