Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students (CSSS)

About this scholarship

CSSS is one of the central government's largest college scholarships, aimed at students who did well in class 12 but would struggle to afford a degree. Selection is based on your class 12 board marks: you generally need to be in the top 20 percent of successful candidates in your own board's stream, which means the effective cut-off varies from board to board and from year to year. The scholarship is paid for the duration of your course, but it is not automatic after the first year — you have to renew it annually and maintain the required attendance and marks. Students in professional courses can continue receiving it through the later years of their programme. It applies to regular degree courses at recognised colleges and universities, not to diploma or correspondence courses.

Documents you need

• Class 12 marksheet showing your marks and board
• Proof of admission or current enrolment in a recognised degree course
• Family income certificate showing income below ₹4.5 lakh per year
• Aadhaar number, and a bank account in your own name linked to that Aadhaar
• Bank passbook copy showing account number and IFSC code
• Fee receipt from your college
• Passport-size photograph and your signature in the format NSP asks for

How to apply

1. Register on the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) as a fresh applicant and note down the application ID it gives you.
2. Complete your profile with Aadhaar, bank and academic details exactly as they appear on the documents.
3. Select the Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship under the Ministry of Education.
4. Upload the scanned documents within the file size limits the portal specifies.
5. Submit before the portal deadline, then take the application to your institution — your college has to verify it on NSP before it goes to the ministry.
6. Track the status on NSP and keep checking, because an application stuck at institute-verification stage will simply lapse.

Why applications get rejected

• Assuming submission is the last step. If your college does not verify the application on NSP, it is never considered.
• A name mismatch between Aadhaar, the bank account and the marksheet — this is one of the most common reasons payments fail.
• Using a bank account belonging to a parent. The account must be in the student's own name and Aadhaar-linked for the transfer to work.
• Forgetting the annual renewal. The scholarship does not continue by itself, and a missed renewal window usually cannot be reopened.
• Applying for a diploma or correspondence course, which the scheme does not cover.

Common questions

What class 12 percentage do I need for CSSS?

There is no single fixed percentage. Selection works on being in roughly the top 20 percent of successful candidates in your stream in your own board, so the cut-off differs between boards and changes each year. Check the current year's notification on NSP for the exact cut-off that applies to you.

Can I get CSSS along with another scholarship?

Generally no. Central government scholarships are usually not allowed to be combined with another central scholarship for the same course. Confirm the current rule in the scheme guidelines on NSP before applying for two schemes.

How is the money paid?

By direct benefit transfer into the student's own Aadhaar-linked bank account. This is why the bank and Aadhaar details have to match your other documents exactly.

Do I have to reapply every year?

You do not start a fresh application, but you must complete the renewal process on NSP each year and meet the attendance and academic conditions. If you miss the renewal window the scholarship stops.

New to the National Scholarship Portal? Read our step-by-step guide to applying on NSP.