IIT Kharagpur Scholarships 2026: Eligibility, Amount and Other Details

Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur is committed to ensuring that financial limitations do not prevent meritorious and deserving students from pursuing world-class education. The institute's comprehensive financial assistance program offers a blend of Merit-based, Need-based, Government, Corporate, and Alumni-funded scholarships.

These scholarships and fee waivers play a crucial role in reducing the financial burden, particularly for economically disadvantaged students, allowing them to focus entirely on their academics and research.

Types of Scholarships Offered at IIT Kharagpur

Merit-cum-Means Scholarship (MCM)

This is the primary need-based scholarship funded by the Institute.

• Eligibility Criteria:

  • Applicable to students of 4-year B.Tech (Hons.), 5-year Dual Degree, 5-year B.Arch (Hons.), 5-year Integrated M.Sc. courses, and 4-year B.S. programs.

  • Means Criteria (Income Ceiling): The annual gross family income from all sources should generally not exceed $text{₹} 6,00,000$ (Six Lakh Rupees). Note: For full fee waiver consideration, the income ceiling is lower.

  • Merit Criteria (Academic Performance): For renewal in subsequent years, the student must maintain a minimum General Performance Index (GPI) / Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 7.00 (or a criterion set by the Institute) in the preceding academic session.

  • Capacity: Awarded to not more than 25% of the students admitted to the Undergraduate and Dual Degree courses each year.

• Scholarship Amount/Fee Waiver:

  • A monthly scholarship of $text{₹} 1,000$ (payable for 10-12 months in a session).

  • Full exemption from Institute Tuition Fees for all MCM holders.

• Required Documents: Income Certificate from a competent state government authority, academic mark sheets/CGPA cards, and bank details.

• Renewal Rules: Subject to a minimum CGPA/GPI requirement and no adverse disciplinary record.

Endowment and Alumni-Funded Scholarships

These are funded by generous contributions from IIT Kharagpur alumni and well-wishers, often prioritizing both merit and need, or specific branches.

Government Scholarships (Central & State)

Students can apply for various scholarships run by the Central and State Governments via the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).

• SC/ST/OBC Scholarships: Schemes like the Post-Matric Scholarship (State-specific) and Central Sector Schemes for SC/ST students. These often provide fee reimbursement, maintenance allowances, and other benefits.

  • Example: Free Mess and Pocket Allowance for SC/ST students, often covering basic mess charges and a pocket allowance (e.g., $text{₹} 250$ per month), independent of the family income limit for tuition fee waiver.

• Minority Scholarship Schemes: Merit-cum-Means Scholarship for students from minority communities (Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis, etc.).

  • Income Limit: Typically not exceeding $text{₹} 2.5$ Lakh per annum.

  • Benefit: Maintenance allowance and course fee reimbursement up to a certain limit (e.g., $text{₹} 20,000$ per annum).

• Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship (CSS): For meritorious students from poor families (family income limit $text{₹} 4.5$ Lakh).

Corporate/Industry Sponsored Scholarships

Corporations offer scholarships to IIT students based on merit and sometimes a commitment to work with the sponsoring company.

• Aditya Birla Scholarship: A highly prestigious scholarship for top-ranked students (e.g., top 20 JEE rank holders).

• Tata Steel: May offer scholarships for specific disciplines (e.g., Metallurgical Engineering).

• Indian Oil Educational Scholarship

• Engineers India Limited (EIL) Scholarship

• Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) Scholarship

PhD/Research Scholarships

• Institute Assistantship (M.Tech/PhD):

  • M.Tech/M.C.P. Students: $text{₹} 12,400$ per month (subject to valid GATE score and Institute norms).

  • PhD Students (First 2 Years): $text{₹} 37,000$ per month.

  • PhD Students (Next 3 Years): $text{₹} 42,000$ per month (subject to satisfactory progress and research review).

• PMRF (Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship): The highest level of national fellowship.

  • Amount: $text{₹} 70,000$ per month for the first two years, $text{₹} 75,000$ for the third year, and $text{₹} 80,000$ for the fourth and fifth years, plus a research grant of $text{₹} 2$ Lakh per year.

• Project-based Funding: Research scholars are often hired as Project Assistants/Junior Research Fellows (JRF) on externally funded research projects.

IIT Kharagpur Fee Waivers & Financial Assistance

IIT Kharagpur provides substantial tuition fee waivers as per the Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India guidelines.

• Hostel Fee Concessions: While tuition fees are waived, other fees like Hostel charges, Mess advance, and other prescribed institutional fees must generally be paid. However, schemes like Free Mess and Pocket Allowance exist specifically for SC/ST students, covering the basic mess charges.

• Emergency Financial Aid: The institute and its alumni bodies may offer discretionary emergency financial aid for students facing unforeseen severe financial hardship.

IIT Kharagpur Scholarship Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility is primarily determined by a combination of means (income) and merit (academic performance).

• Academic Performance:

  • New Entrants (UG): Based on performance in the qualifying examination/JEE Advanced rank.

  • Current Students (UG/PG): For renewal/new application, generally requires a minimum GPI/CGPA (e.g., 7.00 for MCM renewal, or a higher CGPA for merit-based endowment scholarships).

• Family Income (Means-based): Varies by scholarship. The primary benchmark for the Institute's full tuition fee waiver is an annual gross family income of less than $text{₹} 1,00,000$.

• Category-based Criteria: SC, ST, OBC, PwD, and EWS students have specific government schemes and fee waiver provisions. SC/ST students receive a full tuition fee waiver irrespective of family income.

• Program-wise Criteria:

  • B.Tech, Dual Degree, B.Arch, BS: Eligible for MCM and most endowment/corporate scholarships.

  • M.Tech/M.C.P.: Eligible for Institute Assistantship (with valid GATE score) and some corporate scholarships.

  • PhD: Eligible for Institute Assistantship, PMRF, and various individual fellowships (CSIR, UGC, INSPIRE).

• Additional Considerations: The student must have a satisfactory attendance record and no disciplinary action should have been taken or be pending against them during the preceding year.

IIT Kharagpur Documents Required

You must prepare the following documents in advance for a smooth application process:

• Income Certificate: Latest Annual Gross Family Income Certificate issued by the competent State Government authority (e.g., Tehsildar/SDO/First Class Magistrate) for the preceding financial year. Affidavits from a Notary/CA are typically NOT accepted.

• Caste/Category Certificate: SC/ST/OBC (NCL)/EWS certificate, as applicable, issued by a competent authority in the prescribed Central Government format.

• Previous Academic Marksheets: Copies of mark sheets/Grade Cards for all preceding semesters/years (for renewal or second/subsequent year applications).

• Bonafide Certificate: Student status/Bonafide Certificate from the Institute (usually generated internally).

• Bank Passbook: Copy of the first page of the student's personal bank passbook showing the Account Number and IFSC Code (for direct benefit transfer/DBT).

• Aadhaar Card: Copy of the student's Aadhaar Card.

• Other Scholarship-Specific Documents: May include an affidavit regarding non-receipt of other scholarships, specific forms, or ITR copies (if family income exceeds the non-taxable limit).

IIT Kharagpur Application Process (Step-by-Step)

Application Through IIT Kharagpur Portal

Institute scholarships like the MCM are applied for directly through the Institute's online system.

1. Wait for the Official Call: The Dean of Students’ Welfare (DSW) office releases a circular inviting applications for MCM and other Institute scholarships, typically at the start of the academic year.

2. Login to ERP Portal: Access the IIT Kharagpur ERP system using your student login credentials.

3. Complete the Application Form: Fill in all required personal, academic, and financial details accurately in the scholarship section.

4. Upload Documents: Upload scanned copies of all required documents (Income Certificate, Caste Certificate, Marksheets, etc.) in the specified format and size.

5. Submission and Verification: Submit the online form. The application is then verified by the Hall of Residence/Warden and subsequently forwarded to the DSW office.

Application Through NSP / Government Portals

Government scholarships are applied for via the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) or respective state portals.

1. Registration: Register as a new user on the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in).

2. Form Submission: Log in, select the relevant Central/State Sector scheme (e.g., Post-Matric, Merit-cum-Means for Minorities), and fill out the detailed application form.

3. Document Upload: Upload documents like the Income Certificate, Caste Certificate, fee receipt, and bank details.

4. Verification Timeline: The application is first verified by the Institute Nodal Officer (INO) at IIT Kharagpur, then by the State Nodal Officer (SNO), and finally processed by the concerned Ministry. Students must adhere strictly to the NSP deadlines for submission and verification.

IIT Kharagpur Selection Procedure

• Verification of Income: The Institute verifies the family income using the submitted Income Certificate and, in some cases, ITR documents, ensuring strict adherence to the income ceiling.

• Academic Performance Review: Merit scholarships are awarded based on the highest CGPA/GPI in the preceding semester/year. For MCM, academic eligibility is verified using the minimum CGPA requirement (e.g., 7.00).

• Priority for Economically Weaker Students: In case of equal merit scores, priority is often given to students with lower family incomes (lower means) or those hailing from rural areas, especially for the MCM scholarship.

• Renewal Rules: Scholarships are typically renewable annually or semesterly, provided the student meets the minimum academic criteria and maintains a clean disciplinary record. Failure to meet these conditions can lead to the suspension or termination of the scholarship.

IIT Kharagpur Scholarship Amount & Benefits Table

IIT Kharagpur Deadlines & Important Dates

Scholarship deadlines are generally based on the academic session.

Tips to Improve IIT Kharagpur Scholarship Approval Chances

1. Prepare the Income Certificate Early: The income certificate is the most critical document. Ensure it is issued by the correct authority (Tehsildar/SDO, not just a Notary/CA) and its date falls within the validity period (usually on or after April 1st of the current financial year).

2. Fill Forms Accurately: Any mismatch in details between the application form, academic records, and supporting documents can lead to rejection or significant delay.

3. Maintain Academic Performance: For renewal and merit-based awards, maintaining the minimum required CGPA (e.g., $geq 7.00$ for MCM) is mandatory.

4. Submit Before Deadlines: Government and corporate scholarship deadlines are non-negotiable. Submit your application and get the institutional verification done well ahead of the cut-off date.

5. Check Status Regularly: Regularly monitor the status of your application on the IIT Kharagpur ERP/Scholarship portal and the NSP portal.