NSP Scholarship Apply Online: OTR & Application Steps

The National Scholarship Portal (NSP) is the Government of India website where students apply for many central, and some state, scholarships. This guide explains the whole process in simple steps: first you get a One Time Registration (OTR) number, then you fill the scholarship form.

Applying on NSP is free. You do not need to pay any agent.

Who can apply

Each scholarship has its own rules. Common conditions include family income limits, marks in the last exam, category (SC, ST, OBC, minority, disability and so on), and the class or course you are studying. Your school, college or ITI must also be registered on NSP.

The easiest way to check is the Scholarship Eligibility page. Enter your details and it shows the schemes you may apply for. If a scheme does not appear, use the “Why am I not eligible?” option to see the reason.

From academic year 2026–27, NSP says a student may apply for one merit-based scheme and one or more welfare-based schemes in a year, if eligible.

Before you start

An active mobile number. All messages and OTPs come to it.
Your Aadhaar number, and the mobile number linked to that Aadhaar (for OTP). If you do not have Aadhaar yet, keep your Aadhaar enrolment slip (EID). A minor student can also register using a parent’s or legal guardian’s Aadhaar.
An Android phone to install two apps: NSP OTR and AadhaarFaceRD (both on Google Play Store). Face authentication is done only through the app.
A bank account in the student’s name, seeded (linked) with Aadhaar for Direct Benefit Transfer. You can check seeding status on myAadhaar.
Biometrics “Unlocked” in Aadhaar. If they are locked, face authentication fails.
Scheme documents, usually as scans: marksheet of last exam, income certificate, caste or category certificate (if needed), fee receipt, and a bonafide or study certificate. The exact list depends on the scheme, so read its guidelines first.
Students with disability: first log in to the UDID portal and give consent to share your UDID details. NSP says you cannot submit otherwise.

Part A: Get your OTR number (one time only)

OTR is a unique 14-digit number. You make it once and use it for your whole student life. It replaces yearly registration.

Open scholarships.gov.in and click Apply For One Time Registration (OTR).
Read the guidelines, tick the boxes and click Next.
Enter your mobile number and verify it with the OTP.
Complete Aadhaar e-KYC. Enter the student’s Aadhaar (or the parent’s, for a minor). Type the OTP sent to the Aadhaar-linked mobile.
Fill the remaining details and click Finish. A Reference Number is sent to your mobile.
On an Android phone, install the NSP OTR app and the AadhaarFaceRD app from Google Play Store.
Open the NSP OTR app, choose eKYC with FaceAuth, and enter the Reference Number and the OTP.
Sit in good light, keep your face close to the camera and blink when asked. The person whose Aadhaar was used must be present.
After successful face authentication, your 14-digit OTR number is shown and sent by SMS. Note it down safely.

Making an OTR is not the same as applying. You still have to fill the scholarship form.

Part B: Fill the scholarship application

Go to NSP, choose Students, and click Login under Apply For Scholarship. You can log in with OTR, Aadhaar or APAAR.
Open Basic Information. Fill General Information, Academic Details and Application Specific Details. Check spellings, marks and income carefully.
Go to Apply Fresh. Read the guidelines, tick the boxes and click Continue.
Select the category (Scholarship or Incentive) and click Apply. An Application ID is created.
In My Applications, click Proceed next to that ID, then Fill/Edit Application Form.
Pick your scheme from the list shown, upload the required documents and click Final Submit.
Save or print the submitted form for your records.

Part C: After you submit

Your school or college checks the form first (institute verification). Then a district, state or ministry officer verifies it. Each level has its own last date.
If the form is marked “defective”, log in, open the application and correct it before the date closes.
Track progress on the Application Status page. Track money on the PFMS Know Your Payment page.
Renewal students: apply again each year through the renewal option, before the deadline.

Deadlines

The portal for academic year 2026–27 opened on 1 June 2026. Each scheme has its own closing date for students, and separate dates for institute and officer verification. Dates also change from year to year. Always check the latest dates on the NSP student announcements page, and apply well before the last day.

No smartphone? Use a CSC

NSP services are available at Common Service Centres (CSCs). The full service, including OTR and filling the form, costs Rs 30 in total as per NSP. Find a centre at locator.csccloud.in.

Common mistakes

Thinking the OTR number is the application. It is only registration.
Using a mobile number that will change. OTPs and updates go only to the registered number.
Aadhaar not seeded with the bank account, so payment fails even after approval.
Biometrics locked in Aadhaar, so face authentication keeps failing. Error 904 in the app usually needs the AadhaarFaceRD app to be updated.
Name, date of birth or marks in the form not matching the certificates.
Uploading blurred or wrong documents.
Waiting for the last day, when the site is slow.
Not asking the school or college to verify the form in time.
Paying middlemen. OTR is free on NSP; CSCs charge only the fixed fee.
Forgetting OTR updates. When a student turns 18, NSP asks for an update with their own Aadhaar. If you registered with an EID, add your Aadhaar within one month.

Help

NSP Helpdesk: 0120-6619540 (8 AM to 8 PM, all days except government holidays), email [email protected]. For payment issues, the PFMS toll-free number is 1800 118 111.

Official links

Last checked: November 2026