UP Post Matric Scholarship 2025–26: Revised Schedule, Fresh Opportunity for Students and New Rules on Income Certificate
Under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath, the Uttar Pradesh government has taken a series of important decisions in the interest of students pursuing higher education. The Uttar Pradesh Social Welfare Department has introduced a revised schedule for the Post Matric Scholarship Scheme 2025–26, offering a fresh chance to eligible students who were earlier deprived of benefits due to delays in master data locking. Along with this relief, the department has also tightened rules related to income certificates, making the scholarship process more transparent and accountable.
Second Chance for Students Left Out Earlier
For the academic session 2025–26, several eligible students were unable to receive scholarship benefits because educational institutions failed to lock master data within the stipulated time. Acknowledging this issue, the state government has now released a revised and extended timeline, ensuring that no deserving student is excluded due to technical or procedural lapses.
The revised schedule applies equally to General, Other Backward Classes (OBC), Minority, Scheduled Caste (SC), and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students. The government’s objective is clear—to prevent financial constraints from becoming a barrier to education.
Transparent and Time-Bound Scholarship Process
Social Welfare Minister of State (Independent Charge) Aseem Arun stated that the revised framework aims to make the scholarship process more transparent, error-free, and time-bound. According to the department, clearly defined deadlines at each level will help in smooth verification and timely disbursement of funds.
This step is also expected to reduce complaints related to delayed payments and data discrepancies, which students have faced in previous years.
Revised Timeline for Master Data Locking and Verification
Deputy Director and Scheme Officer Anand Kumar Singh has outlined the updated schedule in detail. As per the revised programme:
- Educational institutions will prepare and lock master data between 23 December 2025 and 2 January 2026
- Universities and affiliating agencies will verify fees and student strength from 23 December 2025 to 9 January 2026
- District Social Welfare Officers will complete final verification by 15 January 2026
Master data verification is a critical step, as scholarship applications cannot move forward unless institutional and district-level checks are completed on time.
Application Process for General, OBC, and Minority Students
Students belonging to General, OBC, and Minority categories can submit their online applications up to 14 January 2026. After applying online, candidates must submit a hard copy of the application along with required documents to their respective institutions by 21 January 2026.
The verification process will be conducted in stages:
- Institution-level verification by 27 January 2026
- University-level actual student verification from 28 January to 7 February 2026
- Data scrutiny by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) by 9 February 2026
Once all checks are completed, the scholarship and fee reimbursement amount will be transferred by 18 March 2026 through the PFMS directly into Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts of students.
Extended Relief for SC and ST Students
In a major relief for marginalised communities, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students have been given a longer application window. They can apply for the scholarship till 31 March 2026, while the final payment will be made by 22 June 2026.
This extension reflects the government’s commitment to social justice and inclusive education, ensuring that students from disadvantaged backgrounds get adequate time to complete formalities.
New Rule on Income Certificate Raises Concern
Alongside the revised schedule, the Social Welfare Department has enforced a strict rule regarding income certificates. Under the new arrangement, only the income certificate of the father or legal guardian will be considered valid for scholarship and fee reimbursement. Applications submitted using the student’s own income certificate may face rejection.
Earlier, in districts such as Varanasi and Mathura, several students were found applying with income certificates issued in their own name instead of their parents’. This raised concerns over the accuracy and fairness of income-based eligibility.
Edit Option Introduced After Student Complaints
With the introduction of One Time Registration (OTR) linked to guardian income details, many students who had already uploaded their own income certificates faced difficulty in editing their applications. Following complaints, the department directed officials to provide an edit option so that students can replace incorrect certificates with valid parent or guardian income proof.
Deputy Director Anand Kumar Singh confirmed that instructions have been issued to departmental officers to facilitate corrections and prevent genuine applications from being rejected.
Questions Over Past Scholarship Distribution
The new rule has also triggered questions about previous scholarship distributions made on the basis of students’ own income certificates. As of now, no inquiry or verification drive has been ordered to examine past cases. Director of Social Welfare Kumar Prashant stated that the matter will be reviewed and necessary clarification will be issued, though no formal investigation has been announced yet.
Advisory to Students and Institutions
The Social Welfare Department has advised students and institutions to strictly adhere to the revised timeline and documentation rules. Students are urged to:
- Upload only father or guardian income certificates
- Use the edit option if corrections are required
- Ensure Aadhaar-linked bank accounts
- Regularly monitor official scholarship portals for updates
The combined measures—revised timelines, extended deadlines, and stricter income certificate rules—mark a significant step toward strengthening the UP Post Matric Scholarship 2025–26 framework. While the revised schedule offers a second chance to thousands of students, the new verification norms aim to ensure transparency and prevent misuse. Effective implementation of these reforms will be crucial in delivering timely financial assistance and supporting uninterrupted access to higher education across Uttar Pradesh.
Post a Comment