IGNOU Scholarship 2026: Important Dates, Steps to Fill

IGNOU scholarship 2026: IGNOU Scholarship 2026 is awarded to qualified students based on need or merit by the college board. Students from reserved categories (SC/ST/PwD) are provided certain exemptions or scholarships as per the university's guidelines. Eligible candidates may collect the form for the IGNOU scholarship 2026 from the Directorate of Social Welfare or the office of the Social Welfare Officer of their state. For necessary certification by the Regional Director, the form must be submitted to the Regional Director at the Regional Centre where they have applied for admission or registered for the programme after its release. Continue reading to get all the relevant details on the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) scholarship and make an informed decision. Students eager to know about the IGNOU scholarship 2026 can go through the eligibility criteria, application submission process, and steps to apply etc.

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IGNOU Scholarship 2026 Overview

IGNOU Scholarship is a monetary support initiative available to candidates who are physically impaired, financially impoverished, SC, ST, and jail inmates. The institution also offers scholarships to transgender students who live in the Weaver community. Many scholars apply for the IGNOU scholarship 2026 annually based on their needs and requirements.

Candidates' regional centres can provide them with scholarship applications and their pertinent details. The IGNOU scholarship 2026 application must be completed and verified by the relevant authorities. After that, students should return it to their local offices to apply for scholarships from IGNOU. Students must also check if the required documents are valid and clear, and refrain from waiting till the IGNOU scholarship last date.

Eligibility Criteria for IGNOU Scholarship 2026

The eligibility criteria for the IGNOU scholarship 2026 vary depending on the scholarship scheme. However, some general eligibility criteria include:

• The student must be an Indian citizen.
• The student must be enrolled in an IGNOU program.
• The student must have a good academic record.
• The student must belong to a financially disadvantaged background and reserved categories such as the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, the waiver community, transgender, jail inmates, and the physically handicapped.
• The annual income of the family must not exceed INR 3,00,000.

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Different Types of IGNOU Scholarship 2026

The university offers various scholarships for students depending on their needs and requirements; however, prospective students must fill out the application form before the IGNOU scholarship deadline. All the scholarships offered by the college are mentioned below.

• IGNOU Special Scholarships: These scholarships are offered by IGNOU to students from various categories, such as women, minorities, and differently-abled persons.
• IGNOU Merit Scholarship : This scholarship is awarded to students who have scored high marks in their previous examinations.
• IGNOU National Fellowship for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) : This scholarship is awarded to SC and ST students who are pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate programs at IGNOU. The tuition fee and other related expenses are covered under this scholarship.
• IGNOU National Fellowship for Other Backwards Classes (OBCs) : This scholarship is awarded to OBC students who are pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate programs at IGNOU. The tuition fee and other related expenses are covered under this scholarship.
• IGNOU National Fellowship for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) : This scholarship is awarded to PWD students who are pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate programs at IGNOU. The tuition fee and other related expenses are covered under this scholarship.
• IGNOU National Fellowship for Women : This scholarship is awarded to women students who are pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate programs at IGNOU. The tuition fee and other related expenses are covered under this scholarship.

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How to Apply for IGNOU Scholarship 2026?

To apply for an IGNOU scholarship, students must submit an application form along with the required documents. Steps to fill out the IGNOU Scholarship Form 2026 are below:

• Step 1 : Students will have to visit the official website www.ignou.ac.in or they can also visit the nearest centre to fill out the scholarship application form. They can also obtain the application form from the Directorate of Social Welfare or their respective State Social Welfare Office.
• Step 2 : Fill out all the required information, such as the student’s name, father’s name, date of birth, gender, caste, personal mobile number, Email ID, etc.
• Step 3 : Attach all the valid, up-to-date documents like academic background marksheets, income certificates, an updated caste certificate, and more.
• Step 4 : Check that all the information is correct and all required documents are attached properly well in advance before IGNOU scholarship 2026 last date.
• Step 5 : After the notification has been released by IGNOU, students need to get their IGNOU scholarship form certified by the Regional Director appointed at the regional centre of their programme.
• Step 6 : After this, the duly completed IGNOU Scholarship Form 2026 must be submitted at the social welfare office or to the Directorate of Social Welfare in their respective states.
• Step 7 : The disabled learning community must reach out directly to the authority responsible for awarding the scholarship to apply for financial aid.
• Step 8 : Read the IGNOU scholarship form 2026 eligibility criteria thoroughly before applying for the aid.

Documents Required to Fill the IGNOU Scholarship Application Form

The students interested in filling out the IGNOU scholarship application form need to submit some documents. The list of required documents while filling out IGNOU’s scholarship application form is given below.

• Proof of Date of Birth
• Aadhar card
• Address proof
• 10th standard certificate
• 12th standard certificate
• Graduation certificate
• Admission offer letter of IGNOU
• A completed scholarship application form
• A copy of their income certificate
• A copy of the Caste Certificate (If applicable)
• A copy of the Disability Certificate (if applicable)

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IGNOU Scholarship 2026 Amount

The IGNOU scholarship amount will be determined based on the programme that a candidate has enrolled in and the reservation criteria. Candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria to become qualified to apply for this financial assistance. Below mentioned is the IGNOU 2026 scholarship amount 2026 based on the courses.

Name of the Course	Eligibility Criteria	Scholarship Amount
M.Phil	Enrollment in the full-time M.Phil programme Less than 35 years of age Strong academic background Reserved category (SC/ST) A valid physically handicapped document proof (if applied under the category) No other scholarship must be there in their name	INR 5000 per month
PhD	Enrollment in full-time Ph.D degree at IGNOU Less than 35 years of age Strong academic background Reserved category (SC/ST) A valid physically handicapped document proof (if applied under the category) No other scholarship must be there in their name	INR 8000 per month

Benefits of IGNOU Scholarship 2026

IGNOU scholarships provide several benefits to students, including:

• Financial assistance to help reserved category candidates who belong to the economically backward section of society pay their tuition fees and other educational expenses
• Reduced financial burden on students and their families
• Motivation for students to pursue higher education and improve their status in society
• Recognition of students' academic achievements

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IGNOU Scholarship 2026 is an innovative initiative that promotes educational inclusivity and empowerment rather than merely providing financial aid. As soon as the application window opens, eligible students must take advantage of this opportunity and start their journey towards achieving academic excellence. For more details on the IGNOU scholarship process, you can visit the official website, write to us on the CollegeDekho QnA Portal or dial the helpline number 1800-572-9877.