Who is this guide for?
This guide is for school and college students, and their parents, who want to apply for a central government scholarship on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) for the 2026-27 academic year. After reading it you will know what to keep ready, how to get your One Time Registration number, and how to apply without common mistakes.
The official website is scholarships.gov.in. Do not use any other website that claims to be the NSP.
What is the One Time Registration (OTR) number?
The One Time Registration (OTR) number is a 14-digit number that NSP gives you once. It is based on your Aadhaar (or Aadhaar Enrolment ID) and stays the same for your whole time as a student, so you do not have to register again every year. NSP says OTR has been required to apply for scholarships since 2024-25. Your OTR is also your username when you log in, and it links all your applications in one place.
OTR is free. If you get help at a Common Service Centre (CSC), the total charge for everything, including face authentication, getting the OTR and filling the full application, is Rs 30, according to NSP. You can find a nearby CSC at locator.csccloud.in.
What do you need before you start?
| What you need | Why | If you do not have it |
|---|---|---|
| Aadhaar number | To complete e-KYC and face authentication | Use your Aadhaar Enrolment ID slip, or a parent’s or guardian’s Aadhaar if you are a minor |
| Mobile number linked to Aadhaar | OTPs and your Reference number are sent here | Link your mobile to Aadhaar first |
| An active mobile number | For messages from NSP | |
| Bank account seeded with Aadhaar (NPCI seeding) | Scholarships are paid by Direct Benefit Transfer | NSP lists this as “desired”. Check the status in your OTR profile |
| An Android phone with the NSP OTR app and the Aadhaar FaceRD app | For face authentication | A CSC can do biometric authentication for you |
Keep the documents your scheme asks for ready too, for example an income certificate, a community certificate, mark sheets or a disability certificate. Each scheme’s rules are in its “Specifications” link on the NSP scheme list.
How do you get your OTR, step by step?
- Start registration. On scholarships.gov.in, go to the student section and choose One Time Registration. Enter your details and Aadhaar (or EID, or your parent’s Aadhaar if you are a minor).
- Note your Reference number. NSP sends a Reference number to your registered mobile. You need it for the next step. If you forget it, use “Forgot Reference no” with the Aadhaar you used.
- Install two apps from the Google Play Store: the Aadhaar FaceRD app and the NSP OTR app.
- Do face authentication. In the NSP OTR app, choose “eKYC with FaceAuth”. Sit in good light and keep your face in the frame. When it succeeds, your OTR number is sent to your phone.
- Set your password. If you do not receive it, use “Forgot Password” under OTR login on the NSP student page.
How do you apply for a scholarship?
- Check which schemes you qualify for. Open the scheme list on NSP, choose the ministry or department, and read the “Specifications” (rules) and “FAQ” for each scheme.
- Check the closing date. For 2026-27 the portal opened on 1 June 2026. Many schemes close on 30 September 2026 or 31 October 2026. Check the exact date for your scheme on the scheme list.
- Log in with your OTR and fill the application. Upload clear copies of the documents asked for.
- Submit and save your application ID. You can always see all your applications and their status by logging in with your OTR.
From 2026-27, NSP allows one merit-based scholarship and one or more welfare-based scholarships per student, if you are eligible for each.
If you have a disability: NSP says you must first log in to the UDID portal and give consent to share your UDID details, and only then submit your NSP application. Otherwise you will not be able to submit.
What happens after you apply?
Your application is checked in stages. First your school or college verifies it. Then a district, state or ministry nodal officer verifies it. Each stage has its own closing date on the scheme list, so ask your institution to verify in time.
Scholarships are paid directly into your bank account by Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). For many schemes you can track payment on the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) portal using “Know Your Payment”.
What are the most common mistakes?
- Applying on a fake website. Only use scholarships.gov.in.
- Registering with an Aadhaar Enrolment ID and forgetting to update it. You must add your Aadhaar within one month, or your OTR may be suspended.
- Not updating after turning 18. If you used a parent’s Aadhaar, update to your own Aadhaar and redo face authentication after you turn 18.
- Locked biometrics. If face authentication fails, check that your Aadhaar biometrics are unlocked.
- Bank account not seeded with Aadhaar. In your OTR profile, use “Aadhaar Seeding, Check it now”.
- Waiting until the last day. Your institution also needs time to verify.
- Paying an agent. Nobody needs to pay more than the Rs 30 CSC charge to apply. SEEDbridge volunteers help for free.
Need help?
SEEDbridge volunteers can guide you through the NSP form for free. Never share your Aadhaar number, OTR password, OTPs or bank details with anyone who contacts you about a scholarship.