Nagaland Completes Scholarship Disbursement for Over 41,000 Tribal Students

Nagaland’s Directorate of Higher Education has successfully completed the disbursement of scholarships to 41,793 tribal students under the Post-Matric Scholarship (PMS) scheme for the academic year 2024–25. This centrally sponsored welfare scheme, implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, aims to support Scheduled Tribe (ST) students belonging to economically weaker families—those with an annual income below ₹2.5 lakh—in pursuing studies from Class XI up to postgraduate levels. The scholarship plays a crucial role in enabling access to higher education for tribal students across the state, many of whom rely on this financial aid to continue their academic journey.

The scholarship disbursement took place in two major phases. The first phase, conducted in June 2025, saw the release of ₹3,071.49 lakh to 22,412 students. This amount was transferred as a one-time full payment, ensuring that the recipients received their annual scholarship without delays. This early disbursement was made possible after the state submitted the necessary utilisation certificates (UCs) for the previous year’s funds to the central government. Once the UCs were reviewed and approved, the state became eligible to receive the next tranche of funds for the 2024–25 academic cycle.

Following the approval, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs sanctioned ₹2,309.91 lakh as its share of funding on 28 October 2025. In accordance with the scheme’s funding pattern—where the Centre contributes 90% and the state contributes 10%—the state government added its share, and the collective fund was deposited into the scholarship account on 10 November 2025.

The second phase of disbursement was completed the very next day, on 11 November 2025, during which ₹2,566.57 lakh was released to the remaining 19,381 eligible students. With this, the Directorate of Higher Education successfully completed the entire disbursement cycle for all 41,793 tribal beneficiaries under the Post-Matric Scholarship scheme for the year.

Despite the smooth process, the directorate advised students who were listed in the second phase but had not yet received the amount to ensure that their Aadhaar numbers are correctly linked to their bank accounts. Since the scheme uses the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, Aadhaar linkage is mandatory for the funds to be transferred without error. Students were also informed that the entire beneficiary list is available on the official website: highereducation.nagaland.gov.in.

The PMS scheme functions entirely through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), ensuring a fully digital, transparent, and efficient process. Students submit applications online, which are first verified by Institution Nodal Officers and subsequently by the state department. Once verified, payments are processed via the Aadhaar-Based Payment System, which minimizes delays and enhances accountability.

In its official statement, the Directorate emphasized the digital transformation of the scholarship process, describing it as seamless from application to verification and final disbursement. The state government has also been consistent in releasing its share of funds promptly after receiving the central contribution, ensuring that students do not face unnecessary delays.

Overall, the completion of scholarship disbursement reflects the state’s commitment to ensuring financial support for tribal students and strengthening educational access through efficient digital governance.