Over 41,000 ST students in Nagaland selected for post-matric scholarship in 2024–25

For the academic year 2024–25, 41,793 Scheduled Tribe (ST) students from Nagaland have been selected to benefit from the Post Matric Scholarship (PMS) scheme, with an estimated funding requirement of ₹56.38 crore.

However, only ₹30.70 crore is currently available, prompting officials to initiate disbursement in phases.

At a press briefing held at the Directorate of Higher Education, Officers on Special Duty (OSDs) for Scholarships, Keduosielie Keyho and Tol Pucho, announced that 22,000 students will be covered in the first phase, accounting for 52.64% of total beneficiaries.

These students will receive the entire scholarship amount in one go.

“Under NSP, installment-based payments are not permitted. Instead, scholarships will be paid in one full installment per beneficiary, though in phases,” said Keyho.

This year marks the first time that the scholarship will be disbursed via the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), replacing the earlier Public Financial Management System (PFMS).

Keyho added that the shift is in line with the Government of India’s digital governance mandate to ensure transparency and direct benefit transfer.

Of the total applicants, 30,451 students have been authenticated through the system. However, 11,342 applications remain pending due to the lack of Aadhaar linkage with bank accounts.

“Auto-generated SMS messages have been sent to these students with instructions to resolve the issue,” Keyho said. Once additional funds are received, the remaining eligible students will be covered in subsequent disbursement phases.

The PMS is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) implemented on a 90:10 funding ratio between the central and state governments.