AICTE opens applications for J&K, Ladakh special scholarship scheme 2026-27, check eligibility, benefits and dates

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has started the application process for the Special Scholarship Scheme for Students of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh (SSSJKL) for the academic year 2026-27.

Eligible Class 12 pass-outs and engineering diploma holders can apply through the dedicated scholarship portal at aicte-jk-scholarship-gov.in.

The scheme is part of the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Yojana and aims to provide financial assistance to students from the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh for pursuing higher education.

AICTE began accepting applications for Class 12 students on July 16, while diploma holders were allowed to submit applications from July 17. The registration window closed on July 27 for all applicants.

Candidates who have completed registration must visit their nearest Facilitation-cum-Document Verification Centers (FDVCs) to complete the verification process within the specified deadline.

Class 12 applicants need to complete verification by July 28, while diploma students have time until July 30.

Under the Special Scholarship Scheme, students selected for financial support will receive assistance based on their course category.

Students enrolled in general degree programs can receive academic fee support of up to ₹30,000 per year.

Those pursuing professional courses including Engineering, Nursing, Pharmacy, Hotel Management, Architecture, and Law are eligible for financial assistance of up to ₹125,000 annually.

Students admitted to MBBS, BDS, or equivalent medical programs can avail academic fee support of up to ₹300,000 per year. Diploma holders entering the second year of Engineering through lateral entry can also receive assistance of up to ₹125,000 annually.

Apart from academic fee reimbursement, all selected beneficiaries will receive a maintenance allowance of ₹100,000 per year. The allowance will be provided in 10 equal installments through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).

The counseling process will follow a timeline set by AICTE for document verification, choice filling, merit list publication, seat allocation, and institute reporting.

According to AICTE guidelines, Class 12 applicants must have completed their intermediate education from schools located in Jammu & Kashmir or Ladakh and should have passed their board examinations in 2025 or 2026.

For diploma applicants, candidates must have completed their diploma from the J&K Board of Technical Education during the 2025-26 academic year.

Students who have submitted their registration forms have been advised to visit the designated FDVCs and complete document verification within the given timeline to avoid issues during the counselling process.