December Scholarships & Grants 2025: A Complete Guide for Indian Students (Deadlines, Eligibility & How to Apply)

Introduction

December is one of the busiest months for scholarship applications. Many national and international schemes close between December–January, making it the ideal time for students to prepare documents, complete essays, and submit forms before the deadlines approach.

1. Government Scholarships Closing Around December

(A) NSP Scholarships (Central Government)

The National Scholarship Portal (NSP) offers dozens of schemes for school and college students.

Who can apply:

1. Class 1 to PhD students (various schemes)
2. Students from SC/ST/OBC/EWS backgrounds
3. Students with strong academic records

Why it's important in December:

Many major schemes for 2025–26 close between 15 December – 31 January.

Official link:

https://scholarships.gov.in

(B) PM Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS / PMSS)

For dependent wards of Police Personnel, CAPF, Assam Rifles, and RPF.

Benefits:

₹2,500–₹3,000 per month for professional courses.

Apply before:

Usually December–January window.

Official link:

https://scholarships.gov.in

2. State Government Scholarships Active in December

(A) Maharashtra – Mahadbt Scholarships

For post-matric students.

Link: https://mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in

(B) UP Scholarship (Post-Matric)

Fresh + renewal applications commonly remain active till December.

Link: https://scholarship.up.gov.in

(C) West Bengal – SVMCM Scholarship (Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means)

Link: https://svmcm.wbhed.gov.in

(D) Karnataka SSP Scholarships

Link: https://ssp.postmatric.karnataka.gov.in

3. Private, Corporate & NGO Scholarships Closing in December

(A) Reliance Foundation Scholarships

For UG & PG students in STEM, Arts, Commerce.

Benefits: up to ₹2,00,000 annually.

Link: https://www.reliancefoundation.org

(B) Tata Capital Pankh Scholarship

Supports school, diploma, and UG students.

Benefits: Covers up to 80% of fees.

Link: https://www.tatacapital.com

(C) Aditya Birla Scholarship

For students of top colleges (IITs, IIMs, BITS).

Benefits: ₹1 lakh per year.

Link: https://www.adityabirlascholars.net

(D) HDFC Badhte Kadam Scholarship

For school and college students from low-income families.

Link: https://www.hdfcbank.com/personal/resources/scholarship

4. International Scholarships with December Deadlines

(A) Chevening Scholarships (UK)

Deadline usually falls in November—but document verifications & profile steps continue till December.

Link: https://www.chevening.org

(B) DAAD Germany Scholarships (Intake 2026)

For PG, PhD, research students.

Link: https://www.daad.de/en

(C) Japanese Government MEXT Scholarship

Document calls and embassy processes often extend into December.

Link: https://www.in.emb-japan.go.jp

5. How Students Should Apply in December (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Gather Documents

1. Aadhaar card
2. Income certificate
3. Marksheet
4. Bank passbook
5. Bonafide certificate
6. Caste certificate (if applicable)
7. Photo & signature
8. Admission proof / fee receipt

Step 2: Apply on official portals only

Avoid third-party sites. Always use .gov.in or official trust websites.

Step 3: Use correct academic details

Scholarship rejections are mostly due to:

1. Wrong income data
2. Name mismatch
3. Wrong IFSC code

Step 4: Track emails & SMS

Most students miss verification deadlines.

6. Tips to Increase Scholarship Selection Chances

Write clear and honest essays (for merit-based schemes).

Maintain strong academic performance.

Apply early—don’t wait until the last week.

Keep scanned documents below the required size.

Save the PDF receipt of every application.

Conclusion

December offers a golden window for students to secure financial support through national, state, private, and international scholarships. With deadlines clustered between December and January, applying on time can save lakhs of rupees and create opportunities for higher education. Students who organise documents and follow the official portals strictly have a much higher success rate.