What do you understand about merit-based scholarships? The scholarships which are dispersed on the basis of a student’s academic merit are generally labeled under the merit-based scholarships section. Now the question arises, how will you identify such scholarships out of the thousands of options available? To make it less difficult for you, here is a selective list of some renowned merit-based scholarships announced every year.
So, if you are among the top rankers of your class, and looking for a scholarship to fund your schooling further, this list of merit-based scholarships available in India is positively going to assist you.
List of merit-based scholarships in India
| S.No. | Scholarship Name | Applicable For | Application Period* |
| 1. | Swami Dayanand College Scholarship for Delhi/NCR | Class 12th passed students with minimum 85% marks | November to December |
| 2. | Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme for Central Armed Police Forces and Assam Rifles | Students willing to pursue a professional program in graduation or post graduation | August to December |
| 3. | SOF Scholarship of Excellence in English (S.E.E) | Students of class 1 to 10 | July to December |
| 4. | L&T Build India Scholarship | Students for final year BE/BTech degree in Civil/Electrical Engineering | November to December |
| 5. | INSPIRE Scholarship For Higher Education (SHE) | Class 12 passed students pursuing BSc/BS/MS/Int. MSc course | November to December |
| 6. | Siemens Scholarship Program | 1st year govt. college B. Tech students | June to August |
| 7. | Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY) | Class 11, 12 (PCM/B), BSc 1st year, Int. MSc 1st year students | June to August |
| 8. | 11th All India Maths Science (AIMS) Talent Examination | Students of class 1 to 10th | July to August |
| 9. | Dhirubhai Ambani Scholarship Programme | Class 12th passed students | June to August |
| 10. | National Scholarship Exam | School students of class 5 to 12 and diploma/degree students | April to September |
| 11. | BTSE Bihar Talent Search Examination | Students of class 7th to 10th | June to August |
| 12. | National Science Concours (NSC) | Students of class 6th to 12th | July to November |
| 13. | J C Bose National Fellowship (Science & Engineering Research Board) | Citizens up to 68 years of age | Always Open |
| 14. | Nagaland State Merit Scholarship | Class 11th to Post Graduate | May to July |
| 15. | JM Sethia Merit Scholarship Scheme | Students enrolled in class 9 to 12, Graduation, Postgraduation | May to July |
| 16. | JSPN Scholarship | Class 11th to graduation | May to July |
| 17. | SIA Youth Scholarship in Singapore | Class 10th passed students | June to July |
| 18. | A-STAR India Youth Scholarship | Class 8th passed students | June to July |
| 19. | NBHM Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies in Mathematics | Graduates in Mathematics or students enrolled/pursuing PG in Mathematics | June to July |
| 20. | J N Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship | Graduates/final year undergraduates | December to March |
| 21. | G.P. Birla Education Foundation Scholarship | Class 12th pass students from West Bengal | May to July |
| 22. | Bighelp National Merit Scholarship | Class 10th passed students | April to June |
| 23. | RGIPT M. Tech Fellowship | B. Tech/BE | March to June |
| 24. | KSCSTE Prathibha Scholarship Programme | Class 12th passed students (Science) | December to January |
| 25. | Abdul Kalam Technology Innovation National Fellowship | Professionals working in the Engineering profession in public-funded institutions | April to August |
*The application duration stated is tentative which may also change on the discretion of the scholarship providing authorities.