Post-Matric Scholarship for ST Students — Gujarat 2026
The post-matric scholarship for Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in Gujarat is implemented through the Umbrella Scheme for Education of ST Students — a scheme jointly supported by the Central and State Government. Unlike the OBC BCK-81A scheme (which covers Class 11 to PhD with a ₹1 lakh income ceiling), the ST Umbrella Scheme specifically covers Class 11 to Graduation with a higher income ceiling of ₹2.5 lakh per year and its flagship benefit is the Freeship Card, which allows fee-free admission without any upfront payment.
| Feature | ST — Umbrella Scheme | OBC — BCK-81A | SC — BCK-6.1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income Limit | ≤ ₹2.5 lakh/year | ≤ ₹1 lakh/year | ≤ ₹2.5 lakh/year |
| Course Coverage | Class 11 to Graduation | Class 11 to PhD | Class 11 to PhD |
| Freeship Card | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| NCL Certificate | ❌ Not required | ✅ Required (annual) | ❌ Not required |
| Extra scheme for girls | VKY-156 (income > ₹2.5L) | None | None |
| Funding | Central + State (Umbrella) | Government of India | Government of India |
Umbrella Scheme for ST Students
The Umbrella Scheme for Education of ST Students Post-Matric Scholarship provides comprehensive support for ST students pursuing post-secondary education. Two registration variants are available on the portal:
- Freeship Card students — for those who registered before admission and have a Freeship Card
- Medical Loan students — for ST medical students with specific loan provisions
Freeship Card for ST Students — Complete Guide
The Freeship Card is the defining feature of the ST post-matric scholarship and sets it apart from most other Gujarat scholarship schemes. It allows ST students to secure college admission without any upfront fee payment. Here is exactly how it works:
Register at digitalgujarat.gov.in before taking admission
This step is time-critical. You must register on the portal and start your Freeship Card application before approaching the college for admission. Enter your Aadhaar number, intended field of study (engineering, medical, arts, etc.), and sign the undertaking that you will pay fees to the institution once your DBT scholarship is credited.
Portal verifies caste, income & merit automatically
The Digital Gujarat system cross-checks your ST caste certificate, income certificate, and previous mark sheet against interlinked government databases. No manual submission to the Mamlatdar is needed at this stage — verification is automated for most applicants.
Download & print your Freeship Card
Once verification passes (typically within 2–5 working days), log in → My Applications → download the Freeship Card PDF. Print it. This is your proof that fees will be covered by the government.
Present Freeship Card at college for zero-fee admission
Submit the Freeship Card to the college accounts or admission office. The institution registers you without collecting tuition or non-refundable fees upfront. Your name appears on the college's verified Freeship Card list on the portal.
Complete scholarship application and receive DBT
After admission, complete the remaining scholarship form on the portal (upload bonafide certificate, fee structure, bank details). Once the college verifies online and SJED approves, the maintenance allowance and tuition fee amount are credited directly to your Aadhaar-linked bank via DBT. The college collects fees from you at that point.
ST Girls Scheme — VKY-156
The VKY-156 Post Matric Scholarship for ST Girls Students with annual family income more than ₹2.5 lakh provides scholarship support to ST girls who do not qualify for the main Umbrella Scheme due to slightly higher income. This is a state government scheme with separate income and benefit parameters.
Apply for VKY-156 at digitalgujarat.gov.in → Scholarship Services → ST → VKY-156. The portal window, document requirements, and DBT payment process are identical to the main Umbrella Scheme. Check the current-year notification for VKY-156 benefit amounts and the upper income threshold.
Scholarship Benefits
| Component | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Tuition fees | Full coverage via Freeship Card |
| Non-refundable fees | Fully covered |
| Maintenance (hosteller) | As per course group (₹600–₹1,500/month indicative) |
| Maintenance (non-hosteller) | Lower rate as per group |
| Instrumental assistance | 1st year Medical/Engineering/Diploma — tools support (VKY-164) |
Eligibility
- Must belong to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category in Gujarat
- Enrolled from Class 11 to Graduation at a recognised institution
- Annual family income ≤ ₹2.5 lakh per year
- Permanent Gujarat resident with valid domicile certificate
- Valid ST caste certificate (from Mamlatdar, up to 3 years validity)
Documents Required
Aadhaar Card
Identity + DBT seeding
Caste Certificate
From Mamlatdar
Income Certificate
Annual family income from Mamlatdar
Domicile Certificate
Gujarat resident proof
Bonafide / Enrolment Certificate
From current institution
Fee Receipt / Fee Structure
Current year fees
Bank Passbook
Account + IFSC — Aadhaar-seeded
Passport-size Photo
Recent, max 200 KB
How to Apply — ST Scholarship & Freeship Card
Register / Log in at digitalgujarat.gov.in
Visit digitalgujarat.gov.in → New Registration or log in. Verify via OTP.
Complete My Profile
Log in → My Profile → fill all sections: personal details, address, category, family income, Aadhaar, bank account, upload photo. Mandatory.
Service tab → Scholarship Services → select scheme
Click Service → Scholarship Services → select your category → choose scheme → select academic year → Apply.
Fill form, upload documents, submit
Complete all fields. Upload clear scans (max 200 KB). Agree to terms. Save as Draft → Submit. Note reference number.
Institute verification & DBT payment
College verifies online. On approval, DBT disbursed to Aadhaar-linked bank. Track under Service Request.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Post-Matric Scholarship for ST students in Gujarat is implemented as the Umbrella Scheme for Education of ST Students. It covers Class 11 to Graduation with full tuition fees via Freeship Card plus maintenance allowance. Income limit: Rs 2.5 lakh per year. ST girls with income above Rs 2.5 lakh can apply under the VKY-156 scheme. Apply at digitalgujarat.gov.in under ST Scholarship Services.
Similar to the SC Freeship Card (BCK-6.1), the Umbrella Scheme for ST students also provides a Freeship Card in Gujarat. ST students register at digitalgujarat.gov.in BEFORE taking admission, and a Freeship Card is issued allowing admission to recognised institutions without paying tuition or hostel fees upfront. Fees are paid once the scholarship amount is credited to the student's bank account via DBT.
VKY-156 is the Post Matric Scholarship for ST Girl Students having annual family income more than Rs 2.50 lakh. It is a state government scheme providing scholarship support to ST girls from slightly higher-income families who exceed the main Rs 2.5 lakh limit. Apply at digitalgujarat.gov.in under ST scholarship services.
The Umbrella Scheme for Education of ST Students (main post-matric scheme): annual family income must not exceed Rs 2.5 lakh (Rs 2,50,000) per year. For VKY-156 (ST Girls with income above Rs 2.5 lakh): applicable for income between Rs 2.5 lakh and higher limits — check current year notification. All income certificates must be issued by the Mamlatdar office.