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AICTE Starts PM-USP Scholarship 2026 Applications for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh Regions
The Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Scholarships now offer digital applications to students in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh for the 2026-27 academic year. AICTE developed the Special Scholarship Scheme for the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh (SSSJKL) to further their educational mobility. The PM-USP Scholarships are also designed to help students begin their pursuit of higher education.
The PM-USP Scholarships further aid students in overcoming the cost of higher education by funding their tuition for degree programs and providing a substantially higher annual maintenance allowance to cover living expenses.
Who is Eligible?
According to the AICTE posting, the eligibility requirements are as follows
- Students who have completed 10+2 in Jammu & Kashmir or Ladakh (in CBSE Schools or in any other schools recognized by the Jammu and Kashmir state)
- Diploma holders in Engineering from the J&K Board of Technical Education who wish to join Engineering Degree Courses through lateral entry to the 2nd year.
Registration has a slight variation:
- Class 12 - Open from 16 July, 2026
- Diploma holders - Open from 17 July, 2026
- PM-USP Scholarship Coverage
The PM-USP Scholarship covers a range of academic disciplines and entails different levels of funding.
General Degree Courses
Support of academic fees to a maximum of ₹30,000 per annum
- Professional Courses (Engineering, Nursing, Pharmacy, Hotel Management, Architecture, etc.)
Support of academic fees to a maximum of ₹1.25 lakhs per annum
What do we offer?
- Academic fee support - up to ₹3 lakh/year
Maintenance Allowance
All eligible students receive:
- ₹1 lakh per annum, paid in 10 equal instalments throughout the year via the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).
Registration & Document Verification
Students have to register online in the AICTE scholarship portal. After the online registration, the students have to go to the nearest Facilitation-cum-Document Verification Centre (FDVC) to verify their documents physically, starting from the 18th of July, 2026. AICTE advises the students to complete the registration and verification on time.
Why Does it Matter
The PM-USP Special Scholarship Scheme is especially important for students in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, who have very few opportunities to get into higher education.
The scheme also helps students who would like to get into higher education, but have financial problems. This is one of the many initiatives by the Government to provide students with better access to quality higher education and to make higher education more inclusive.
How to Apply
Eligible students have to
- Visit the AICTE PM-USP scholarship portal.
- Do the online registration.
- Upload the required documents.
- Go for the document verification at the nearest FDVC.
Counselling and admission processes will be updated on the official portal. Please rely on official AICTE notifications and do not use unofficial sources for the admission and scholarship processes.
Final Thoughts
This year’s launch of the AICTE PM-USP Special Scholarship Scheme brings new benefits to students in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, allowing them to access quality education without the burden of costs. The scholarship program provides counseling support, covers tuition costs, and provides an annual maintenance allowance. Each year, the program attracts students who want to build successful careers. At the time of this announcement, we advise all stakeholders to verify their documents and register within the prescribed timelines to take advantage of this opportunity.
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