Top Scholarships 2026: IDFC FIRST Bank, OakNorth & SBI Platinum Jubilee Asha Scholarship – Apply Online

Students looking for financial support for higher education can apply for several scholarship programmes available in 2026. These scholarships are designed to support meritorious students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and help them meet education-related expenses.

Below are three scholarship opportunities with application deadlines in September 2026.

1. IDFC FIRST Bank Engineering Scholarship Programme 2026-30

The IDFC FIRST Bank Engineering Scholarship Programme 2026-30 supports deserving first-year B.E. and B.Tech. students from financially constrained families. Selected students can receive financial assistance of up to ?1 lakh per year for four years to help cover eligible education expenses.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be an Indian citizen.

• Be studying in the first year of B.E. or B.Tech. during the academic year 2026-27.

• Have secured admission to a FIRST IMPACT empanelled college.

• Have a gross annual family income of ?6 lakh or less.

• Have a valid mobile number linked with their Aadhaar.

• Not be an IDFC FIRST Bank employee or a family member of an IDFC FIRST Bank employee.

Scholarship Amount

?1,00,000 per year for up to 4 years.

Important Details

2. OakNorth Scholarship and Mentorship Programme 2026-27

The OakNorth Scholarship and Mentorship Programme 2026-27 is aimed at supporting underprivileged women pursuing undergraduate STEM education.

The programme is open to eligible female students from Jharkhand and Bihar who have completed Class 12 and are studying STEM subjects at government institutions.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be domiciled in Jharkhand or Bihar.

• Be a female student.

• Be studying in the first year of an undergraduate STEM programme.

• Be enrolled at a government university or college in India.

• Have scored at least 75% marks in Class 12.

• Have annual parental income of ?3 lakh or less from all sources.

Scholarship Amount

Selected students will receive a one-time scholarship of ?30,000.

Important Details

3. SBI Platinum Jubilee Asha Scholarship 2026

The SBI Platinum Jubilee Asha Scholarship 2026-27, an initiative of the SBI Foundation, provides financial assistance to meritorious students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

The scholarship covers students from Class 9 to 12, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, as well as eligible medical, IIT, IIM and overseas programmes.

Eligibility

Key eligibility conditions include:

• Applicants must be Indian nationals.

• Students from Classes 9–12, undergraduate, postgraduate, MBBS, IIT and IIM programmes may be eligible, subject to category-specific conditions.

• Overseas education is available only to eligible SC/ST Indian nationals.

• Applicants generally need at least 75% marks or 7.0 CGPA.

• SC/ST applicants receive a 10% relaxation in the academic requirement.

• Family income limits vary according to the scholarship category.

• General UG/PG applicants must meet the prescribed institution-ranking/accreditation requirements.

• Medical applicants must meet the specified institution requirements.

• Overseas applicants must meet the prescribed global university ranking and admission requirements.

Scholarship Amount

Scholarship assistance ranges from ?15,000 to ?20,00,000 per academic year, depending on the applicable scholarship category and eligibility.

Important Note

Scholarship funds may be used for eligible education-related expenses such as:

• Tuition fees

• Accommodation

• Books

• Examination fees

• Educational equipment

Renewal is not automatic and may depend on continued eligibility, academic performance and annual verification.

Important Details

Scholarship Application Links

How to Apply for These Scholarships

Students should follow these general steps:

1. Check the eligibility criteria carefully.

2. Visit the respective scholarship application portal.

3. Register using the required mobile number/email ID.

4. Fill in the application form with accurate information.

5. Upload the required academic, identity and income documents.

6. Review all information before submitting the application.

7. Submit the application before the deadline.

8. Save or download the application confirmation for future reference.

Documents Commonly Required

Depending on the scholarship, applicants may be asked to provide:

• Aadhaar Card or other valid identity proof

• Passport-size ph