Central scheme: SSP Pre-Matric Scholarship, Government of Karnataka
Classes covered: Class 1 to Class 10 (the range varies by scheme)
Where to apply: State Scholarship Portal (SSP), pre-matric section
Payment mode: Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to an Aadhaar-seeded bank account
Deadline status: The original last date for most pre-matric schemes was 30 September 2026. Extensions have been reported for some departments (see the deadline table below). Confirm your department’s current date on the portal.
Currency note: Official amounts are in Indian rupees (INR). USD figures are approximate and assume about INR 88 per USD.
The Karnataka pre-matric scholarship is a state financial aid scheme for school students in Classes 1 to 10. The Government of Karnataka runs it through the State Scholarship Portal (SSP). Several departments fund it, and each department serves a different category of student. This guide explains which scheme fits which child, what each scheme requires, and how to apply without a rejection.
What Is the Karnataka Pre-Matric Scholarship for Classes 1 to 10?
The Karnataka pre-matric scholarship is a government scholarship for school students from Class 1 to Class 10. The Government of Karnataka delivers it through the State Scholarship Portal. Departments such as Social Welfare, Tribal Welfare, Backward Classes Welfare and Minorities sponsor individual schemes on that portal.
The scholarship is need-based and category-based. Karnataka domicile, school enrolment, family income and category certificates decide eligibility. Marks matter only in some schemes, such as the OBC pre-matric scheme.
Pre-Matric vs Post-Matric: What Is the Difference?
Pre-matric means school level up to Class 10. Post-matric means Class 11 onward. The SSP portal keeps the two separate. A student can hold only one scholarship type in a given academic year, either pre-matric or post-matric. A Class 10 student therefore applies for pre-matric in the current year and moves to post-matric after Class 10 results. Our guide on the SSP post-matric scholarship in Karnataka covers the next stage.
Scholarships Available for Classes 1 to 10 in Karnataka
Karnataka offers category-wise pre-matric schemes, and each scheme has its own income limit and class range. The table below compares them. The figures reflect the details reported for the 2026-27 cycle and should be confirmed on the portal.
Scheme
Sponsoring department
Classes
Family income limit
Marks rule
Renewal
SC Pre-Matric
Social Welfare
1 to 10
INR 6 lakh (about USD 6,800) for Classes 1-8; INR 2.5 lakh (about USD 2,800) for Classes 9-10
Previous-year marks card required (not for Class 1)
Auto-renewal reported for continuing students
ST Pre-Matric
Tribal Welfare
1 to 10
Same as SC
Previous-year marks card required (not for Class 1)
Auto-renewal reported for continuing students
OBC Pre-Matric
Backward Classes Welfare
1 to 10
INR 2.5 lakh for Category 1; INR 1 lakh (about USD 1,100) for Categories 2A, 3A and 3B
At least 50% marks in the previous class (not for Class 1)
Annual application
Minorities Pre-Matric (state)
Minorities Welfare
1 to 8
Per scheme guidelines
Per scheme guidelines
Annual application
Disability Pre-Matric
Empowerment of Differently Abled and Senior Citizens
The Social Welfare Department offers this scholarship to Scheduled Caste students in Classes 1 to 10. It covers tuition-related support and maintenance. The income ceiling is higher for Classes 1 to 8 than for Classes 9 and 10. The reported structure is state funding for Classes 1-8 and central funding for Classes 9-10.
ST Pre-Matric Scholarship (Tribal Welfare Department)
The Tribal Welfare Department administers the ST scheme. Its structure mirrors the SC scheme. The key difference is the certificate: ST students must submit an ST caste certificate issued by the Revenue Department. Students who received the scholarship in the previous year are reported to be auto-renewed.
The Backward Classes Welfare Department serves OBC students in Categories 1, 2A, 3A and 3B. Category 1 families can earn up to INR 2.5 lakh a year. Families in Categories 2A, 3A and 3B can earn up to INR 1 lakh. The student needs at least 50% marks in the previous class unless the student is in Class 1.
The historical annual rates are INR 750 (about USD 9) for Classes 1-5, INR 900 (about USD 10) for Classes 6-8 and INR 1,000 (about USD 11) for Classes 9-10. Treat these as historical rates and confirm current amounts on the portal.
Minorities Pre-Matric Scholarship (State)
The state scheme for minorities is listed only up to Class 8. This differs from the SC, ST and OBC schemes, which run to Class 10. Minority students in Classes 9 and 10 should also check the central pre-matric scheme for minorities on the National Scholarship Portal (see the central schemes section below).
Pre-Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities
The state disability scheme covers Classes 1 to 10 and uses the UDID card for verification. A separate central scheme targets students with at least 40 percent disability in Classes 9 and 10.
Sainik School Pre-Matric Scholarship
This scheme supports students studying in Sainik Schools in Classes 6 to 10. It has no caste requirement and no income limit. The student must be a Karnataka domicile.
Other Department Schemes
The Karnataka Building and Other Construction Workers (KBOCW) board and the Department of Technical Education also appear as sponsoring departments on the SSP pre-matric list. Their eligibility rules differ from the category schemes above, so read the scheme guidelines on the portal before applying.
Central Scholarships Karnataka Students Can Check
The central government runs pre-matric schemes through the National Scholarship Portal. The PM YASASVI pre-matric scheme serves OBC, EBC and DNT students in Classes 9 and 10. The central pre-matric scheme for students with disabilities also covers Classes 9 and 10. NSP schemes have their own deadlines, so check the NSP notification separately.
Which Scheme Fits Your Child? A Class-Wise Matrix
Match your child’s class and category to the row below. This matrix is the fastest way to see which scheme to open on the portal.
Category
Classes 1 to 5
Classes 6 to 8
Classes 9 and 10
SC
SC Pre-Matric (income up to INR 6 lakh)
SC Pre-Matric (income up to INR 6 lakh)
SC Pre-Matric (income up to INR 2.5 lakh)
ST
ST Pre-Matric (income up to INR 6 lakh)
ST Pre-Matric (income up to INR 6 lakh)
ST Pre-Matric (income up to INR 2.5 lakh)
OBC
OBC Pre-Matric (category-wise income limit)
OBC Pre-Matric (category-wise income limit)
OBC Pre-Matric; also check PM YASASVI (central)
Minorities
State minorities scheme
State minorities scheme
Check the central minorities scheme on NSP
Disability
State disability scheme
State disability scheme
State scheme; also check the central disability scheme
Sainik School
Not applicable
Sainik School scheme (Class 6 onward)
Sainik School scheme
Who Should Apply and Who Should Not Apply
Apply if your child meets every core condition: Karnataka domicile, enrolment in Classes 1 to 10 in Karnataka, a qualifying category and income within the limit.
Who Should Apply
Students in Classes 1 to 10 studying in a recognised school in Karnataka.
Students who belong to the SC, ST, OBC (Categories 1, 2A, 3A, 3B) or minority category, or who have a disability recorded in a UDID card.
Students whose family income falls within the limit for their scheme and class.
OBC students (Classes 2 to 10) who scored at least 50% in the previous class.
Students in Sainik Schools (Classes 6 to 10), regardless of caste or income.
Continuing SC or ST beneficiaries who need to confirm their renewal status.
Who Should Not Apply (or Should Look Elsewhere)
Families above the income limit. The portal rejects applications that exceed the scheme’s slab.
Students who are not Karnataka domiciles. The scheme requires permanent residence in Karnataka.
Students studying outside Karnataka. The state scheme requires a recognised school within Karnataka.
OBC students below 50% marks in the previous class (Class 1 is exempt).
Minority students in Classes 9 and 10 looking for the state scheme, because the state scheme stops at Class 8. They should check the central scheme instead.
Students in Class 11 or above. They belong to the post-matric scheme.
Students seeking a second scholarship of the same type in the same year without checking the combination rules.
Required Documents Explained
Every SSP pre-matric application depends on a small set of identity, category, income and academic documents. The table explains what each document proves and where applicants most often go wrong.
Document
Issued by
Why SSP needs it
Common problem
SATS ID
School / Education Department
Identifies the student and links school records
Wrong or missing ID; name or date of birth mismatch
Kutumba ID
Government of Karnataka
Verifies family income, category and residence data
Family data not updated
Caste certificate (SC/ST/OBC)
Revenue Department
Proves category
Old certificate without an RD number
Income certificate
Revenue Department
Proves income is within the limit
Certificate lacks an RD number or shows a higher income slab
Previous-year marks card
School
Proves academic eligibility (not needed for Class 1)
Marks below the scheme minimum, such as 50% for OBC
Aadhaar
UIDAI
Identity and DBT payment
Name mismatch with school records
Bank account (Aadhaar-seeded)
Bank
Receives the scholarship through DBT
Account not linked to Aadhaar, so payment fails
UDID card (disability schemes)
Disability Welfare Department
Proves disability status
Expired or missing card
SATS ID and Kutumba ID
The SATS ID is the Student Achievement Tracking System number that Karnataka assigns to every school student. Parents can ask the school for it. They can also retrieve it from the Karnataka SATS portal using the child’s name, date of birth and school code. The Kutumba ID is the family ID that lets the system verify family income, category and residency automatically.
Income and Caste Certificates With an RD Number
The RD number is the unique identifier on certificates issued by Karnataka’s Revenue Department. Reports for 2026-27 state that SSP rejects income and caste certificates that lack a valid RD number. A parent holding an older certificate without this number should apply for a fresh certificate at the local Nadakacheri centre before filling the form.
Marks Card
The marks card shows the previous year’s result. Class 1 students do not need one. OBC students need at least 50% marks in the previous class.
Aadhaar-Seeded Bank Account
The bank account must be linked to Aadhaar, because DBT payments use Aadhaar seeding. Parents should confirm seeding with the bank before applying.
Step-by-Step Application Guide
Applicants complete the SSP pre-matric application online in six stages.
Step 1: Prepare IDs and Certificates
Collect the SATS ID, Kutumba ID, caste certificate, income certificate (both with RD numbers), previous-year marks card, Aadhaar and bank passbook. Fix any name or date-of-birth mismatch first.
Step 2: Register on the SSP Portal
Open the pre-matric section of the SSP portal. Select the option to create an account, then enter the student’s Aadhaar details and the other requested data. Note the login credentials.
Step 3: Log In and Select the Scheme
Log in and choose the scheme that matches the student’s category and class, such as SC, ST, OBC, Minorities, Disability or Sainik School.
Step 4: Fill In the Application Form
Enter personal, academic, income and bank details. Keep every value identical to the documents, because the system cross-checks them against SATS and Kutumba records.
Step 5: Upload Documents and Submit
Upload clear scans of the required documents. Submit the form and note the application ID. Finalise the application. Reports state that drafts left unfinalised are rejected on the last date.
Step 6: Track Status and Renew
Use the status tracking option on the portal with the student’s SATS ID and the correct financial year. Check regularly, because the school must verify the application after submission. Renew each academic year unless your scheme auto-renews.
How the Selection Process Works
Selection in the Karnataka pre-matric scheme is a verification process, not a competitive ranking. Eligible students who pass verification receive the scholarship, subject to budget release.
The process runs in four stages:
Automatic data check. SSP compares the application with SATS and Kutumba records for residency, category and income.
School verification. The institute nodal officer checks bonafide status and marks card details against the database.
Department sanction. The district or state welfare officer approves verified records for budget release.
DBT payment. The treasury credits the amount to the Aadhaar-seeded bank account.
A failure at any stage stops the payment. This is why accurate documents matter more than early submission alone.
Common Mistakes Applicants Make
Most rejections come from document and data errors, not from ineligibility.
Mistake
Result
Fix
Uploading a certificate without an RD number
Automatic rejection
Get a fresh certificate from Nadakacheri
Bank account not linked to Aadhaar
Payment failure
Ask the bank to seed Aadhaar before applying
Leaving the application as a draft
Rejection on the last date
Finalise and note the application ID
Choosing the wrong category or income slab
Rejection at verification
Match the scheme to the certificate
SATS ID mismatch (name or date of birth)
Verification failure
Correct school records first
Waiting for the last day
Portal congestion, missed window
Apply well before the date
Assuming one deadline fits all
Missed department window
Check your own department’s date
Not following up with the school
Application stuck at verification
Contact the school nodal officer
Deadlines and Previous Years’ Trends
Deadlines in the Karnataka pre-matric scheme are set department by department, and extensions are common. The table shows what was reported across recent cycles.
Cycle
What was reported
2024-25
Renewals extended to 31 July 2025 in certain schemes
2025-26
OBC pre-matric listed with a 31 October 2025 deadline; some schemes reported to 30 November or 31 December 2025; one listing records the cycle as closed on 15 January 2026
2026-27
Original last date of 30 September 2026 for most departments; later dates reported for Sainik Schools (30 October 2026), Minorities (30 November 2026) and Social Welfare (31 December 2026); Tribal Welfare and KBOCW also reported as extended
What the Pattern Shows
The application window opens around mid-year, after the academic session begins.
Most departments first set a late-September closing date.
Extensions follow for individual departments and sometimes run into December or January.
A department-wise date applies. A date for one department does not apply to another.
What to Do If the Date Has Passed
Check the portal for your department’s current status first. If the window is closed, prepare for the next cycle now: obtain RD-number certificates, confirm the SATS ID, seed Aadhaar and keep the marks card ready. Early preparation prevents the most common rejection causes.
Our Research Notes
We compared official-style listings and third-party scholarship sites to identify where information conflicts. These notes show what to verify before you apply.
Deadlines differ across sources. Most sources give 30 September 2026. A smaller number report later dates for specific departments. The portal is the only reliable source for your department.
The RD number rule is the biggest rejection risk in 2026-27. Certificates without it are reported to fail automatically.
SC and ST income limits are reported inconsistently. Several sources give INR 6 lakh for Classes 1-8 and INR 2.5 lakh for Classes 9-10. Some sources show INR 2.5 lakh across classes. Confirm the slab on the portal.
Amounts are inconsistent across sources. The OBC rates (INR 750, 900 and 1,000) are historical. SC and ST amounts were not clearly stated in the listings we reviewed.
Two 2026-27 claims are not confirmed by an official source we could check. One source says SC, ST and OBC applicants must first register on the National Scholarship Portal. Another says a student may apply for one merit-based and one or more welfare-based schemes. Read the official scheme guidelines before relying on either claim.
Most pre-matric information online comes from aggregator sites. Always compare what you read with the SSP portal.
Checking Status and Fixing Payment Delays
Students check status on the SSP portal using the SATS ID and the financial year. If the status shows pending, the application is usually waiting at school verification or department sanction. Contact the school nodal officer first. If the status shows approved but no payment arrives, confirm that the bank account is Aadhaar-seeded.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is there a scholarship for Class 1 students in Karnataka?
Yes. The SSP Pre-Matric Scholarship starts at Class 1 for eligible SC, ST, OBC and disability categories. The student must be a Karnataka resident studying in a recognised school, and the family income must fall within the scheme limit. Class 1 applicants do not need a previous-year marks card because no earlier class exists.
2. What is the last date for the SSP pre-matric scholarship 2026-27?
Most pre-matric schemes closed on 30 September 2026. Reports indicate extensions for some departments, including Minorities (30 November 2026) and Social Welfare (31 December 2026). Dates differ by department and can change, so confirm your department’s current last date on the SSP portal before assuming a window is closed or open.
3. What is the income limit for the SC and ST pre-matric scholarship?
For SC and ST pre-matric schemes, the family income limit is reported as INR 6 lakh (about USD 6,800) for Classes 1 to 8 and INR 2.5 lakh (about USD 2,800) for Classes 9 and 10. Income limits are revised from time to time, so check the current limit on the portal.
4. Which OBC categories are eligible, and what is the income limit?
Category 1 OBC families can have an annual income up to INR 2.5 lakh (about USD 2,800). Categories 2A, 3A and 3B have a lower limit of INR 1 lakh (about USD 1,100). The student also needs at least 50% marks in the previous class, except in Class 1.
5. Do minority students in Classes 9 and 10 get a state scholarship?
The state pre-matric scheme for minorities is listed only up to Class 8. Minority students in Classes 9 and 10 should check the central Pre-Matric Scholarship for Minorities on the National Scholarship Portal. Scheme rules change, so confirm current eligibility and dates there before applying.
6. What is an RD number, and how do I get one?
An RD number is a unique identifier on income and caste certificates issued by Karnataka’s Revenue Department. Reports state that SSP rejects certificates without a valid RD number from 2026. Parents should request fresh certificates from a Nadakacheri centre if the old document lacks this number.
7. How do I find my child’s SATS ID?
The SATS ID is the Student Achievement Tracking System number that Karnataka assigns to each school student. Parents can ask the school for it or retrieve it on the Karnataka SATS portal using the child’s name, date of birth and school code. SSP uses it to verify the student and track status.
8. Do I need to reapply every year?
SC and ST students who received the scholarship in the previous year are reported to be auto-renewed without reapplying. Other categories generally need a fresh or renewal application each academic year with an updated marks card and certificates. Check your scheme’s renewal rule on the SSP portal each year.
9. Why was my SSP application rejected or kept pending?
Common causes include a certificate without an RD number, an Aadhaar-unseeded bank account, a mismatch between SATS and application details, and a draft that was never finalised. Delays also occur when the school nodal officer has not verified the application. Contact the school first, then the department.
10. How long does payment take, and is Aadhaar seeding required?
Payment follows three stages: school verification, department sanction and Direct Benefit Transfer to the student’s account. Timelines vary by department and budget release, and no fixed payment date is guaranteed. The bank account must be Aadhaar-seeded, or the credit can fail.
11. Can a student get a pre-matric scholarship and another scholarship in the same year?
A student can hold only one SSP scholarship type in a year, either pre-matric or post-matric. Some sources say that from 2026-27 a student may combine one merit-based and one or more welfare-based schemes, but this is not confirmed in official guidelines at the time of writing. Read the scheme rules on the portal.
12. Can general-category students get a Karnataka pre-matric scholarship?
The state pre-matric schemes listed on SSP are category-based: SC, ST, OBC, minorities, disability and specified worker groups. General-category students should check the portal’s current scheme list. Sainik School students qualify without caste or income limits, and central, private and CSR scholarships may also be options.
Conclusion
The SSP Pre-Matric Scholarship is the central scholarship for 1st to 10th students in Karnataka. The right scheme depends on the child’s class, category and family income. The most reliable path to approval is to prepare RD-number certificates, the SATS ID, Aadhaar seeding and the marks card before the window opens, finalise the application and confirm the department’s current date on the portal.
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