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UP Scholarship Income Limit: Who Is Eligible by Family Income?
The first question every student asks is: "Will I get the scholarship?" The biggest part of the answer is one number — the up scholarship income limit. If your family's yearly income is inside the limit for your category, you pass the income test. If it is even a little above, the form can be rejected. In this guide, we explain the limit for each category in easy words, whose income is counted, and the small misunderstandings that trouble many families. Read it fully before you get your income certificate made.
The Income Limit for Each Category
There are only two numbers to remember, and they depend on your category and your scheme:
| Scheme | Category | Annual Income Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Matric (Class 9–10) | SC / ST / General | Up to ₹2,50,000 |
| Post-Matric (Class 11–12 and Dashmottar) | SC / ST | Up to ₹2,50,000 |
| Post-Matric | General / OBC / Minority | Up to ₹2,00,000 |
So, in short: SC and ST students get the higher limit of ₹2.5 lakh, and General, OBC and Minority students get ₹2 lakh. This is the family's total income for one full year — not one month's salary, and not only the father's earnings. We explain that next. You can see the same limits on our UP Scholarship eligibility guide.
Whose Income Is Counted?
Many families think that only the father's income is counted. That is not fully true. The rule looks at your family's total annual income — the income of the whole family, for the whole year, added together.
And which figure does the portal believe? The one written on your income certificate. That is why the certificate must be made for the correct amount. If your family's total income is ₹1.8 lakh, the certificate should say the same amount, and that amount must be inside your category's limit. For SC and ST students, the caste certificate is also compulsory along with it.
One more thing: the certificate should be fresh. A new or fresh income certificate is normally asked for, and every certificate has a validity limit. The safest habit is to get a fresh one made at the tehsil for this year's application.
Income Is Only One of Three Tests
Passing the income test does not finish the job. Eligibility has three tests, and missing even one can reject your form:
- Domicile: you must have a UP domicile (residence) certificate.
- Regular study: you must study in a regular course at a recognised school, college or university, and you should have passed your previous class. For renewal, an attendance condition also applies.
- One benefit rule: if you are already taking fee reimbursement from another main scheme, this benefit can stop.
Also check one hidden danger before you apply: the list of blacklisted institutes, published on the official portal. If your school or college is on that list, you will not get the scholarship, even when your income is within the limit.
What If Your Income Is Slightly Above the Limit?
Then, honestly, the form is rejected. The limit is a hard line — "slightly above" is still above.
Please do not try the shortcut some people suggest: getting an income certificate made for a lower, wrong amount. Using a wrong income certificate is a legal risk, and it can create much bigger problems later.
You may also hear in the news that the income limit will be increased. Such discussions keep coming again and again, but until the department issues an official order, the limits in the table above are the ones that count. For the latest update, always check the official portal, scholarship.up.gov.in.
Good to Know: Common Misunderstandings
- "My own income is zero, so I am eligible." Wrong test. The family's total annual income is counted, not the student's own income.
- "Last year's income certificate will work." Risky. A fresh certificate is usually asked for, and certificates have a validity limit.
- "The limit is different for girls." In this UP scheme, the limit is fixed by category. Girls can also look at separate central schemes, such as Pragati.
- "If my income is fine, my amount is fixed." No. The scholarship amount depends on your course group, whether you are a day scholar or a hosteller, and your institute's government-approved fees. See our UP Scholarship amount guide for the rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the income limit for OBC students?
For OBC students, the family income limit is ₹2 lakh per year. For SC and ST students it is ₹2.5 lakh, and for General and Minority students it is ₹2 lakh, the same as OBC.
My father's income is a little more than the limit. Can I still apply?
No. If the family's total income is above your category's limit, the form gets rejected. And please never use a wrong income certificate to fit inside the limit — that is a legal risk.
My income certificate is old. Will it work?
Usually, a fresh income certificate is asked for, and it comes with a validity limit. Getting a new one made at the tehsil is the safest option.
So remember the simple rule: SC/ST — ₹2.5 lakh; General, OBC and Minority — ₹2 lakh; and it is always your family's total yearly income, written on a fresh income certificate. Next, get your papers ready with our UP Scholarship documents checklist. Please note: this is an independent guide site, not the official portal — the official portal is scholarship.up.gov.in, so confirm the latest update there before you apply.