Reserved seats and how unfilled seats are allocated

Are there Reserved Seats?

Yes. To promote equal opportunities and make the Programme more inclusive, seats are reserved for eligible applicants within each scholarship category.

The reservation structure includes:

• 50% of seats for female candidates.
• 50% of seats for male candidates.
• 50% of seats for SC/ST candidates — 25% for SC and 25% for ST.
• 5% of seats for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) — individuals with a specified disability of 40% or more, as defined under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

These reservations are applied as per the programme rules and are subject to the applicant meeting the other eligibility requirements.

What happens if Reserved Seats are not filled?

If seats reserved for a particular category remain vacant, they may be reallocated as per the Programme rules so that available scholarship opportunities are not left unused.

For example, unfilled seats reserved for female candidates may be allocated to male candidates. Similarly, unfilled SC seats may be allocated to ST candidates, and vice versa. If SC/ST seats still remain vacant, they may be allocated to OBC and then General category candidates, as applicable.

Do I need to do anything to be considered under Reservation?

Yes. If you wish to be considered under a reserved category, you must provide the relevant supporting certificate during the application process.

For example:

• SC/ST applicants: Valid caste certificate.
• PwBD applicants: Valid disability certificate confirming the required  40% or more disability percentage.

These documents are required to verify your category and determine whether you qualify for the applicable reservation benefits. Please refer to the relevant documents articles for the specific requirements.