Reliance Foundation Scholarship 2026-27: eligibility, amount, last date and aptitude test

Reliance scholarship last date 2026

The scholarships site is confusing on this point. The banners on its pages say "Applications open now", while the application-process section on the same pages says applications for 2026-27 "are now closed", and no date is printed there. The dates above come from the official FAQ PDFs, which both state the 5 October 2026 deadline and say extensions will not be considered.

One small mismatch: the Postgraduate FAQ gives the referee deadline as Monday, 12 October 2026 in one answer and Monday, 11 October 2026 in two others. As that round is closed, it no longer matters for 2026-27, but check the exact date in the FAQ of the next round.

If you are reading this for 2027-28, Reliance Foundation has not announced the next cycle. This year the media release came on 14 August and the deadline fell seven weeks later. Watch scholarships.reliancefoundation.org from mid-2027.

Reliance Foundation scholarship amount

Both are "up to" figures. Reliance Foundation's media release says 5,100 students are supported each year, and that the programme has supported more than 33,000 students since it began.

Undergraduate: the grant is paid once a year into your own bank account. You can use it for tuition, hostel fees, a laptop, books and courses, and you do not have to submit bills. You do submit an Annual Scholar Report with a Statement of Utilisation. There is no limit on working while you study, and the scholarship does not pay back an admission deposit you have already paid, though you may spend the grant on it.

Postgraduate: 80% of the yearly funds go out in advance for tuition and direct academic costs. The other 20% is paid on request for professional development, such as conference costs. Later years depend on how the earlier money was used and on your academic standing. Stipends from other sources are allowed, such as a GATE scholarship of up to ₹15,000 a month, but you must submit written confirmation from your institute.

Reliance Foundation undergraduate scholarship 2026 eligibility

From the Undergraduate page and its FAQ:

• You must be a resident Indian citizen.
• You must have passed Class 12 with at least 60%.
• You must be in the first year (2026-27) of a regular, full-time degree programme in any stream, at a NAAC-accredited or UGC-recognised institution in India. Three-year or longer degrees count.
• Your household income must be ₹15 lakh or less a year. The FAQ says preference goes to applicants below ₹2.5 lakh and that household income means your parents' income only.
• You must take the aptitude test.

There is no age limit. Class 12 completed abroad is accepted. CA and CS students can apply if they are also in the first year of a regular degree such as B.Com., BBA or B.Sc.

Not eligible: second-year students and above, online, distance or hybrid students, students in two-year or six-year degrees, students who finished a diploma after Class 10 without Class 12 at 60%, anyone who skips the test or is caught cheating, and anyone who attempts the test more than once. Students studying outside India cannot apply.

Reliance Foundation postgraduate scholarship eligibility

From the Postgraduate page and its FAQ:

• You must be a resident Indian citizen and a first-year student in a regular, full-time postgraduate degree in India.
• Your course must be an eligible one. The official list covers Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Mathematics and Computing, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Renewable and New Energy, Material Science and Engineering, and Life Sciences, with many named programmes in the appendix.
• You need either a GATE 2026 score of 550 to 1,000 or an undergraduate CGPA of 7.5 or above. If your college gives percentages, the FAQ's formula is CGPA = percentage divided by 9.5.
• There is no family income limit. The selection is on merit, with extra consideration for applicants from underprivileged sections and for students with disabilities.

Students from every institute in India can apply. Not eligible are integrated M.Tech and PhD students, online, distance or part-time students, OCI and NRI students, and students studying abroad. If your programme is not on the list but fits the subject areas, the FAQ asks you to email [email protected] with course details. If you are thinking of GATE as a route, see our GATE 2027 guide.

Reliance Foundation scholarship aptitude test

Everyone who applies has to take the Scholarship Aptitude Test, and your application counts as complete only after you finish it. The official FAQ describes it like this:

• It is an online, multiple-choice test, remotely proctored, which you can take from home. Keep your camera and microphone on, share your screen, stay in full-screen mode and take it alone in a quiet room.
• The level suits students who have finished Class 12 in any recognised board.
• Verbal covers grammar, vocabulary, sentence completion and reading comprehension. Numerical covers ratios, percentages, number series and data interpretation.
• There is no fee. A mock test opens about a week before your slot.
• You pick your date while submitting the form. You may reschedule once, up to 7 days before, and Reliance Foundation assigns the new date.
• The undergraduate test is available in Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati and Kannada.
• Students with disabilities get 30 extra minutes, so 90 minutes in all.
• You can attempt it only once. A second attempt means disqualification.

Documents needed

Undergraduate: passport-size photograph, proof of permanent address, Class 10 and Class 12 marksheets, a bonafide certificate from your college (name, institution, degree and year of study), family income proof, and a disability certificate if applicable. No passport is needed. DigiLocker is optional.

Postgraduate: the official FAQ also asks for a bonafide certificate or fee receipt, two reference letters (one academic, one on character), two essays of up to 4,000 characters each, and your GATE marksheet if you apply with a GATE score.

After submitting, undergraduate applicants also had to enter bank and PAN details by 18 October 2026. The account must be in your own name. If you are under 18, you need a joint account with your parent or guardian where your name comes first.

How selection works

Undergraduate (four steps): submit the form and documents, take the aptitude test, document verification and evaluation of shortlisted applicants, then final selection. The FAQ says evaluation combines your aptitude test score with your academic and personal information, and the page calls the selection merit-cum-means.

Postgraduate (five steps): submit the form with documents and references, take the aptitude test, document verification and evaluation, a virtual interview for shortlisted applicants, then final selection. Interview preparation webinars are held for all candidates.

Each scholar also gets mentoring, leadership workshops, volunteering chances and a place in the Reliance Foundation alumni community. Undergraduate scholarships can be renewed each year if you pass your exams, are promoted and keep good academic standing.

Missed it? Other scholarships to look at

• Central schemes: the NSP scholarship guide covers the National Scholarship Portal, and the NMMS guide covers the ₹12,000-a-year scheme for Class 9 students.
• Gujarat students: see our MYSY scholarship guide and the Digital Gujarat scholarship guide.
• Another private programme: SBI Foundation's programme is covered in our SBI Asha Scholarship guide. It also has a 2026-27 round that has closed.
• Study abroad: the study abroad scholarships tracker lists what is open now.