ONGC Merit Scholarship 2026: Apply Online, Eligibility, Amount & Extended Last Date
Are you a meritorious student pursuing a professional degree like Engineering, MBBS, or an MBA, but worried about mounting tuition fees? The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Foundation has rolled out its prestigious ONGC Merit Scholarship Scheme for the academic year 2025-26.
Aimed at bridging the financial gap for underprivileged yet brilliant minds across India, this corporate social responsibility (CSR) flagship initiative offers a substantial financial cushion of ₹48,000 per annum to selected students.
Whether you belong to the General (EWS), OBC, or SC/ST category, this comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about the ONGC Scholarship 2026—including the extended application deadlines, step-by-step registration processes, specific stream quotas, and essential document criteria.
ONGC Merit Scholarship 2026: An Overview
The ONGC Foundation distributes 2,000 scholarships annually across five distinct zones (North, West, North-East, East, and South), guaranteeing 400 scholarships per zone. This balanced geographic distribution ensures that student communities nationwide get an equitable shot at funding.
| Scholarship Detail | Specifications |
| Name of Scheme | ONGC Merit Scholarship Scheme 2025-26 |
| Nodal Agency | ONGC Foundation (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation) |
| Total Scholarships | 2,000 Seats |
| Scholarship Amount | ₹48,000 Per Year (Paid annually at ₹4,000/month) |
| Eligible Categories | SC, ST, OBC, and General (EWS) |
| Gender Reservation | 50% of seats are strictly reserved for female students |
| Application Mode | Online Portal (ongcscholar.org) + Offline Verification |
| Prerequisite | Mandatory National Scholarship Portal (NSP) OTR Number |
| Application Deadline | Extended to May 25, 2026 |
Category-Wise and Stream-Wise Scholarship Distribution
The 2,000 scholarship allocations are split meticulously among community demographics and specialized career sectors.This breakdown helps evaluate structural target tiers:
1. SC / ST Category (1,000 Total Scholarships)
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Engineering (B.E. / B.Tech): 500 Seats (4-year tenure)
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MBBS: 90 Seats (4-year tenure)
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MBA: 140 Seats (2-year tenure)
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Master’s in Geology/Geophysics: 270 Seats (2-year tenure)
2. OBC Category (500 Total Scholarships)
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Engineering (B.E. / B.Tech): 300 Seats
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MBBS: 50 Seats
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MBA: 50 Seats
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Master’s in Geology/Geophysics: 100 Seats
3. General / EWS Category (500 Total Scholarships)
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Engineering (B.E. / B.Tech): 300 Seats
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MBBS: 50 Seats
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MBA: 50 Seats
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Master’s in Geology/Geophysics: 100 Seats
Core Eligibility Criteria for ONGC Scholarship 2026
To avoid getting your application filtered out during the preliminary evaluation phase, ensure you meet every aspect of the baseline parameters outlined by the ONGC Foundation:
Nationality & Course Enrollment
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Applicants must be permanent Indian citizens.
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The student must be enrolled strictly in the first year of a full-time, regular degree program.
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Note: Distance learning, part-time courses, and diploma programs are explicitly excluded. The college or institute must be recognized by apex bodies like AICTE, MCI, or UGC.
Academic Performance Requirements
The academic benchmark is uniform across categories but depends on the level of entry:
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Undergraduate Courses (Engineering / MBBS): Minimum 60% aggregate marks or an equivalent 6.0 CGPA on a 10-point scale in Class 12 (10+2 system).
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Postgraduate Courses (MBA / Master’s in Geology or Geophysics): Minimum 60% aggregate marks or 6.0 CGPA during Graduation.
Age Limit
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The maximum age limit for any applicant is 30 years as of August 1, 2025.
Annual Family Income Thresholds
The financial eligibility varies depending on the social category certificates furnished:
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SC / ST Applicants: Gross family income must be less than ₹4.5 Lakhs per annum from all combined sources.
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OBC & General (EWS) Applicants: Gross family income must be less than ₹2 Lakhs per annum from all combined sources.
Exclusivity Rule: Applicants must not be availing of financial assistance or active stipends from any other central, state, or private scholarship programs. Dual-benefit enrollment risks immediate disqualification and a demand for a full refund of any disbursed ONGC funds.
Step-by-Step Application Guide
Applying for the ONGC Scholarship involves a multi-stage process that spans across the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) and ONGC’s dedicated interface.
Mandatory Documents Checklist
Keep these essential documents scanned and handy before sitting down to fill out the digital application:
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Identity & Age Verification: Aadhaar card and Class 10 Board Marksheet/Birth Certificate.
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Academic Records: Class 12 marksheet (for B.E./B.Tech/MBBS) or consolidated Graduation marksheets (for MBA/M.Sc.).
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Income Certificate: Official family income certificate issued by a competent revenue authority (e.g., Tehsildar), translated into Hindi or English.
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Caste/Category Certificate: Valid SC/ST/OBC non-creamy layer certificate or EWS document.
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College Admission Proof: Fee receipts, admission letters, or an institutional bonafide student certificate confirming first-year regular entry.
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Banking Records: Applicant’s bank passbook first page copy or a cancelled cheque detailing the exact IFSC code and account numbers.
Selection Criteria: How is the Merit List Prepared?
The ONGC Foundation uses a transparent screening methodology to shortlist beneficiaries:
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Academic Score Ranking: Shortlists are initially drawn up by ranking applicants based on their performance in the qualifying examinations (Class 12 aggregate or Graduation percentages).
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Financial Status Tie-Breaker: If multiple candidates tie on academic scores, preference shifts entirely to family income.The applicant with the lower annual family income moves up the list.
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BPL Preference: Students coming from families with official Below Poverty Line (BPL) status receive automatic tie-breaking preference.
Maintenance and Annual Renewal Rules
The ONGC Merit Scholarship is not a one-time grant. It supports you throughout your entire degree program (up to four years for technical/medical streams, and two years for postgraduates), provided you adhere to these annual renewal guidelines:
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Yearly Promotion: You must clear every semester and transition seamlessly into the next academic year without active backlogs.
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Sustain Academic Grades: You must maintain a minimum of 60% aggregate marks or a 6.0 CGPA in each successive academic year.
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Submit Renewal Forms: Every year, you must log into
ongcscholar.org, upload your latest marksheets, and submit an authorized institutional renewal certificate.
Contact & Helpdesk Information
If you encounter technical glitches on the application portal or have questions about zone allocations, reach out through the official support channels:
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Official Website Portal:
[https://ongcscholar.org](https://ongcscholar.org) -
Nodal Authority: ONGC Foundation Office, New Delhi, India.
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Support Helpline/Verification Line: +91 94720 01663
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can 2nd-year engineering students apply for the ONGC Merit Scholarship?
No. The scholarship is strictly reserved for students currently enrolled in the first year of their respective professional degree programs.
Is there a regional quota system for the scholarship?
Yes. The 2,000 scholarship seats are evenly divided into five geopolitical zones across India, allocating exactly 400 scholarships to each zone.
What happens if I receive a state government scholarship alongside this?
Per the exclusivity rule, you cannot hold two scholarships simultaneously. If selected by ONGC, you must either decline the other financial aid program or refund the full amount received from the ONGC Foundation.
How is the scholarship amount disbursed?
The annual grant of ₹48,000 is directly credited into your verified savings bank account via Electronic Clearing System (ECS) bank transfers after the successful completion and verification of each academic year.
Pro-Tip for Applicants: With the portal window extended to May 25, 2026, use this extra time to ensure your income certificates are updated and your physical hard copies are properly stamped by your college Dean. Incomplete applications are rejected automatically, so review your details carefully before hitting submit!
