Bihar Central Sector Scholarship: Top 20% Class 12 Students Eligible for Government Scholarship — Check How to Apply

Bihar Central Sector Scholarship 2025 is designed especially for those students who have passed the Intermediate (Class 12) exam in 2025 from the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) and rank in the top 20 percent in their stream (Science, Arts, Commerce etc.). Every year, after announcing the Class 12 results, the board publishes an official top 20th percentile list. Having your name in this list is the first and most important step toward this scholarship.

The objective of this scheme is very clear to support meritorious students from financially weaker families so that money does not become a barrier in their education. If your name is included in this list and you are pursuing a regular course in any recognized college, university, or professional institute, Bihar Central Sector Scholarship 2025 can become a stable financial support system for your entire course. This is why it has quickly become one of the most talked-about opportunities for Bihar Board Class 12 pass-outs.

Bihar Central Sector Scholarship

Point	Detail
Name Of Scholarship	Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme Of Scholarship For College And University Students
Applicable Year	Students who passed Bihar Board Intermediate Examination 2025
Beneficiaries	Students who fall in the top 20th percentile in their stream
State	Applicable to students who passed Class 12 from Bihar Board (BSEB)
Type Of Scheme	Central Sector merit-cum-means scholarship
Mode Of Application	Online only, through the National Scholarship Portal
Main Objective	To support higher education of meritorious students from economically weaker families
Minimum Educational Qualification	Passed BSEB Intermediate Annual Examination 2025
Income Limit	Total annual family income must be within the prescribed upper limit (commonly around ₹4.5 lakh)
Official Merit List	Top 20 percentile list available on the official board website

What Is Bihar Central Sector Scholarship

The Bihar Central Sector Scholarship is actually a part of the central government’s Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector Scheme, which is implemented across various boards and states. Under this scheme, Class 12 toppers and high scorers across the country are selected based on merit and income criteria, and they receive annual scholarship support for higher education.

In the context of Bihar, this scholarship is reserved for those students who have passed Class 12 from the Bihar Board and fall within the top 20 percentile of their stream. After that, they must take admission in a recognized college or university in a regular undergraduate, integrated degree, or professional course. In simple words, the Bihar Central Sector Scholarship rewards your hard work in Class 12 and gives you a fair chance to move ahead without constant financial stress.

Who Can Apply For BSEB Scholarship 2025

The next obvious question is: who can actually apply for this scheme? The BSEB Scholarship 2025, which is linked to this Central Sector Scholarship, comes with a few clear and important conditions.

• First, the applicant must have passed the Intermediate (Class 12) examination in 2025 from the Bihar School Examination Board. This scheme is not meant for students from other boards or for previous years. Second, you must be included in the top 20th percentile list issued by the board. This list is prepared stream-wise so that students from Science, Arts, and Commerce all get fair representation.
• Third, you must have taken admission in a regular degree or professional course in a recognized institution. Distance learning or purely private mode courses are usually not considered under this scheme. Fourth, your parents’ or guardian’s total annual income must not exceed the prescribed limit, as this is a merit-cum-means scholarship. Finally, you should not be availing major benefits from another big central or state scholarship at the same time; if you are, you may need to opt for one scheme only.

बिहार में युवाओं को स्कॉलरशिप नहीं मिलती है, अगर शुरु में मिलती है, तो बाद में बंद कर दी जाती है, कहते हैं कि फंड नहीं है।

कांग्रेस की सरकार में जीरो फीस पर एडमिशन हो जाता था, अब 2 लाख से 10 लाख रुपए की फीस पहले भरी जाती है, बाद में रिम्बर्समेंट होती है। अगर छात्र के पास इतने… pic.twitter.com/9AiEWLogVA

— Congress (@INCIndia) October 8, 2025

Bihar Board Releases Central Sector Scholarship 2025 List

Every year, soon after the results, the Bihar Board publishes a detailed list of students who fall within the top 20 percent. This list is the foundation for deciding who can move ahead and apply for the Bihar Central Sector Scholarship. The PDF usually includes the student’s roll code, roll number, name, stream, and other basic details so that each student can easily check their status.

If your name does not appear in this list, you are not eligible for this particular scholarship, even if your marks are good. That is why the very first step is to visit the board’s website, download the top 20 percentile list for your stream, and carefully check whether your name is mentioned or not. If it is, all subsequent steps are open to you. If it is not, you should focus on other state-level schemes or institutional scholarships.

Eligibility Criteria for Bihar Central Sector Scholarship

The eligibility conditions for Bihar Board Scholarship 2025, which is linked to this Central Sector Scheme, can be understood in a few simple points.

• First, educational qualification you must have passed the Bihar Board Intermediate Examination 2025. Second, merit – your name must be present in the official top 20 percentile list issued by BSEB. Third, admission status you should be enrolled in a regular degree, integrated, or professional course in a recognized college, university, or technical institution.
• Fourth, income criteria your parents’ or guardian’s total annual income must not exceed the notified upper limit, as this scheme focuses on meritorious students from economically weaker backgrounds. Fifth, benefit overlap you generally cannot receive double benefits from multiple major scholarships at the same time. If you are already availing another large central or state scholarship, you may need to choose one scheme to continue with.

Application Process For Bihar Central Sector Scholarship

The application process for BSEB Scholarship 2025 is completely online and handled through the national-level portal. You can think of the process in a few clear steps.

• Step one: visit the Bihar Board website and download the top 20 percentile list for your stream. Check your roll code, roll number, and name carefully to confirm that you are eligible. Without this, there is no point proceeding further for the Bihar Central Sector Scholarship.
• Step two: go to the National Scholarship Portal and complete the new registration process. During registration, you will be asked for basic details such as your board, passing year, exam roll number, name, mobile number, and email ID.
• Step three: after registration, log in and select the relevant Central Sector Scholarship scheme from the list of available schemes. Once you choose the scheme, you will see the detailed online application form.
• Step four: fill in your personal details, academic details, institution information, bank account number, IFSC code, and income-related details exactly as they appear on your documents. Any mismatch can cause verification issues later.
• Step five: upload scanned copies of all required documents, such as your Class 12 marksheet, certificate, Aadhaar card, passport-size photo, signature, bank passbook, income certificate, domicile certificate, and caste or category certificate if applicable. Make sure the scanned copies are clear and within the prescribed file size and format.
• Step six: submit the form and save or print the final copy for your records. Your application will then move to your college or institution for verification and may also go to a nodal authority. If verification is delayed or rejected at any level, your scholarship may not be approved, so it is important to track the status regularly and stay in touch with your institution.

Scholarship Amount and Duration

The scholarship amount under the Bihar Central Sector Scholarship depends on the level of your course and is usually granted for the full duration of your degree, provided you maintain the required performance each year. At the undergraduate level, you receive a fixed amount per year, and in later years of integrated or postgraduate courses, the amount may be slightly higher.

The money is transferred directly to your bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). This means your account must be active, preferably linked with Aadhaar, and in your own name. As long as you clear each academic year, maintain the minimum required marks and attendance, and your institution confirms your satisfactory progress, your scholarship can be renewed for the next academic year. In this way, the Bihar Central Sector Scholarship acts not as a one-time reward, but as a continuous financial support through your higher studies.

Required Documents for Bihar Central Sector Scholarship

Before you start the application, it is wise to keep all necessary documents ready in one folder so that you do not face last-minute issues. Typically, you will need:

• Bihar Board Intermediate 2025 marksheet and passing certificate
• Aadhaar card and an active mobile number
• Bank passbook or a cancelled cheque in the student’s name
• Valid income certificate of parents or guardian
• Domicile certificate proving you are a resident of Bihar
• Caste or category certificate, if you belong to SC, ST, OBC, EWS etc.
• Recent passport-size photograph and scanned signature

All these documents must be scanned clearly, as they are uploaded online and form the basis of your verification. Any unclear or incorrect document can lead to rejection or delay.

Role Of Bihar Board And Colleges

In this entire process, the responsibility does not lie only with students; the Bihar Board and the colleges also play a crucial role. The board’s job is to release the top 20 percentile list in time and to circulate clear information about the scholarship to schools and institutions. Notifications and circulars are often sent so that no eligible student misses the opportunity due to lack of awareness.

Colleges and universities, on the other hand, are responsible for timely verification of students’ online applications. If the institute-level verification remains pending, the application cannot move forward, even if all details and documents are correct. That is why it is important for institutions to actively complete verification within deadlines, and for students to stay connected with the scholarship or admin section of their college.

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Difference Between Bihar Central Sector Scholarship And Other Schemes

Many students get confused between the Bihar Central Sector Scholarship and other schemes such as the Chief Minister’s scholarship, post-matric scholarships, or various state-level incentives. The key difference is that the Central Sector Scholarship is a merit-cum-means scheme of the central government, linked specifically to Class 12 merit and income criteria, and implemented nationwide.

State schemes like the Chief Minister’s scholarship or post-matric scholarships are run by the state government, often offer one-time amounts or fee reimbursements, and have their own separate rules and target groups. So if you are in the top 20 percentile and meet all conditions, the Bihar Central Sector Scholarship stands out as a distinct and valuable opportunity that you should not ignore.

FAQs on Bihar Central Sector Scholarship