₹18,000 Scholarship Closes October 26: Class 11 to UG Students, Are You Eligible?

Students in Class 11 and 12, UG courses, Diploma, and ITI can get up to ₹18,000 towards their fees this year. But the window closes on October 26, 2026. This is the Tata Capital Pankh Scholarship for 2026-27, run by Tata Capital Limited as part of its CSR work. If you scored 60% or more last year and your family income is within the limit, here is everything you need to apply.

Only 21 days left: what this scholarship is

The Tata Capital Pankh Scholarship is a merit-cum-means programme. That means it checks two things together: your marks and your family income. Good marks alone are not enough if the family income is high. Low income alone is not enough if the marks are below 60%. Both conditions have to match.

There are two separate forms this session. One form is for school students in Class 11 and 12. The other form is for students in undergraduate courses, Polytechnic, Diploma, and ITI. Both forms close on the same day: October 26, 2026. There is no fee to apply, and the form exists only on the Buddy4Study portal.

“Marks alone do not decide it. First, forms are shortlisted on marks and family income together. Then documents are checked, and shortlisted students get a phone interview.”

If you are comparing private scholarship options, read our guides to the LIC Golden Jubilee Scholarship and the full list of government scholarships for Indian college students before you pick where to apply.

How much money you can get

The amount is not fixed. It changes with your marks, and in every slab you get whichever figure is smaller: the share of your fees, or the rupee limit.

For Class 11 and 12 students:

• 60% to 80% marks: up to 80% of tuition or course fees, or ₹10,000
• Above 80% up to 90% marks: up to 90% of fees, or ₹12,000
• Above 90% marks: up to 100% of fees, or ₹15,000

For UG, Diploma, and ITI students:

• 60% to 80% marks: up to 80% of tuition or course fees, or ₹12,000
• Above 80% up to 90% marks: up to 90% of fees, or ₹15,000
• Above 90% marks: up to 100% of fees, or ₹18,000

So a college student with 85% marks gets up to 90% of fees, capped at ₹15,000. The money is paid back against the fees you have already paid. It is not a monthly allowance.

Who can apply, and who cannot

The rules are almost the same in both forms. Only the course you are studying in is different.

• You must be an Indian student.
• You must be studying in Class 11 or 12 at a recognised school, or in a UG degree, Diploma, Polytechnic, or ITI course at a recognised college, university, or technical institute.
• You must have scored at least 60% marks in the last academic year, class, or semester.
• Your parents’ yearly income from all sources must not go above ₹4 lakh. This applies to both forms, with no relief for any category.

Children of Tata Capital Limited employees and children of Buddy4Study employees cannot apply. Meeting the rules does not mean you are selected. The programme page says first preference goes to girl students, students with disabilities, students from single-parent families, orphaned students, and students from SC and ST categories.

How to apply before October 26

Keep your scanned documents ready before you start. Blurred files slow down the checking.

1. Open the official Tata Capital Pankh Scholarship page on the Buddy4Study portal and click Apply Now.
2. Log in with your Buddy4Study ID. New users can sign up with an email ID, mobile number, or Google account.
3. Pick the form that matches your course and click Start Application.
4. Fill in your personal, study, and family income details.
5. Upload the documents asked for.
6. Accept the terms and conditions, then click Preview.
7. Read every field in the preview carefully, then click Submit.

You will need a government-issued ID proof, a passport-size photo, income proof such as an income certificate or salary slips, admission proof like a college ID card or bonafide certificate, the fee receipt for this academic year, bank account details such as a cancelled cheque or passbook copy, the last class or semester marksheet, and disability or caste certificates where they apply. More scholarship updates and deadlines are listed in our scholarships section.

What happens after you submit

Selection happens in steps. First, forms are shortlisted on marks and family income together. Then the uploaded documents are checked. Shortlisted students get a phone interview. The final list is approved by Tata Capital Limited.

The phone interview matters more than most students expect. Keep your phone reachable on the number you wrote in the form. Updates also come by email, SMS, and on the Buddy4Study portal, so check that the contact details you filled in are correct. A wrong mobile number in the form can cost you the scholarship.

The result date has not been announced yet. You can track your form on the same portal where you applied, using the same Buddy4Study account.