Top Scholarships for Indian Law Students in 2025
Indian law school is costly, but government, private, and state-level scholarships in combination work to narrow the gap. This is an updated guide, with eligibility, levels, advantages, application procedures, and deadlines for the top domestic and global scholarships.
Government-Funded Scholarships
The Central Sector (Top 10%) Scholarship, under the administration of the Ministry of Education, awards Class XII toppers (top 10%) with family income ≤ ₹4.5 Lakh. Law students pursuing UG/PG courses are awarded ₹12,000/year for the initial three years and ₹20,000/year for years 4 and 5. Applications are submitted late in October through the National Scholarship Portal.
Click Here to know more: https://tcs.dosje.gov.in/
Under Top Class Education Scheme for SC/ST, SC students (≤ ₹8 Lakh annual income) get full fee, ₹3,000/month scholarship, and book grant. ST students (≤ ₹6 Lakh) get the same perks, ₹2,220 monthly stipend and book grant. Application is once a year through central/state portals.
Click Here to know more: https://socialjustice.gov.in/schemes/27
Post-Matric & Merit Scholarships (SC/ST/OBC/Minorities) – A number of welfare programmes on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) for backward classes. For law students:
- Post-Matric SC/ST/Minority Scholarships (by Social Justice and Minority Affairs ministries) provide assistance to SC/ST/OBC/Minority community students from class X onwards. Eligibility is primarily income-related (limits differ per state), and grants cover school/college fees and a meager allowance.
Click Here to know more: https://socialjustice.gov.in/schemes/25
- Merit Scholarships (Ministry of Minority Affairs) – This “Maulana Azad” scheme for Muslim/Christian/Sikh students demands ≥50% in the previous exam and income ≤₹2 Lakh. Benefits are full tuition (excluding 20% contribution by student) and hostel fees up to ₹5,000/year, with a maintenance allowance of ₹1,000/month.
Click Here to know more: https://www.minorityaffairs.gov.in/show_content.php?lang=1&level=1&ls_id=625&lid=107
Private & Trust Scholarships
The Kotak Kanya Scholarship gives power to female students (≥ 75% in Class XII, income < ₹6 Lakh, selected for law) ₹1.5 Lakh/year to pay for tuition, hostel, and miscellaneous expenses. Applications are accepted June–September online.
Click Here to know more: https://www.buddy4study.com/page/kotak-kanya-scholarship
Aditya Birla Scholarship pays full tuition fees and hostel expenses (max ₹1.8 Lakh/year) for CLAT rank leaders (roughly top 20) at top law schools. The selection is a multi-step procedure after CLAT.
Click Here to know more: https://www.adityabirlascholars.net/the-scholarship/
Foundation for Excellence (FFE) awards first-year law students from economically disadvantaged families ₹50,000/year, renewable to graduation. The deadline is December 31.
Click Here to know more:
GEV Memorial Merit Scholarship gives ₹50,000/year and guidance to board performers (≥ 60%) with income ≤ ₹10 Lakh.
Click Here to know more: https://ffe.org/scholarships/
According to the Nirankari Rajmata Scholarship, candidates securing ≥ 90% in Class XII (entrance eligible or LLB/LLM) with income ≤ ₹3.5 Lakh get up to ₹75,000/year fee relief, half the places being reserved for women.
Click Here to know more: https://www.nirankarifoundation.org/scholarship/
A majority of NLUs and law schools provide internal scholarships—from Dr. Santosh Chawla Fund at NLU Delhi to Shankaramma scholarships at NLSIU. Various trusts such as Quill sometimes provide one-time scholarships.
State Government Scholarships
Madhya Pradesh – MMVY: MP domicile students with ≤ ₹6 Lakh annual income, ≥ 70% marks in MP Board or ≥ 85% in CBSE/ICSE, and admitted to law through CLAT or Delhi Univ. get full fee and hostel utility reimbursement. Apply late July, due September through the state portal.
Click Here to know more: https://medhavikalyan.mp.gov.in/MMVY.aspx
Delhi – Merit cum Means Scholarship: Students of Undergraduate courses in Law at Delhi State universities scoring ≥ 60% marks and with family income ≤ ₹6 Lakh are eligible for 25%/ 50%/ 100% tuition fee waivers. Over 1,300 students were recently sanctioned (₹19 Crore released).
Click Here to know more: https://higheredn.delhi.gov.in/sites/default/files/generic_multiple_files/2_2.pdf
State-specific MCM/post matric schemes are operated by Gujarat, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, among others, which include tuition and stipends for SC/ST/OBC/low-income students. The West Bengal Swami Vivekananda Scholarship provides ₹5,000/month for professional students.
International Scholarships
Chevening (UK) sponsors Indian graduates for a one-year UK LLM with full fees, stipend, travel, and allowances. Applications are held August–November each year.
Click Here to know more: https://www.chevening.org/scholarship/india/
Fulbright Nehru (USA) scholarships sponsor Indian LLM and master’s study in the U.S., including tuition, stipend, and travel, usually closing in October.
Click Here to know more: https://www.usief.org.in/
Other competitive programs such as Commonwealth, Rhodes, and Cambridge-India scholarships are offered but in limited and highly competitive numbers.
Application Process
- Verify eligibility (academics, income, domicile, entrance-related).
- Register on portals (NSP, relevant state portals) before deadlines.
- Collect documents (admission proof, mark sheets, caste/income certificates, ID, bank details, entrance scorecards).
- Apply early and accurately, avoiding last-minute issues.
- Track and renew annually as needed.
- Combine awards for maximum benefit (e.g., central + state + private scholarships).
Important Deadlines
- Central scholarships: by late October.
- MMVY: applications open late July, close September.
- Kotak Kanya: June pre-registration, final by August/September.
- FFE: December 31.
- Chevening: mid-November.
- Fulbright-Nehru: October.