Reliance Foundation Scholarship 2026-27 UG and PG Application Guide
Compare Reliance Foundation 2026-27 UG and PG eligibility, scholarship amounts, aptitude test, selection process, application steps and reported October 5 deadline.
Reliance Foundation Scholarships 2026-27 are open for first-year undergraduate and postgraduate students studying full-time degree programmes in India. The two routes share the same larger purpose but have different eligibility rules: the undergraduate scholarship is merit-cum-means based and covers any eligible UG stream, while the postgraduate scholarship is for selected future-ready disciplines. Reliance Foundation announced 5,100 scholarships for this cycle: 5,000 undergraduate awards and 100 postgraduate awards.
Applications opened on 14 August 2026. The source guide reports a closing date of 5 October 2026 for both programmes. There is no application fee. Students should apply only through the official Reliance Foundation Scholarships portal and should not pay anyone claiming to guarantee selection.
UG and PG scholarships at a glance
| Point | Undergraduate | Postgraduate |
|---|---|---|
| Study stage | First year of a regular full-time UG degree in 2026-27 | First year of an eligible regular full-time PG degree |
| Fields | Any undergraduate stream, subject to programme rules | Selected future-ready Engineering, Technology, Energy and Life Sciences fields |
| Maximum support | Up to INR 2 lakh over the degree | Up to INR 6 lakh over the degree |
| Number of scholars | Up to 5,000 | Up to 100 |
| Core academic rule | At least 60% in Class 12 | GATE 550-1,000 or undergraduate CGPA 7.5 or above |
| Income rule | Household income below INR 15 lakh | No equivalent income ceiling stated in the current programme description |
Undergraduate scholarship eligibility
The official Undergraduate Scholarship page says applicants must be resident Indian citizens who passed Standard 12 with at least 60% and are currently enrolled in the first year of a regular full-time undergraduate degree in the 2026-27 academic year. Students may be from any stream, but household income must be below INR 15 lakh. The online aptitude test is mandatory.
The UG page also lists important exclusions. Students already in second year or higher are not eligible. Online, hybrid, remote, distance and other non-regular study modes are excluded. Students who passed a diploma after Standard 10, students pursuing two-year or six-year undergraduate degree courses, and applicants who do not complete the mandatory aptitude test are also excluded under the current rules.
The UG scholarship is merit-cum-means based. Up to 5,000 students may receive support of up to INR 2 lakh over the duration of the degree. Reliance Foundation also says the programme encourages applications from girls and specially-abled students.
Postgraduate scholarship eligibility
The PG route is narrower. It supports first-year students in eligible regular full-time postgraduate programmes in India within selected future-ready fields. The current programme groups eligible study areas around Artificial Intelligence, Computer Sciences, Mathematics and Computing, Electrical and/or Electronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Renewable and New Energy, Material Science and Engineering, and Life Sciences.
Applicants must be resident Indian citizens and meet the academic route specified by the programme: a GATE score from 550 to 1,000 or an undergraduate CGPA of 7.5 or above, with percentage converted or normalised where applicable. Students should verify that their exact degree programme is eligible rather than assuming that a related course title qualifies. The scholarship is available to students from institutes across India when the other eligibility conditions are met.
Up to 100 PG scholars are selected each year, with scholarship support of up to INR 6 lakh over the degree. The programme is designed for academic excellence and future leadership rather than using the UG programme's household-income ceiling.
Application and aptitude test
Students should first choose the programme that matches their current study stage. The online application collects personal and contact information, academic information, achievements and awards, and supporting documents. Applicants should enter only information they can substantiate and should keep copies of submitted records and their application acknowledgement.
Both routes include an online aptitude assessment. The official UG page describes a 60-minute test with 60 multiple-choice questions covering verbal ability, analytical and logical ability, and numerical ability. Reliance Foundation's 2026-27 announcement confirms that undergraduate selection considers the aptitude assessment and financial background, while postgraduate selection considers academic merit, aptitude and additional selection parameters.
How selection differs
For UG applicants, the application, aptitude-test score, academic information and personal information feed into a merit-cum-means evaluation. The programme then announces up to 5,000 scholars. Meeting the basic eligibility conditions is therefore necessary but does not itself guarantee an award.
For PG applicants, academic evidence and aptitude are followed by deeper evaluation. The source guide describes expert evaluation and an interview stage for shortlisted candidates. Applicants should be ready to explain their academic direction, achievements and purpose in their own words and should monitor their registered email and official portal after submitting.
Documents and information to prepare
- Identity and resident-Indian citizenship details.
- Academic marksheets, including Class 12 records for UG applicants.
- Proof of first-year admission and current institute/course details.
- Household-income proof for the UG merit-cum-means application.
- GATE score or undergraduate CGPA evidence for PG applicants, depending on the eligibility route used.
- Evidence for achievements or awards entered in the application.
- Any PG-specific references, statements or supporting records requested in the live form.
Requirements can differ between UG and PG applications, so the live form and official programme pages should be treated as the final checklist. Do not upload unrelated records simply because they were requested in a previous scholarship cycle.
Scholarship support beyond the grant
Reliance Foundation describes the scholarships as more than financial assistance. The 2026-27 announcement includes mentorship, leadership-development opportunities, networking, interactions with industry experts and participation in a scholar community. The Foundation says more than 33,000 students had received Reliance scholarships by the time this cycle opened.
The award figures are maximum support over the degree, not an automatic one-time payment. UG scholars may receive up to INR 2 lakh, while PG scholars may receive up to INR 6 lakh, subject to the programme's award and disbursement rules.
Before you submit
- Confirm whether you belong in the UG or PG application route.
- For PG, verify the exact eligible programme rather than relying only on a broad field name.
- Check that marks, CGPA, GATE score and income information match supporting records.
- Use the official portal and remember that there is no application fee.
- Complete the mandatory aptitude-test requirement after the application stage.
- Use 5 October 2026 as the reported closing date from the source guide and submit early.
Frequently asked questions
Can a second-year student apply?
The 2026-27 scholarships are for students currently in the first year of the applicable undergraduate or postgraduate programme.
Can an undergraduate from any stream apply?
Yes, the official UG page says first-year students studying any stream may apply, provided they meet all other eligibility conditions.
Is the application free?
Yes. Reliance Foundation's 2026-27 announcement states that there is no fee at any stage of the application process.
Are the UG and PG awards the same?
No. UG support is up to INR 2 lakh over the degree for up to 5,000 scholars. PG support is up to INR 6 lakh for up to 100 scholars in eligible future-ready disciplines.
Where should students verify last-minute changes?
Use the official Reliance Foundation Scholarships portal and the relevant UG or PG programme page. The portal is the appropriate place to confirm live application instructions before final submission.
