The Reliance Foundation Scholarship 2026 is one of the largest private scholarship programmes in India by both the number of scholars and the amount offered. Every year the Foundation supports up to 5,000 undergraduate students with grants of up to Rs 2 lakh spread over the duration of their degree, and up to 100 postgraduate students in future-focused technology fields with grants of up to Rs 6 lakh. The programme is merit-cum-means for undergraduates and merit-focused for postgraduates, making it relevant for both first-year college students and students entering specialised master’s programmes.
The 2026 cycle continues the Foundation’s focus on building India’s talent pipeline in computer science, artificial intelligence, and allied disciplines at the postgraduate level, while keeping the undergraduate track open to students of all streams. This guide covers the amounts, eligibility, tests, documents, and application steps for both tracks so applicants can prepare well before the deadline.
Overview 2026
| Detail | UG Track | PG Track |
|---|---|---|
| Scholars Selected | Up to 5,000 | Up to 100 |
| Total Grant | Up to Rs 2,00,000 over the degree | Up to Rs 6,00,000 over the programme |
| Eligible Students | First-year UG in any stream | First-year PG in CS, AI, ML, and allied fields |
| Class 12 / UG Marks | 60%+ in Class 12 | Strong UG record (typically CGPA 7.5+) |
| Income Limit | Up to Rs 15 lakh (preference below Rs 2.5 lakh) | No strict limit; merit-driven |
| Selection Test | Online aptitude test | Test + interview |
Scholarship Amount
- Undergraduate scholars receive up to Rs 2 lakh disbursed in yearly instalments across the degree duration, usable for tuition, hostel, books, and study expenses
- Postgraduate scholars receive up to Rs 6 lakh across the master’s programme, one of the highest PG grants offered by any Indian private foundation
- Both tracks include access to the Reliance Foundation Scholars network with mentorship sessions, industry exposure, and alumni connections that continue beyond the money itself
The disbursement is made directly to the scholar’s bank account each year after confirmation of continued enrollment and satisfactory academic progress. Scholars who drop out or fail to maintain progress lose the remaining instalments.
Eligibility — UG Track
- Indian citizen enrolled in the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree at a recognised Indian institution
- Minimum 60 percent marks in Class 12
- Family income up to Rs 15 lakh per year, with preference and reserved focus for families earning below Rs 2.5 lakh
- All streams eligible — Engineering, Medicine, Science, Commerce, Arts, Law, and professional degrees
- Must appear for the Foundation’s online aptitude test as part of the application
Eligibility — PG Track
- First-year students in full-time postgraduate programmes in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science, Electrical/Electronics, and closely allied fields
- Strong undergraduate academic record, typically CGPA 7.5 or above or equivalent percentage
- GATE score or admission to a top-ranked institution strengthens the application
- Selection is primarily merit-based with an interview stage for shortlisted candidates
Documents Required
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Class 12 Marksheet | UG academic eligibility |
| UG Degree Marksheets | PG academic eligibility |
| Admission Letter | Proof of current first-year enrollment |
| Income Proof | ITR, Form 16, or Tehsildar certificate |
| Aadhaar Card | Identity verification |
| Bank Passbook | Disbursement account details |
| Photograph | Application profile |
How to Apply
Step 1 — Register on the Portal
Visit scholarships.reliancefoundation.org during the application window and register with your email and mobile number. The UG and PG tracks have separate application forms — select the correct track for your current enrollment.
Step 2 — Complete the Application Form
Fill in personal, academic, and family income details. The form includes short essay-style questions about your goals and circumstances — answer these specifically and honestly, as they are read during evaluation.
Step 3 — Upload Documents
Upload marksheets, admission proof, income proof, Aadhaar, and photograph. Check each preview for clarity before final submission.
Step 4 — Appear for the Aptitude Test
UG applicants receive a link and schedule for the online aptitude test covering logical reasoning, numerical ability, and language skills. Take the test from a stable internet connection using a laptop or desktop where possible. PG applicants shortlisted on merit are invited to a test and interview round.
Step 5 — Track Results
Results are communicated by email and on the portal dashboard. Selected scholars complete a final verification before the first disbursement.
Selection Process
- UG: application screening → online aptitude test → merit-cum-means ranking → final selection of up to 5,000 scholars
- PG: application screening on academic merit → test/interview → final selection of up to 100 scholars
- Weight is given to academic performance, test score, family income context, and the quality of written responses
Renewal & Scholar Duties
The grant continues through the degree as long as the scholar remains enrolled full-time and maintains satisfactory academic progress, which is verified annually through marksheets and enrollment confirmation. Scholars are expected to participate in Foundation engagement activities including mentorship sessions, community initiatives, and scholar meets. Failure to submit annual progress documents pauses the next instalment until compliance is complete.
Preparation Tips
- Apply early in the window — the aptitude test slots and portal load are lighter in the initial weeks
- Practise basic aptitude questions (reasoning, arithmetic, comprehension) for a week before the UG test
- Write the essay answers yourself in clear simple language — evaluators value authenticity over vocabulary
- PG applicants should keep their GATE scorecard and UG transcripts ready as merit evidence
- Use a personal email you check daily — test links and results arrive by email
- Keep the same mobile number active through the entire cycle for OTPs and interview calls
Timeline 2026
| Stage | Typical Period |
|---|---|
| Applications Open | Around September–October |
| Application Deadline | Around November–December |
| UG Aptitude Test | Within the application window |
| PG Test/Interviews | After shortlisting |
| Results | Around February–March |
| First Disbursement | After verification of selected scholars |
The cycle aligns with the first semester of the academic year, so first-year students should watch for the announcement within weeks of joining college. The aptitude test is scheduled inside the application window itself — applicants who submit early get more flexible test slots, another reason not to wait for the deadline.
Aptitude Test — What to Expect
- Logical reasoning — patterns, series, syllogisms, and puzzle-style questions
- Numerical ability — arithmetic, percentages, ratios, and basic data interpretation
- Verbal ability — reading comprehension, vocabulary, and sentence correction
- General awareness — light coverage in some cycles
The test difficulty is moderate — comparable to entry-level placement aptitude tests rather than JEE-style problems — but it discriminates strongly among the 5,000-seat applicant pool because most candidates take it casually. One focused week of practice with any standard aptitude book or free online question banks measurably lifts scores. Take the test on a laptop with stable internet, keep your Aadhaar nearby for identity steps, and complete it in one quiet sitting.
Essay Answers — How They Are Read
The application’s short descriptive questions are not decoration — evaluators use them to understand need and seriousness beyond numbers. Strong answers share three traits: they are specific (naming the parent’s occupation, the actual fee amount, the concrete career goal), they are honest (no exaggerated hardship claims, which verification calls expose), and they are self-written (template answers copied from the internet are easy to spot and quietly discounted). A farmer’s daughter writing four plain sentences about her family’s landholding, her fee gap, and her goal of becoming a government engineer outscores a page of borrowed inspirational language.
UG vs PG Track — Choosing Correctly
| Factor | UG Track | PG Track |
|---|---|---|
| Competition Style | Volume-heavy, aptitude-test driven | Depth-heavy, profile and interview driven |
| Income Weight | High (means preference) | Low (merit-led) |
| Best Evidence | Class 12 marks + test score | UG CGPA, GATE, institute rank |
| Grant per Scholar | Rs 2 lakh total | Rs 6 lakh total |
A common error is dual-track confusion — a student in the first year of an integrated five-year programme, or a lateral-entry student, applying under the wrong track. Read the track definitions in the cycle notification; if your programme structure is unusual, use the portal’s helpdesk before submitting rather than guessing, because track selection generally cannot be corrected after submission.
Financial Planning with the Grant
The Rs 2 lakh UG grant arrives in yearly instalments, so scholars should map it against their actual cost curve. For a student with Rs 40,000 annual college costs, the instalments broadly cover the degree; for costlier professional courses the grant is partial support and the family’s remaining plan — education loan moratorium planning, fee instalment arrangements with the college — still matters. PG scholars receiving up to Rs 6 lakh should note that top-institute masters often pair the grant with teaching assistantships, effectively covering both fees and living costs; confirm your institute’s rules on holding both. In all cases, keep the disbursement account exclusively in your own name, save every fee receipt, and submit renewal documents the week they are requested — instalment delays in this programme are almost always caused by late scholar paperwork rather than Foundation processing.
Common Mistakes in Reliance Foundation Applications
- Applying in the second year — the single most common wasted application; the programme is first-year only, and the portal screening removes ineligible years automatically
- Taking the aptitude test on a phone with weak internet — disconnections mid-test are the leading avoidable failure; use a laptop and stable connection
- Copying essay answers from previous years’ samples circulating online — evaluators see hundreds of identical paragraphs and discount them
- Wrong income documentation — the form’s income figure must match the uploaded ITR, Form 16, or certificate exactly
- Ignoring email after submission — test links, corrections, and results all arrive by email; applicants who check email weekly miss nothing, applicants who never check lose slots
Scholar Community — The Non-Cash Value
Selected scholars enter the Reliance Foundation Scholars network, which runs structured engagement through the degree — mentorship interactions, skill sessions, exposure visits, and an alumni layer that carries into careers. Scholars should treat this as a claimable benefit rather than a ceremonial one: attending the sessions, asking mentors specific questions about internships and higher study, and staying active in the scholar groups converts the network into concrete opportunities. For students from families without professional networks, this community access is arguably worth as much as the money — it is the difference between navigating college alone and navigating it with guidance from people who have already made the journey.
Reapplication Reality
Because the programme is first-year-entry only, there is no second attempt at the same track for the same degree — a rejected UG applicant cannot reapply in the second year. The practical consequences: first, treat the single attempt seriously (test preparation, honest essays, complete documents); second, a rejected UG applicant should immediately pivot to multi-year alternatives like HDFC ECSS, SBI Asha, and Tata Pankh, which accept applications across study years; third, a rejected UG applicant gets a genuine second chance at the PG track years later when entering a masters in an eligible field, where the earlier rejection carries no weight.
Fraud Alert — Fake Reliance Scholarship Links
The Reliance Foundation Scholarship’s scale makes it a favourite target for fraud pages promising guaranteed selection or charging registration fees. The genuine application is free, runs only on scholarships.reliancefoundation.org, and never requests money, banking OTPs, or card details at any stage. Fake pages typically use lookalike domains, WhatsApp forward chains, and urgency language about the last few seats. Applicants should type the official address directly, refuse any payment demand, and report fraudulent pages at cybercrime.gov.in. Sharing this warning within college groups also protects classmates — first-year students new to scholarship processes are the fraudsters’ primary targets.
Checklist Before Final Submission
- Track selected correctly — UG or PG matching your current first-year enrollment
- Marks and income figures identical to the uploaded documents
- All uploads previewed and legible, especially the admission letter and income proof
- Essay answers self-written, specific, and free of copied text
- Email and mobile both active and personally accessible for the test link and results
- Acknowledgement number saved by screenshot after submission
Running this six-point check before pressing submit takes five minutes and removes the avoidable errors that eliminate thousands of otherwise-eligible applicants every cycle.
Institution Type — Does It Matter
The Reliance Foundation UG track is institution-agnostic — students in government colleges, private universities, deemed universities, and autonomous institutions are all eligible as long as the institution is recognised and the programme is full-time. This differs from several other scholarships that restrict eligibility to government institutions, and it makes the programme especially valuable for students who took admission in private colleges with higher fees under financial strain. The PG track, being merit-led, naturally concentrates selections in stronger institutions — IITs, NITs, IIITs, and top universities — but the eligibility itself does not name institutions, so an outstanding candidate from any recognised university with a strong GATE score and research profile competes on equal formal footing. Applicants should simply ensure their institution and programme details are entered exactly as officially named, because recognition verification is done against official records and abbreviations or informal college names create avoidable mismatches during screening.
In summary terms, the Reliance Foundation Scholarship rewards early, prepared, first-year applicants: documents assembled before the window, a practised aptitude test, self-written essays, and an inbox that gets checked. Students who bring those four habits convert this programme at rates far above the general applicant pool, and the Rs 2 lakh UG or Rs 6 lakh PG support then quietly underwrites the entire degree.
The programme remains, year after year, the largest single private gateway into funded higher education for Indian first-year students, and every eligible fresher should treat the application as a mandatory task of their first semester.