Pre-Matric Scholarship in AP is the scholarship for school students in Andhra Pradesh who are studying in classes 5 to 10 and belong to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Backward Class or minority communities. It helps parents pay for books, stationery, uniforms and other school costs, so that children from poor families can stay in school and complete their education instead of dropping out.

The scholarship is managed through the Jnanabhumi portal, the same portal used for post-matric scholarships in the state. The student’s school collects the details and forwards the application online, and the scholarship amount is paid directly into the student’s bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). There is no fee to apply for a Pre-Matric Scholarship in AP.

What Is the Pre-Matric Scholarship?

Pre-matric means the classes before matriculation, that is, before class 10. The Pre-Matric Scholarship in AP is part of the central pre-matric scholarship scheme, which the Government of India runs for SC, ST, BC and minority students, and which the Andhra Pradesh government implements through the Jnanabhumi portal. The aim is simple: reduce dropouts by giving poor families a small yearly help with the cost of schooling.

The scholarship is different from the post-matric scholarship, which is for students of Intermediate, degree, postgraduate and professional courses. The post-matric scholarship pays the tuition fee and a monthly maintenance amount, while the pre-matric scholarship pays a smaller monthly amount and a yearly grant for books. If you want the details of the post-matric scheme, read our guide to Jnanabhumi scholarships.

Once a student passes class 10 and joins Intermediate, the pre-matric scholarship stops and the student becomes eligible for the post-matric scholarship. In Andhra Pradesh, Intermediate students also get their tuition fee covered under Free Intermediate Education in AP, so the support continues from school to college.

Who Can Apply for a Pre-Matric Scholarship in AP?

These conditions apply for a Pre-Matric Scholarship in AP:

• You must be studying in classes 5 to 10 in a government, aided or recognised private school in Andhra Pradesh.
• You must belong to a Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Backward Class or minority community, with a valid caste certificate where the category requires one.
• Your parent or guardian’s annual family income must be below Rs 2.5 lakh a year under the current guidelines. The exact limit for your category is shown on the Jnanabhumi portal.
• You must be a resident of Andhra Pradesh.
• You must have a bank account in your name, or a joint account with a parent, and it should be linked to Aadhaar so that the DBT payment reaches you.
• You must attend school regularly. Irregular attendance can lead to the scholarship being stopped.

A student who is already receiving another scholarship for the same purpose cannot take both. If you are not sure which scholarship applies to you, ask your school or visit the nearest Village or Ward Secretariat.

How Much Is the Pre-Matric Scholarship?

The amount of the Pre-Matric Scholarship in AP depends on the class and on whether the student is a day scholar or a hosteller. The monthly scholarship is paid for 10 months of the academic year, and students of classes 9 and 10 also get a one-time ad-hoc grant for books and stationery.

These amounts follow the scheme guidelines, and the exact amount sanctioned for a student is shown on the Jnanabhumi portal and in the sanction order. The government can revise the amounts, so always check the current figures on the portal. The scholarship is a help with school costs, not a full payment of all expenses, and it is paid in addition to the free textbooks, uniforms and midday meals that government school students already receive.

Documents Required for a Pre-Matric Scholarship in AP

Keep these ready before the school submits the application:

• Aadhaar card of the student.
• Caste certificate of the student, where the category requires one. See how to get a caste certificate in AP.
• Income certificate of the parent or guardian. See how to get an income certificate in AP.
• Bank account passbook of the student, or a joint account with a parent.
• Bonafide certificate from the school, confirming that the student is studying there.
• Previous class mark sheet or promotion certificate.
• Passport-size photograph of the student.
• Mobile number linked to Aadhaar, for OTP and status messages.

Give the originals for verification and photocopies to the school. Do not give your original certificates to any agent or middleman.

How to Apply for a Pre-Matric Scholarship in AP

Follow these steps to apply for a Pre-Matric Scholarship in AP:

1. Give the documents listed above to your school. The school, not the student, applies on the Jnanabhumi portal.
2. The school logs in to the Jnanabhumi portal at jnanabhumi.ap.gov.in and enters the student’s details, class, caste and bank account information.
3. The school uploads the documents and submits the application before the portal closes for the academic year.
4. The application is verified by the school and then by the welfare department of the district.
5. On approval, the scholarship amount is credited to the student’s bank account by Direct Benefit Transfer.
6. Check the status on the Jnanabhumi portal with the application number, or ask the school for the status.

Parents should ask the school at the start of the academic year whether the pre-matric scholarship application has been submitted. Many applications are missed simply because the school did not enter the details in time. The central scheme guidelines are published by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment at socialjustice.gov.in, and the Andhra Pradesh government’s portal is ap.gov.in.

Pre-Matric Scholarship vs Post-Matric Scholarship

Parents often confuse the two scholarships on Jnanabhumi. The difference is the class of study. The Pre-Matric Scholarship in AP is for classes 5 to 10 and pays a small monthly amount with a yearly book grant. The post-matric scholarship is for Intermediate, degree, postgraduate and professional courses, and it pays the tuition fee (RTF) and a monthly maintenance amount (MTF). A student moves from the pre-matric scholarship to the post-matric scholarship after passing class 10.

After class 10, students from poor families can also get full fee reimbursement under Jagananna Vidya Deevena, which covers the tuition fee of degree and professional courses. So the chain of support runs from the pre-matric scholarship in school, through free Intermediate education, to fee reimbursement in college.

Common Problems and Solutions

Application not submitted: ask the school whether the details were entered on Jnanabhumi. The school must submit before the portal closes for the year, and late applications are not accepted.

Amount not received: check the bank account and make sure it is linked to Aadhaar. Then check the application status on the Jnanabhumi portal with the application number.

Application rejected: this is usually because of a wrong caste certificate, a wrong income certificate or wrong bank details. Correct the document and ask the school to rectify it, or apply again in the next academic year.

No bank account: open a zero-balance Jan Dhan account in the student’s name at the nearest bank. The scholarship cannot be paid in cash.

Wrong category selected: the school must correct the category on the portal before verification. Once the application is verified, correction becomes difficult.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Pre-Matric Scholarship in AP

Which classes are covered under the Pre-Matric Scholarship in AP?

Classes 5 to 10 are covered. Students of classes 1 to 4 are not covered under this scheme in Andhra Pradesh.

What is the income limit for the Pre-Matric Scholarship in AP?

The family income limit is below Rs 2.5 lakh a year under the current guidelines. The exact limit for your category is shown on the Jnanabhumi portal.

How do I apply for the Pre-Matric Scholarship in AP?

You do not apply directly. Give your documents to your school, and the school applies on your behalf on the Jnanabhumi portal at jnanabhumi.ap.gov.in.

How much money will I get under the Pre-Matric Scholarship in AP?

It depends on your class and whether you are a day scholar or a hosteller. A day scholar in classes 9 and 10 gets Rs 100 a month for 10 months plus a Rs 750 ad-hoc grant, a total of Rs 1,750 a year. A hosteller in classes 9 and 10 gets Rs 6,000 a year.

When is the scholarship amount paid?

After the application is verified and approved, the amount is credited directly into the student’s bank account by DBT. The payment schedule for the year is decided by the welfare department, so ask the school for the expected date.

Final Word

The Pre-Matric Scholarship in AP is a small but important help for school children from SC, ST, BC and minority families. It covers the cost of books and stationery and gives parents one less reason to take a child out of school. Parents should give the documents to the school at the start of the academic year and check that the application has been submitted on Jnanabhumi. For other scheme updates and payment news, see our roundup of Andhra Pradesh schemes in August 2026.

Last updated: November 2026