ICAI Board of Studies — Operations
Merit Award & Students Scholarship Scheme
Award amounts, eligibility, the application process on SSP, and answers to common questions. Last updated 15th May 2026.
Merit Award
For Final Course students.
- Eligibility
- Rank holder of Intermediate Examinations, up to 10th rank
- Must register for Final Course
- Must commence Articleship
Types of Scholarships
1. Economically Needy Students Scholarship for Final Course Students — Merit based
- Eligibility
- Rank holder of Intermediate Examinations, 11th to 50th rank
- Must register for Final Course
- Must commence Articleship
- Parents' income should not exceed ₹5,00,000 per annum
2. Economically Needy Students Scholarship
(i) Final Course Students
- Eligibility
- Registered for Final Course
- Must commence Articleship
- Parents' income ≤ ₹5,00,000 p.a.
(ii) Intermediate Students
- Eligibility
- Registered via Foundation Route or Direct Entry Route
- Parents' income ≤ ₹5,00,000 p.a.
- Extra months, if any
- +3 months if ICITSS completed within first 8 months
- +3 months if any one Group passed within 12 months of registration
3. Economically Needy Students Scholarship for Foundation Course Students
- Eligibility
- Registered for Foundation Course
- Parents' income should not exceed ₹5,00,000 per annum
Revised scholarship amounts above take effect with the January 2026 quarter selection and will be applied accordingly.
Application Process
Log on to the SSP
Sign in to the Self Service Portal and open the Scholarship Application Form.
Check the auto-populated details
Your information is filled in automatically. Correct anything that needs updating before you continue.
Add bank details and income, then submit
Provide bank details along with parents' annual income, and submit the form. A confirmation email goes to you and to your Principal or Practicing CA.
Income certificate gets approved
Depending on your status, approval comes from one of two people:
You're notified by email once the application is approved.
Amount disbursed
After the selection process, the scholarship amount is credited to your account.
Final-course students undergoing Articleship get their Income Certificate and recommendation from their Articleship Principal. Intermediate and Foundation students get theirs from a Practicing Chartered Accountant.
FAQs
When does ICAI notify eligible applicants about selection and grant?
Selection and grant happen quarterly, based on when you applied:
| Applications received | Grant provided in |
|---|---|
| 1 January – 31 March | April |
| 1 April – 30 June | July |
| 1 July – 30 September | October |
| 1 October – 31 December | January |
Do I need an income eligibility check and recommendation on the SSP?
Yes. You'll need to submit an Income Certificate and a recommendation from your Principal or a Practicing Chartered Accountant. Your application counts as complete only once this is approved on the SSP:
Final Course students undergoing Articleship — approval from the Principal under whom they're training. Intermediate/Foundation students — approval from a Practicing Chartered Accountant.
How long does the Principal/CA have to approve my application?
30 days. If it isn't approved within that window, the application lapses, and you'll need to submit a fresh one on the SSP.
Is a meeting between parents and the Principal/CA required?
Yes — to verify the application documents and the parents' declared income.
When is a conduct and attendance certificate needed for later installments?
After your first installment, you'll need to submit this twice a year, in March and September:
Final Course students (Articleship) — Conduct and Attendance Certificate from their Principal. Intermediate students — a recommendation certificate from any Practicing CA.
When does the scholarship amount actually reach my bank account?
Disbursed quarterly, by the last week of the selection month — subject to quarterly eligibility checks, the half-yearly conduct/attendance certificates, and having an active, correctly entered bank account and IFSC code on the SSP.
How do I update my bank details?
Log in to the Scholarship Self Service Portal and update them there.